Alex's Aquatic Adventure (Alex Mason) Oahu

[Black_3000psi]

god I hate to have to do this but being the person that i am i will. first of all the issue between alex and i goes back afew years and I guess most people would have let it go but for those who know me will tell you I do tend to hold a grudge once you cross me its hard to get on my good side.which is something I should work on.I must try to remember, this aint south central L.A. anyway I was on the enzo yesterday, although it wasnt the first time alex had been on the enzo when i was there it was the first time that I actually put aside how I felt about the guy and just checked out how he treated his customers. and I will have to say I was Impressed. not only did he tend to their needs but he went out of his may to make it a memerable experience for them. and I told him that i was impressed. I guess there are times when people will have differences, but the fact remains what I saw was what I expect of any dive op. how I personally feel about someone as an individual is not the issue here. the guy took very good care of his customers. so I do have to say and agree with mike(above) from what I saw he made their trip what it was should have been. and just to say mike you and your party were great personally, I enjoyed you guys (and gal ) being on the boat.and most of all im glad you all came to hawaii and had a good time diving here, and hope to see all of you again some time you were a great bunch.

 

[BRO]

We dove with Alex in August 2009. From the moment Alex picked us up and till he dropped us off it was the worst experience I have every had diving. He's equipment was faulted a bc malfuntioned the wet suits were torn and dirty. One other diver comment on his sense of humor well, I call it sarcasm. He was rude and unproffesional no, I would never dive with him again or recommend him to anyone.

 

[rhone]

god I hate to have to do this but being the person that i am i will. first of all the issue between alex and i goes back afew years and I guess most people would have let it go but for those who know me will tell you I do tend to hold a grudge once you cross me its hard to get on my good side.which is something I should work on.I must try to remember, this aint south central L.A. anyway I was on the enzo yesterday, although it wasnt the first time alex had been on the enzo when i was there it was the first time that I actually put aside how I felt about the guy and just checked out how he treated his customers. and I will have to say I was Impressed. not only did he tend to their needs but he went out of his may to make it a memerable experience for them. and I told him that i was impressed. I guess there are times when people will have differences, but the fact remains what I saw was what I expect of any dive op. how I personally feel about someone as an individual is not the issue here. the guy took very good care of his customers. so I do have to say and agree with mike(above) from what I saw he made their trip what it was should have been. and just to say mike you and your party were great personally, I enjoyed you guys (and gal ) being on the boat.and most of all im glad you all came to hawaii and had a good time diving here, and hope to see all of you again some time you were a great bunch.

Wow.

I was just reading through this thread and watching as a fly on the wall, as it started to have some interesting back and forth. But then I read this, and I've got to say, 3000 psi, your last post was very honorable and represents pretty solid character.

 

[DiveWestOahu]

well,,, his motto is
"the divings free,,,, you pay for the abuse!"
what more needs be said

 

[llqwyd]

god I hate to have to do this but being the person that i am i will. first of all the issue between alex and i goes back afew years and I guess most people would have let it go but for those who know me will tell you I do tend to hold a grudge once you cross me its hard to get on my good side.which is something I should work on.I must try to remember, this aint south central L.A. anyway I was on the enzo yesterday, although it wasnt the first time alex had been on the enzo when i was there it was the first time that I actually put aside how I felt about the guy and just checked out how he treated his customers. and I will have to say I was Impressed. not only did he tend to their needs but he went out of his may to make it a memerable experience for them. and I told him that i was impressed. I guess there are times when people will have differences, but the fact remains what I saw was what I expect of any dive op. how I personally feel about someone as an individual is not the issue here. the guy took very good care of his customers. so I do have to say and agree with mike(above) from what I saw he made their trip what it was should have been. and just to say mike you and your party were great personally, I enjoyed you guys (and gal ) being on the boat.and most of all im glad you all came to hawaii and had a good time diving here, and hope to see all of you again some time you were a great bunch.

Living on small islands, as we do, tends to cause friction and disagreements between dive shop owners and, well, everyone else. Being a small island, it usually works out that everyone "knows" everyone else's business (as there is sometimes little else to keep them "amused"). I have talked to Alex and can understand why some people don't care for him (personally). I also know that professionally, he tends to do a great job and comes highly recommended. What impresses me most (and gives me hope for my island) about this situation is that Black_3000psi took the time to put his personal feelings aside and give respect where it was due.

Black_3000psi, you scored points in everyone's book for that. Thank you for setting an example that I hope others will follow.

 

[Black_3000psi]

thankyou all for those comments. since then i have had the unique pleasure of being around Alex alot and he is quite the character.his humor is an aquired taste that many may find offensive at first glance.and dont get me started on the queens english.lol but i got to admit the guy has an incredible heart...and he works hard to show people an awesome dive. yes he is loud and his laugh can cut titanium, but alex gets alot of repeat customers so common sense says he is doing something right. one last thing. when it comes to friends you could do alot worse then alex. me i dont have alot of friends by choice but he is one of them. now if i could just teach him some new jokes.

 

[Black_3000psi]

ah man thats too funny i just went back and read this thread from the beginning. and yes i did hate alex back then. lol. saw a new member say they dove with alex back in august and had a bad experience. i do believe i did a dm for alex on that dive. i believe the bc low inflator hose got stuck inflating. and this is something that can happen to anybody at anytime. as a certified diver this is not something you would not know how to deal with. and i have watched alex give briefings and they do cover equipment use. and if it is the dive that i was on i believe there was an issue of divers not following the dive leader.

personally anyone thats a sudden new member thats ripping any dive op here on the board and they dont have the guts to identify themself is nt going to convience me of anything they say. hmmm did i spell that right? thats a big word for me.

 

[sweathog13]

I dove with Alex back in March '09 based on a local friend's referral. Dove the Sea Tiger and...somewhere else. Can't remember right now.

I found it to be a very positive experience. Sharing space on a boat with other dive operations was a new one for me, but no big deal. Alex was knowledgeable, entertaining, gave good advice/tips, excellent dive briefings, and obviously knew the area quite well. Had the usual juice, water, and snacks. Hot towels at the end was a plus too.

He had available for sale a nice, 2-sided plastic picture/diagram of the Sea Tiger as well. I bought one - it's a nice keepsake and has a lot of info on that particular dive site. He also provided a dive computer and took pictures.

I'll likely dive with him again next time I'm in Honolulu.

 

[Tankman]

I dove with Alex this past year (just tripped across this website though... very nice!).
Anyway, it was a mixed bag, and typical of many of the (mixed) comments here on this thread.

POSITIVES:
Takes diving seriously (knows the safety rules; dive limits; calculus; underwater dangers, and the location of some lesser-known attractions too).
Thoughtful preparation, including equipment, set-up and special personal touches (hot coffee and hot towel for post-dive warming up!!).
He's reasonably priced.
He is surprisingly flexible, in terms of where and when to dive and how early you have to book ahead with him.
And, I have to confess, the thick English accent is always entertaining.

NEGATIVES:
The equipment he provides is truly below par (tattered, worn).
Going hand-in-hand with the excessive childish clowning, I wish he, in fact, was a bit more serious for more than 30 seconds prior to the dive). I have had other dive masters, as well as instructors in other sports, (and also noticed others on the same boat as Alex's group) who spent MUCH of the boat-time teaching, training & sharing clinical facts, mechanics or other nuances important to diving or this area of the ocean, with their students the entire time. I love that.. and you won't get (hardly) any of that with Alex because he is so busy trying to be the center of attention.
He is loud and brash (and I enjoy frequent harty laughs and sarcasm, but this was bordering on childish). Yes, he can be funny, but good grief, a little restraint now and then would elevate his character tremendously.
He is quick to (openly) denegrate other operators (that's tacky, no matter how true).
He can even be corse with his students (I observed him scolding a customer once... hey, we're all forgetful, or distractable, but we are also paying you and you are also being observed by everyone else on the boat... future customers, or not).

So, this was my simple description of Alex the-mixed-bag Mason.
Both the positives and the negatives contain major concessions to consider. It's a shame because Alex is an exceptionally experienced diver, particularly in knowing the Ohau sites, but he needs to get a bit more earnest (and focused) on HIS clients. He's pushing 45 and, if this will be his life, needs to grow his business. The only way he can do that is by growing his reputation. But, at the current personality-rate, he's losing half the customers he meets because he refuses to be just a bit more serious and focused, ironically, on them. And get newer wet suits!

 

[DandaManwithaTan]

Aloha,

Where ever you dive, always go w/ a reputable company that has a store front & its own boats. Keep in mind that most PADI Dive Resorts dont have store fronts & can be individual instructors that run their operation out of a van. A PADI Career
Development Center (CDC) means there is a Course Director with several instructors and usually provides the most experience and latest PADI standards in safety.



Dandamanwithatan