Duttons Divers

[Steve Howarth]

Clare Dutton has now been booted out of PADI:

Expelled PADI Professionals | PADI

List of former PADI Instructors and Divemasters who have been expelled from PADI within the last few years

www.padi.com

Not before time. As a fellow "ex" PADI Pro (DM) whom she ripped off for £650 in 2017 for a spurious IDC "deal", this arrogant young woman has essays written about her on Trip Adviser. She has racked up quite the body count of disgusted customers.

 

[Edward3c]

I’m waiting to see if the next published accounts - due end April 2024 - are going to show the boat. If not I’ll lodge complaint with HMRC, Companies House and the FCA.

Any asset used primarily by a U.K. company must be included on its accounts, this includes hired or leased (borrowed).

 

[Mustard Dave]

It seems Dodgy Dutton and Leanne Clow(n)es have been busy getting negative reviews pulled from Trip Advisor and the like. A thread on a UK diving forum also appears to have been pulled, which makes me wonder if she has complained to the site's admins.

Their latest venture is they have set up a limited company (or at least Leanne has, as Clare is on the brink of being disqualified as a company director) called Hydrofest Ltd. They launched the website last week, and announced it on social media.

They are organising what they call a 'scuba diving and conservation festival' at the Mona Showground in Anglesey. They are trying to get people to pay upwards of £350 +VAT for a stand, and asking for £5,000 for the principle sponsor, two main sponsors at £2,000, and five sub sponsors at £1,000. There are then other opportunities to stump up cash to sponsor an award.

I can guarantee this event will never happen. If it does I'll show my arse in the middle of Lidl. I wonder how many of the sponsors get their money back (if anybody is stupid enough to do so)?

 

[shandiemandie]

It seems Dodgy Dutton and Leanne Clow(n)es have been busy getting negative reviews pulled from Trip Advisor and the like. A thread on a UK diving forum also appears to have been pulled, which makes me wonder if she has complained to the site's admins.

Their latest venture is they have set up a limited company (or at least Leanne has, as Clare is on the brink of being disqualified as a company director) called Hydrofest Ltd. They launched the website last week, and announced it on social media.

They are organising what they call a 'scuba diving and conservation festival' at the Mona Showground in Anglesey. They are trying to get people to pay upwards of £350 +VAT for a stand, and asking for £5,000 for the principle sponsor, two main sponsors at £2,000, and five sub sponsors at £1,000. There are then other opportunities to stump up cash to sponsor an award.

I can guarantee this event will never happen. If it does I'll show my arse in the middle of Lidl. I wonder how many of the sponsors get their money back (if anybody is stupid enough to do so)?

Have you heard any more regarding this Hydrofest thing?? I am currently in the middle of suing Clare Dutton/Clowes. I have in fact won my case, however, so far (6months and still waiting) I have seen no money nor has she even acknowledged the situation!! The girl is an absolute idiot, I will not give up on this, currently filling out a warrant of control form to send the bailiffs to her address in Llangefni

 

[shandiemandie]

I’m waiting to see if the next published accounts - due end April 2024 - are going to show the boat. If not I’ll lodge complaint with HMRC, Companies House and the FCA.

Any asset used primarily by a U.K. company must be included on its accounts, this includes hired or leased (borrowed).

Hi, Did you check the published accounts fro the boat?? I'm not entirely sure what I am looking for regarding this, but, am interested to know.

 

[shandiemandie]

I hope you get your refund

Has anybody had any recent experience with them?

We recently booked two days diving from their boat, Seaquest, based out of Pwllheli. We should have dived with them in March, but she tried to talk us into postponing due to poor visibility. We declined, but as the date of the booking drew closer, the wind was picking up, so we had to agree.

We rearranged for the 2nd September and she tried talking us into another postponement for the same reason. This time we had wind forecast F0 - F1 on the day.

She turned up late, and after we loaded the boat, she claimed the engine would not start. I am 100% certain she either knew about the fault, or it was faked to avoid going out. She is now being difficult with our refund.

I have been doing a lot of digging and it seems there are several accounts of her taking bookings, cancelling, and refusing to issue refunds. I also know her boat operations are the subject of an MCA investigation following a series of engine failures and collisions.

Clare's business is currently the subject of a PADI quality management investigation (I have this information in an email from PADIs Quality & Risk Management Consultant), and she has jumped ship to SSI.

If you have had any recent experience with them, I would appreciate any information.

If you are planning on booking with her, don't!

Just wanted to say Hi and touch base with you regarding Clare Dutton/Clowes.

I have recently sued Clare Dutton (more out of principle than money) and won, she now has a CCJ against her. Although so far, have not received a penny of what she owes me, I am currently (as in right at this minute) applying to the courts for a warrant to send in the bailiffs.

Do you have any more information on the MCA investigation?? I would be extremely interested to know more about this.

I do intend on contacting SSI to voice my concerns. I have seen all the terrible reviews and the HSE improvement notice and am slowly putting together a folder of all the **** I can find on her, anything you may have would be greatly appreciated.

I'm actually glad she messed me about on my original booking to be honest with you, the minute I met her, I knew instantly I did not want to dive with her. She came across as rude, arrogant and just very unpleasant.

 

[sinetwo]

I have recently sued Clare Dutton (more out of principle than money) and won, she now has a CCJ against her. Although so far, have not received a penny of what she owes me, I am currently (as in right at this minute) applying to the courts for a warrant to send in the bailiffs.

I had a dive that was "cancelled" last minute, and obviously I never got my money back. I instead got some weird store credit, which I did not want. That's £80+ down the drain.

Is there any way to get this money back or any options on adding my voice to the CCJ?

 

[Liana Shirley]

Just wanted to say Hi and touch base with you regarding Clare Dutton/Clowes.

I have recently sued Clare Dutton (more out of principle than money) and won, she now has a CCJ against her. Although so far, have not received a penny of what she owes me, I am currently (as in right at this minute) applying to the courts for a warrant to send in the bailiffs.

Do you have any more information on the MCA investigation?? I would be extremely interested to know more about this.

I do intend on contacting SSI to voice my concerns. I have seen all the terrible reviews and the HSE improvement notice and am slowly putting together a folder of all the **** I can find on her, anything you may have would be greatly appreciated.

I'm actually glad she messed me about on my original booking to be honest with you, the minute I met her, I knew instantly I did not want to dive with her. She came across as rude, arrogant and just very unpleasant.

Hi Mandie,
Happy to share our experiences, we have many! also very interested to hear yours. I have tried to direct message you but I have not put on enough posts on this forum to be allowed to direct message. If you DM me I will give you my number.

 

[Mustard Dave]

Just wanted to say Hi and touch base with you regarding Clare Dutton/Clowes.

I have recently sued Clare Dutton (more out of principle than money) and won, she now has a CCJ against her. Although so far, have not received a penny of what she owes me, I am currently (as in right at this minute) applying to the courts for a warrant to send in the bailiffs.

Do you have any more information on the MCA investigation?? I would be extremely interested to know more about this.

I do intend on contacting SSI to voice my concerns. I have seen all the terrible reviews and the HSE improvement notice and am slowly putting together a folder of all the **** I can find on her, anything you may have would be greatly appreciated.

I'm actually glad she messed me about on my original booking to be honest with you, the minute I met her, I knew instantly I did not want to dive with her. She came across as rude, arrogant and just very unpleasant.

Hi Mandie, sorry for not responding earlier; I do not use Scubaboard much and I just looked in on this thread. I am aware of the CCJ as we have credit checked them, but did not know whose it was. Do you care to share your story?

We expect to win, but I do not expect to get anything off them. We are only out of pocket about £100 each, so ours is more about principle too, and also so it is a matter of public record what a con artist she is.

Re. the MCA investigation, I have friends (who are also divers) with a boat berthed in Hafan Marina. They gave me the lowdown on how shocking their boat handling skills are, and I really wonder if they are really properly qualified. I am also aware they took a BSAC group out with an out of date liferaft that was in the wheelhouse.

The MCA contacted me and told me there had been another complaint, and an abnormal number of engine failures resulting in urgency calls on the VHF. I was told the boat had been hauled out, and the MCA had told them it was not to go back until it had been surveyed.

They have just launched 'Eco Boat Tours' with the same boat, operating from Beaumaris pier. I have informed the MCA the boat is back in the water, and also the Harbourmaster at Beaumaris. The MCA have responded to say they cannot discuss details, but to be assured they are investigating.

I can give you the contact details of the MCA Technical Manager if you have any information that may be of use.

I am gobsmacked by SSI's lack of action. It is incredible that they made them Instructor Trainers after a dismissal by PADI and a HSE improvement notice.

 

[sinetwo]

We expect to win, but I do not expect to get anything off them. We are only out of pocket about £100 each, so ours is more about principle too, and also so it is a matter of public record what a con artist she is.

Hi @Mustard Dave , as mentioned previously to the other person in this thread, can I do anything to voice my concerns against this illegitimate business? They took money from me and never offered anything in return.