My recommendation will be a little biased, but I am very comfortable in making it. I would recommend talking to Tracy Grubbs at Spruce Creek Scuba in Port Orange. I have taken a few courses with them and find him and his staff to be very competent. They will not give you a certification if you don't pass their standards, that being said they will work with you until you do at no extra charge. You will likely hear that it's the instructor not the agency that you should look into and I fully agree with that. My only experience with instruction in this area are with them, I do not know about the other shops in the area (Seadogs in New Smyrna, Atlantic Scuba in Holly Hill and Discover Diving Dive Center in Port Orange) as far as instruction, but I don't hear anything negative about any of them. I have visited them all (nice folks in all of them) and actually have a good relationship with Atlantic Scuba for servicing, air and vintage equipment. Also, not that it should make a difference in your choice, Spruce Creek is an SSI shop the others are all PADI. You may also consider Dayo Scuba in Winter Park, I heard good things about them and they may be closer to you. Talk to all of them and find one that you feel comfortable with. Hope this helps.
