Local Shop

[DiveKitten]

Now that I'm back home, I'm looking for a good dive shop. I've had bad experiances at both Bill Jackson and TackleShack, so I'm reluctant to dive with them. To be picky, I'd LOVE to find a good PADI shop, because I need to take a refresher course and I have a PADI cert.

 

[eandiver]

For a PADI shop N@rco$i$ speaks very highly of Calypso(sp) divers on Bearss and 275 in Tampa.

There's also Aquatic Obsessions on Central Ave in St.Pete but I don't know if they are PADI or not.

 

[divingjd]

FYI, you can do a refresher with any agency, so if you find a good shop that's not PADI, go for it.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Now that I'm back home, I'm looking for a good dive shop. I've had bad experiances at both Bill Jackson and TackleShack, so I'm reluctant to dive with them. To be picky, I'd LOVE to find a good PADI shop, because I need to take a refresher course and I have a PADI cert.

How long have you been gone?

I am BJ's at least once a week and have had nothing but good service (especially now that they know me by name... :14: )

Tackle Shack... Now there's a different breed of diver! But, there are some things I prefer to get from them.

 

[eandiver]

Bill Jacksons is where I go for pretty much everything, Ray services my gear, Billy and Mike do my fills and Chuck was a good friend for a long time. I'm going to miss him a lot.

If you can get past the New York attitude Tackle Shack is.......ok. I have never dove with either place though.

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

Ray just switched my regs to Din, and I was having some issues with a ScubaPro reg I purchased (used to be class gear at BJs). Ray felt there was something wrong too, so he put in a replacement kit at no cost... just because he didn't like the way it was working (Yes, I know the original owner has warranty privledges, but I am not the original owner)

I once called Tackle Shack attitude "Jersey"... so, we are in the same vacinity...lol

 

[DiveKitten]

My thing against Tack. Shack is more of a family grudge. My dad has problems getting his Hobie peddel kayak serviced as TS, but they are the only Hobie dealer in town. They've jacked up the kayak 3 times and counting...

My annoyance at BJ's was that had some equipt questions and I feel like they weren't really taking me seriously. Granted, I'm 5'1, look like I'm 17 and was probably wearing purple sneakers at the time... But on the upside, I got a brand new BC from BJ for $90so I much not have been *that* annoyed!

 

[BHB ScubaTroll]

...and was probably wearing purple sneakers at the time...

Dang, where have you been all my life?

 

[eandiver]

I saw that coming a mile away....................

 

[eandiver]

But on the upside, I got a brand new BC from BJ for $90so I much not have been *that* annoyed!

Out of curiosity what are you using for a BC?

Do you use AL 80's or a smaller tank like the S/G steel 80?

Reason for asking is at 5'1" the choices seem to be some what limited for a female and I'm getting info for someone interested in purchasing gear.