Chaiyz
Registered
I'm pointing no fingers but the Dive shops I grew up with are simply gone. Days of the $2 fill are a thing of the past and I don't think Hydro/VIP is getting harder, just more expensive.
That being said, I have recently aquired 6 2003 AL80's 3 catalina's and 3Lux. They all appear in good condition, all yoke and all have air still in them.
Last Hydro was when new and they've been in a garage since 2007 sitting upright in a corner.
I called a shop in Jacksonville and was quoted over $60 for hydro/vip, then when I mentioned I was planing to use them for 32% O2, I was then quickly fed a line of crap that I could only laugh at and hang up from.
I'm willing to drive anywhere within 100 miles to get this done and I live in Starke/Keystone Heights Flroida. I'd really appreciate some advice on hole in the wall shops, which always seem to have better prices, better people and are not looking to push their gear on me, but want to progress my knowledge and sell me only what I need.
Am I kidding myself? Are there any dive shops out there that will work a good deal and still do quality reputable work? I'm missing the days of Wolf Marine where I grew up, it was the owners passion, not his job. He had a real job and yet he kept the shop open to this very day. When I was young, that place was amazing and I learned so much that doesn't seem to apply these days. They sold gear but always made customers great deals and you didn't feel ripped off when you got your bill. I recently picked up my GF's 2year old regulator set that I had completely serviced and after seeing the bill for 1st/2nd/octo service I was again, SHOCKED! I paid the bill and I won't be back. BTW, The set was an inexpensive Oceanic set and the parts were sold to me at over 300% what I could find the service kits for online. Then the labor.
Anyway, Please tell me of your best dive shops in Cave country to Gainesville/Jacksonville area. I'm willing to drive to be treated like a diver and not a wallet.
Thanks for looking
That being said, I have recently aquired 6 2003 AL80's 3 catalina's and 3Lux. They all appear in good condition, all yoke and all have air still in them.
Last Hydro was when new and they've been in a garage since 2007 sitting upright in a corner.
I called a shop in Jacksonville and was quoted over $60 for hydro/vip, then when I mentioned I was planing to use them for 32% O2, I was then quickly fed a line of crap that I could only laugh at and hang up from.
I'm willing to drive anywhere within 100 miles to get this done and I live in Starke/Keystone Heights Flroida. I'd really appreciate some advice on hole in the wall shops, which always seem to have better prices, better people and are not looking to push their gear on me, but want to progress my knowledge and sell me only what I need.
Am I kidding myself? Are there any dive shops out there that will work a good deal and still do quality reputable work? I'm missing the days of Wolf Marine where I grew up, it was the owners passion, not his job. He had a real job and yet he kept the shop open to this very day. When I was young, that place was amazing and I learned so much that doesn't seem to apply these days. They sold gear but always made customers great deals and you didn't feel ripped off when you got your bill. I recently picked up my GF's 2year old regulator set that I had completely serviced and after seeing the bill for 1st/2nd/octo service I was again, SHOCKED! I paid the bill and I won't be back. BTW, The set was an inexpensive Oceanic set and the parts were sold to me at over 300% what I could find the service kits for online. Then the labor.
Anyway, Please tell me of your best dive shops in Cave country to Gainesville/Jacksonville area. I'm willing to drive to be treated like a diver and not a wallet.
Thanks for looking
Air fill is $5 and O2 cost $0.02 per liter or $0.56 per cubic feet. Helium worst case is $0.06 per liter or $1.70 per cubic feet.
