Do NOT do any business with EZ SCUBA in Tampa

[orange_diver]

i think it's the responsibility of every diver even those newly minted to do a proper weight check for themselves, so the 30 lb issue, while a really bad recommendation, is IMHO a non-issue.

As for the free-flow reg, that is why i don't rent anymore. but back when i did, after repeated failures i learned to check and double check everything in the store before taking it with me.

 

[GulfCoastdiver]

The incident happen to me and there was no misunderstanding. They sold me the weights to go with the BC I bought from them. It was clearly 30lbs. They even place the weights in the bc pockets themselves.

I guess I was hoping that a dive shop would not tell a person to wear 10lbs (or so) too much weight because that would be dangerous (very).

 

[Salmonboy97]

i think it's the responsibility of every diver even those newly minted to do a proper weight check for themselves, so the 30 lb issue, while a really bad recommendation, is IMHO a non-issue.

As for the free-flow reg, that is why i don't rent anymore. but back when i did, after repeated failures i learned to check and double check everything in the store before taking it with me.

Did the store you rented your faulty equipment from do anything to make it better? ie: next rental free? How did they resolve the failures you had?

 

[ItsBruce]

It is every diver's responsibility to do a buoyancy test and get properly weighted. But, before one jumps into the water to do that test, one needs a starting point. If the shop sold 30 pounds, then it either (1) figured that was a good approximate starting point, or (2) it needed to sell some weight. If it was the former, then it was derelict. If it was the latter, then it was maliciously reckless.

I decline to say I'll never do business with that shop, but would sure like to hear its side of the story.

BTW: For my dive today, I wore a 7mm full suit, boots, gloves and a hood, used an AL80 and only 20 lbs. of lead.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

If the shop sucks this bad, just think of how bad the training you received from them was..... You would have to be huge or ignorant to try 30 lbs with no exposure suit.... Didn't the diver know better?

 

[Missdirected]

I'm more worried about the 30 lbs. of weight. Some BCs don't even have that much lift. That could be quite dangerous.

Conversely, EZ Scuba has been around a long time and the only complaints I ever heard were more related to sales tactics (like selling unneeded gear to newer divers).

It is a Zeagle Zena - here are the specs:

Zena BC Features:

Elastic front panels with zipper closure for a comfortable, secure fit and a streamlined profile
Dual waistbands allow weights to be positioned below waist level for superior comfort and balance.
Component sizing fits waist, torso length, and chest size independently
34-lb capacity bladder (24-lb optional)
30-lb capacity Ripcord weight system
20-LB capacity Rear mount weight system
Expandable mesh "Quick Pocket" at waist
4 Stainless D-Rings

 

[Missdirected]

I decline to say I'll never do business with that shop, but would sure like to hear its side of the story.

Out of fairness, I will contact Eric (the owner) tomorrow. I will also invite Scott Zeagle to join the thread in re to capacity of the Zena.

 

[K Mejean]

While it is the responsibility of the diver to know how to weight themselves properly at some point in our diving career we have all needed advice and a point in the right direction. I don't know the diver nor do I know the shop so I am not going to make any judgements on either of them but I expect better out of any shop I frequent.
I will however take a wild guess that the regulator had some type of an issue. Something tells me that they don't keep balanced and finely tuned regulators in their rental fleet. I could be wrong but I doubt it. No matter what the situation was with the regulator when the shop found out about it I believe they should have at least offered a free rental on the next dive or something of that nature.
I know this....if it were my shop and one of my employees treated a paying customer that way they would be looking for another job. Word of mouth is a bitch when it is bad. Just look at the exposure it is getting here.

 

[AstroDad]

Hold on folks... My wife is a large breasted woman and needs ~25lbs in a skin, and ~34lbs in a 3mm suit... It could be an honest mistake.

BTW, I'm curious: What does the lift of a BC have to do with this?

 

[I Dive]

Out of fairness, I will contact Eric (the owner) tomorrow. I will also invite Scott Zeagle to join the thread in re to capacity of the Zena.

There are always two sides to a story, and EZ definitely deserves to share their side if they choose. In fact, I am very curious to hear how any shop can explain a failed rental reg as anyone's fault but their own... While I totally agree with other posters who have stated that a diver is responsible for their own stuff and should check it out in the store, I say the same applies for a shop. If a business is going to rent out life support equipment to customers, it seems to me they then have an obligation to make sure it is properly maintained and in working order before it leaves their premises. I know of a shop that would be HORRIFIED to learn that any of their rental gear failed and they certainly would not have blamed the diver. I seriously doubt that is the only shop like that.