Emerald Coast vs. The Scuba Shop vs. Scuba Tech

[murdrcycle]

I will be in the Destin area June 28-July 3. I am looking for any pluses/deltas for the following dive ops:

1. Emerald Coast Scuba
2. The Scuba Shop
3. Scuba Tech

I have 10 or so dives since OW last October, 3 in saltwater with current (sometimes the surge was pretty strong) and 3+ ft seas, the rest in quarries. I have 10 or so dives prior to certification, all in saltwater under tame conditions. I am looking to head to some reefs or wrecks, but would like to stay at less than 90ft, or have a DM with me since I have never been narc'd before. Above all else, I am safe.

So, has anyone had any experiences with the above shops? Also, is there any way I can find out in advance which site they are diving?

P.S. - anyone local or very knowledgeable who would be interested in some shore diving, please let me know. Also, it you are a representative of one of the shops, please disclose.

 

[mike_s]

I don't think any of the shops have a DM dive with you. there might be one on the boat... or just a deckhand on the boat. But if you want a DM to dive with you, then most of the shops can arrange that for you for a nominal additional fee.

I've never used "The Scuba Shop". I think they are over in FWB.

of the other two I've used both of them and my personal preference is ScubaTech.

 

[RaginCajun]

Agreed on Mike S's DM comment.

For my first Gulf dive with Scuba Tech they recommended a DM. The upcharge was $25 I think (2 summers ago). They paired me and 3 other folks (2 dive buddy pairs) with the DM. He basically acted as group leader for us and we all dove as a 5 diver unit. The good and bad about this arrangement was:

1. Good--my weightbelt fell off as in neared the bottom of the anchor line. I luckily was able to hold on to the line while the DM picked up my weightbelt and brought it back to me. A real lifesaver! (yes a good buddy would have done the same, but what about an instabuddy? hmmm?)

2. Bad -- as mentioned it was my first gulf dive and I was nervous and consequently sucked up more air than my partners. This made for a short dive. One guy was pissy about the short dive, but hey I tried my best and improved from Dive 1 to Dive 2 that day. The DM calmed the situation, didn't blame it on me openly at least and reassured the peniscranius from UP NORTH to chill out, it would be Ok.

3. Bad -- after doing this once, I don't see the need to use a DM again or at least not for the spots that the Scuba Tech dives out of Destin. They drop anchor, so no "DM" to bounce dive to tie off to the wreck. Just follow the anchor line down, keep it in sight, don't leave the wreck, follow it up and you're ok. Good dive buddies are key too.

FWIW, I plan to dive the area in a week or so with my newly certified wife. I don't plan to enlist the services of a DM and feel comfortable leading my wife on teh dive.

If memory serves me correctly. Most of the sites visited by Scuba TEch are <90 fsw, son in that respect you should be goo.

If in doubt call Scuba Tech and ask questions. They're super nice and have done me right.

I plan to expand my horizons a bit on my pending vacation and want to check out Panama City beach a bit more. I did a dive to the Black Bart & bridge span last summer and want to try some other places there this time. Also, Pensacola is also on my radar and if the wifey lets me sneek off, and I can find the right charter, I'd really like to do the Oriskany.

Have a good time diving.

I'll be in the area sometime between Jun 21 and June 30th. I'll be sure to post some reports when I can.

 

[SeaYoda]

GlenFWB has dealt with The Scuba Shop a lot. They seem to be nice folks. I don't think they have their own boat.

Emerald Coast is a nice shop. I have not been on their boat since they worked on it but it did have a pretty strong exhaust issue before it was worked on. I had one "not so good" trip with them when the captain turned off my buddy's air instead of turning it on and he drug both our regulators across the deck after the first dive.

ScubaTech is my choice of the three. I go there to get my equipment serviced and air fills. I like their boat better than Emerald Coast. They are very friendly and helpful.


The biggest reasons for needing a DM (IMO) would be:
1. Unpredictable nature of the Gulf
2. Viz can be low
3. Need a tour guide
You'll be in less than 90' of water so that should not be a concern. If you have more skills than a novice, are OK diving in 5' viz, and don't get lost too easy then you don't need a DM. ScubaTech is good about accessing your needs so talk with them.


None of the boats tell you where you are going in advance. Conditions change so much that they play it by ear. They do go to two places far too often - The Miss Louise Tug and the bridge rubble. Both places are fine dives but not over and over and over ... . During the summer the boats stay close so they can get more trips in - in the shoulder seasons they are more flexible.


If my schedule permits and the tides are right, I would be glad to dive with you at the jetties. Here is a link to some information:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/724595-post9.html

 

[MRXRAY]

I stop in all three shops a lot, I prefer Scuba Tech as well. They are very helpful and have resonable prices. I have dove with Scuba Tech on there boat the Sea Cobra twice now and liked it quite a lot. It is a bigger boat and can have a lot of people on it or just a few depending on the season.

 

[MRXRAY]

SeaYoda, I'd like to hook up with you and dive the Destin Jetties the next time you go. I have been driving to Panama City (St. Andrews) to dive the Jetties there, I'd like to compare to Ft. Pickens and St. Andrews!

 

[PatMyGreen]

I was certified as an EFR instructor by Anna from ECS. I liked the way she ran her class and her demeanor with her students, she was more understanding than I could ever hope to be with other human beings.

I would think that your opening paragraph above about your experience, when presented to the charter operators, should keep you well matched for the sites they go to and off the stuff you are not prepared for.

Enjoy your dives!

 

[Whyphysco]

I work at the Scuba Shop, we have 3 DM's that can go on a boat dive with you if you want. We also book charters on 2 boats, one is the Miss Teak, which is a 14 passanger boat that goes to Limestone Shelfs and various wrecks, Then we have Capt. Charles's boat, it only holds 3 people but he goes to some great sites and makes for an enjoyable trip, i just DM'ed for his boat today for a family from Louisiana and the were extactic about the trip and the sites, that would be the best boat to go on for a different site than the ussual ones that gets visited too offen

 

[jviehe]

I cant testify much to the charter operations of Emerald Coast, but the staff is super friendly, and they have an awesome shop. Rather than diving with a DM, you might ask about doing Adventure Dives with an Instructor. Youll get some tips on deep diving and have a professional escort, plus earn credit towards and advanced cert. Your best best is to call and ask.

 

[murdrcycle]

Thanks for all of the info. What is amazing to me isn't the information that people posted here, it is the volume of information that I got via PMs. There are a lot of people out there that have had a lot of bad experiences with the shops, however they chose not to post them publicly. There was one shop in-particular that got many bad reviews. They were sent to me privately and in confidence so that is how they shall remain. However, you may be doing both the other divers on this board and perhaps the business itself a much greater service by just posting it publicly. I know that if I owned/operated a business I would want to know if my practices were isolating my marketplace.

To the people who mentioned some shore diving, both publicly and via PM - I will send my cell phone number to you when I arrive on Saturday, 6/28. We will probably pull in around noon and I will log in then. We can schedule something depending on the weather.