Dive Center Horror/Hero Stories

[shoredivr]

My horror story is centered on a trip last October on a LOB. The trip itself was full of the usual "glitches" that you run into, but the horror story began when I walked into my home. Within an hour of me walking through the door, I got a call from my brother. Through his tears he told me "While you were gone, your god-daughter (my niece) has taken a turn for the worse. The doctors give her anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. We didn't know how to reach you while you were on the boat."

She made it to mid-February before she lost her battle with cancer. That is a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life for all the wrong reasons.

Hoag, sorry to hear that. Puts everything else in perspective doesn’t it.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

When I hear the word, "Occy," I think of Australian surfer, Mark Occhilupo, from back in my day. I like the term, "Occy," better than "octopus" or "additional second stage." Is this your personal term or common Australian scuba slang?

 

[Marie13]

When I hear the word, "Occy," I think of Australian surfer, Mark Occhilupo, from back in my day. I like the term, "Occy," better than "octopus" or "additional second stage." Is this your personal term or common Australian scuba slang?

I’ve heard it from other Aussie divers. Maybe some Brits, too.

For some reason, it always puts me in mind of a baby’s pacifier.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

If only there wasn’t an international border between me and DRIS...and grumpy border officers.

I've got the opposite problem here. Dive Tech is in Canada.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

He gives me discounts every time I go in without asking maybe 10-20% off (if the owner isn’t there),

Make sure the owner doesn't read, SB!

 

[Russjstewart]

When I hear the word, "Occy," I think of Australian surfer, Mark Occhilupo, from back in my day. I like the term, "Occy," better than "octopus" or "additional second stage." Is this your personal term or common Australian scuba slang?

Thanks

Occy is a common term here in Oz. As a nation we are dedicated to efficient use of the English language.

 

[Compressor]

Not real horror stories but things that should not happen. Most divestores I visit and do business, I like and appreciate. There are 2 I've never do business with again; one is local and one is not. Local store refused to fill a steel tank that was just hydroed. The tank was "too old." I hydroed it at local facility and not the LDS as they gave me a month time while I got it done at the hydro facility in a few days. Yes I was in a rush.

Next incident at a store in Jensen Beach, FL. Diveshop would not fill a tank who did not have their own VIP sticker.

In both cases, I said bye bye and never to return. Unfortunate.

 

[Hoag]

I’m sorry to hear about that man. That must have been a pretty ****** live aboard no matter how good it was.

Thanks. I didn't get the news till just after I got home. I had no idea while I was on the boat but I will always associate receiving the news with returning from the trip.

 

[gcarter]

I've got the opposite problem here. Dive Tech is in Canada.

AKA Dan's Toy Store.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

The first shop I used when I got certified seemed ok. Then the nickel and diming started. You need this or that. Still I became a DM through that shop. One year Oceanic had a deal on the CDX5 with GT3 second stage. Dealer cost 125.00. MAP for this sale was 280 or so. I was starting to get interested in diving doubles so I wanted the owner to get me one. I had just spent a week of evenings a month before getting the new store location stocked and sorted. On top of actually finding the location so he could move out of the storage unit/garage, he was in. I had been helping with classes, shlepping tanks, and since we were opening on Black Friday that year, I went in and opened the place up at 7 am. Did about $500 worth of sales before he arrived at 10.
So he ordered the reg. I was expecting some kind of a discount off MAP based on what I'd been doing. He gave me one. Charged me 275.00. That was the last piece of gear I bought from him and started buying from Scubatoys, LeisurePro, and TDL.
Along with the reg issue he tried to tell me I did not need a BPW, long hose, or pony bottle. Because he didn't sell what I wanted.
Would not even order them for me. I went direct to Deep Sea Supply and bought two BPW rigs. One for singles and one for doubles. Pony bottle and reg - Scubatoys.
The next season I left that shop after too much of that and seeing the way others were getting taken advantage of.
Now, when I have someone assisting me with classes on a regular basis, if I want them in the gear I sell I don't charge them MAP. I give it to them. Or I loan it to them at no charge.