MTSS (Nashville/Franklin, TN) has closed

[vondo]

....nothing against Scubatoys.....I probably place a decent sized order there monthly on average......it's probably the nicest shop overall in the area and they score high on the product line availability and customer service list...that being said, they are located in an older, more industrial part of town...not a pretty landscaped yuppie neighborhood type area......and it does have an element of 'warehouse' about it.....and I think their retail area, while well stocked/organized, is a bit too dark/somber, a little like shopping in a cave. Again, I'm a big supporter of and shopper at Scubatoys and recommend them on assorted threads here on SB...I'm just saying that Phil Ellis painted a pretty picture of the 'closed' facility that sonded at least more visually appealing, retail wise, than Scubatoys......also, it sounds MTSS organized/ran dive trips well beyond the offerings I see offered by Scubatoys.

Ah, I was never in MTSS. I lived in Nashville for a while, but they were quite far from my usual haunts. I remember seeing the store a couple of times. It was in an large shopping area (2 solid square miles of mall and strip mall) near a wealthy area of town. But I wouldn't say they had a prime location within that area, nor were the shoppers in the area particularly from the regular cross section. Like I said, I was never inside, so I can't comment on that.

 

[mike_s]

..I'm just saying that Phil Ellis painted a pretty picture of the 'closed' facility that sonded at least more visually appealing, retail wise, than Scubatoys......

MTSS was a very nice facility. With a very nice pool on site. It its in one of the more affluent sections of Nashville suburbs also...

(at the same time, it had a lot of warehouses around it also.... even if it was 1/2 mile from a huge shopping mall. It was still some what of a "destination shop" as opposed one being on the "main drag" where all the other commercial retail shops were located.)

it sounds MTSS organized/ran dive trips well beyond the offerings I see offered by Scubatoys.

MTSS had one of the better selections of "high end" trips around, along with normal trips to the gulf, vortex, etc.

They did several trips a year to locations like the Red Sea, Wakatobi, Fiji, etc.... There aren't many shops that did as big of a trip selection as they did.



Phil's shop was mentioned above.... for those from that area, if you need a new (and cheaper) source for dive gear, I'd give his shop a try. He's located about 1.5 hour drive south from MTSS. I've found his pricing to great compared to other shops.

He can be found at www.divesports.com

 

[Digger54]

I got an email just yesterday ( 12-15-09) about another sale at MTSS to get rid of their remaining stock. They'll be open Saturday, Dec 19.

I thought that Rick would reduce prices more, but it looks like everything is still 30% off with the exception of some wet suits.

Let me see if I can post the "deals" here if they don't get mangled in my incompetent cutting and pasting:

Scubapro
-- Ladies Bella
-- Men's Knighthawk
-- Ladies Ladyhawk
Seaquest
-- Balance
-- Ladies Pearl i3
-- Ladies Libra
-- Pro QD
All with Alternate Air Sources and all
30% OFF!
Top Computer Deals
Uwatec
-- Aladin Prime 3-Gauge Console (3 left)
-- Smartcom Air-Integrated w/Compass and Quick Disconnect
(3 left)
Suunto
-- Hoseless Air-Integrated Vytec w/Download Kit
(1 Left)
30% OFF!
Hot Wetsuit Deals
Scubapro 3mm Stretch Jumpsuits - 40% OFF!
Henderson
-- Thermoprene 3mm Jumpsuits and Shorties
-- H2 3mm Jumpsuits
-- Hyperstretch and Thermoprene Hooded Vests
30% OFF!
Great Deals On Masks
Scubapro and Tusa Masks
All $55
"Fin-tastic" Bargains
Scubapro Split fins in strap and full-foot versions - all 30% off!

 

[mike_s]

I got an email just yesterday ( 12-15-09) about another sale at MTSS to get rid of their remaining stock. They'll be open Saturday, Dec 19.

I thought that Rick would reduce prices more, but it looks like everything is still 30% off with the exception of some wet suits.

I got the same email. I'd thought rick would reduce prices more also...

I mean it's not like I can't buy this stuff normally at Leisure Pro for cheaper most of the time anyway...

 

[vondo]

Just got the following e-mail:

Bluewater Scuba Aquires MTSS

I am very excited to share the news that effective yesterday, March 1, 2010, Bluewater Scuba acquired the assets of the business formerly operating under the name of Middle Tennessee Scuba & Swim and Rick Heydel, LLC.

This is an exciting chapter for Bluewater Scuba as it effectively merges the businesses of the two largest full-service Dive Centers in Middle Tennessee into one larger and much stronger business.

As a result of this union, the combined business will retain the name of Bluewater Scuba but will be operating out of the 320 Mallory Station Road, Franklin, TN 37067 address. With almost 9000 square feet of retail, training, and pool space, this move provides Bluewater Scuba with a nicer facility, a much larger indoor pool, and plenty of room for future growth.

While there will be some staffing changes, I am very pleased to announce that Rick Heydel will continue to work for Bluewater Scuba for the next 12 months to ensure a smooth and successful transition. I am excited about working with Rick and some of his staff to share best practices and build Bluewater Scuba into one of the best Dive Centers in the South. I am also excited that Jeff Ridenour will be staying on with Bluewater Scuba as the Manager of the Service Department and will continue to provide a high quality level of service for which he has established an excellent reputation within the diving industry.

I will have many other exciting changes to share in the future and will keep you posted on these updates. If you are interested in travel opportunities, following are just a few that we have already scheduled:

Wakatobi / Bali 5/19 – 6/1
Grand Caymans 6/ 5 -6/12
Blackbeards Bahamas 7/10 – 7/16
Cozumel, Holiday Splash 12/27 – ½
Galapagos 12/30 – 1/9/11

More trips to come! Contact the store for more details on these and other trips to come.

In terms of training, I have decided to cross over to the PADI curriculum due to the larger percentage of customers and instructors who are already deeply entrenched in the PADI system. To ensure that my current Bluewater Scuba customers’ needs are satisfied, I will continue to offer SSI training through the summer for any customer who has purchased materials from me but not yet completed their SSI training. Although the training agencies may be changing, you will continue to receive the highest quality of training and service as you have come to expect. The only difference is that you will train with me and an extended staff in a larger and much nicer facility.

Effective March 2, 2010, the current Bluewater Scuba location on White Bridge Road has been closed to more easily allow for the merging of the two businesses. If you have equipment that has been serviced and you have received a confirmation call, then you can pick up your equipment at the 320 Mallory Station Road location in Franklin. The direct number in Cool Springs is: (615) 771-0002.

If you are a Miss Anna’s Swim School (MASS) customer – NO WORRIES! Miss Anna’s will remain in West Nashville but will be moving its training to 130 Belle Forest Blvd, Nashville, TN 37221 (the former Ladies Total Fitness center in Bellevue). The building is located behind the Carmike Theatre near the intersection of Highway 70 and Old Hickory Blvd. Please contact Elizabeth at (615) 308-0209 if you have not received your swim application or have questions regarding this years swim schedule. You can also download an application off the Blue Water Scuba website.

Our new business hours will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 10:00 – 6:00; Wednesdays 10-2:00, Saturday’s – 9:00 – 5:00.

Thanks for your friendship and your continued support. I hope to sea you soon in our new facility.

Steve & Elizabeth Slattery

Bluewater Scuba

 

[mike_s]

Rick Hydell also sent this out too...

Rick Heydel is Happy to Announce
New Dive Shop in Former MTSS Location
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A new era has come to the Middle Tennessee diving community with the merger of Bluewater Scuba and the shop that I founded as Middle Tennessee Scuba and Swim under the new ownership of Steve Slattery. I must admit I did not know Steve, other than casually, until the last couple of months, but in working with him on his purchase and lease of my building, I have been so impressed with his business background, apparent work ethic, his attention to detail, and his passion for being a business leader in the local and dive community.

Based on my personal experience when MTSS collapsed last November, I can certainly relate to the challenges Steve faced when he bought Bluewater Scuba 7 ½ years ago from an owner with a less than reputable history. Since that time, Steve has been able to take a very bad business situation with a bad reputation and restore its finances, as well as its image. His experience running the second largest dive shop in Nashville makes him, in my view, the ideal person to lead the combination of the two shops forward to a future that will make the new shop one of the premier dive shops in the country. That is very exciting for me as it means my original vision for a shop like this will not die, but perhaps even exceed my original expectations. Steve brings strong leadership skills to the combined business with his background at GE Capital. He was ranked as one of the top 1% of leaders in the business with experience managing Risk, Operations, Finance, Internal Consulting, and Mergers. He utilized those skills turning Bluewater Scuba around and will provide the same level of integrity and focus in bringing the two largest dive businesses in Middle Tennessee together under one roof.

I am so happy that all of the previous customers of the Cool Springs dive shop will have a "home" again for their scuba diving needs, and that new divers will be able to enjoy the services of a first class business and facility for years to come. I look forward helping Steve over the next year with this transition and will be working full-time for an extended period of time to provide him and his new and expanded business with the support that will ensure the long-term success and stability of the combined businesses.

I also look forward to interacting with my old customer friends and the new customers who will come along. I hope to be hanging around and for some time to come (if Steve will allow me) and continue to stay connected and be a part of such a special community of divers. It has been fun and I am now relieved that my vision will continue with one larger and stronger business in the future.

I want to again thank all of my friends and customers who have been so kind, supportive, and helpful during the last 4 months as we got the shop ready for this change. Sally and I have worked very hard to maintain and prepare the business and building for the new owner, so Steve can "hit the ground running". I ask you to support Steve and the new shop. Give Steve a chance to earn your trust and patronage. We started 11 years ago with a dream to have one of the best dive shops in the country, and we succeeded. I know Steve, with the local dive community's help, will sustain that dream and take it to new heights. Middle Tennessee needs a dive shop like this, and Steve needs your support to provide it to you. The future is bright again for scuba in Middle Tennessee.

Blessings to you all, and we look forward to our continued friendship with you,

Rick & Sally Heydel



Statement from Steve Slattery
Owner, Bluewater Scuba
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am very excited to share the news that effective March 1, 2010, Bluewater Scuba acquired the assets of the business formerly operating under the name of Middle Tennessee Scuba & Swim and Rick Heydel, LLC. This is an exciting chapter for Bluewater Scuba as it effectively merges the businesses of the two largest full-service Dive Centers in Middle Tennessee into one larger and much stronger business.

As a result of this union, the combined business will retain the name of Bluewater Scuba but will be operating out of the 320 Mallory Station Road, Franklin, TN 37067 address. With almost 9000 square feet of retail, training, and pool space, this move provides Bluewater Scuba with a nicer facility, a much larger indoor pool, and plenty of room for future growth.

While there will be some staffing changes, I am very pleased to announce that Rick Heydel will continue to work for Bluewater Scuba for the next 12 months to ensure a smooth and successful transition. I am excited about working with Rick and some of his staff to share best practices and build Bluewater Scuba into one of the best Dive Centers in the South. Jeff Ridenour will stay on with Bluewater Scuba as the Manager of Service and
continue to provide a high quality level of service for which he has established an excellent reputation in the diving industry.

I will have many other exciting changes to share in the future and will keep you posted on these updates.

In terms of training, I have decided to cross over to the PADI curriculum due to the larger percentage of customers and instructors who are already deeply entrenched in the PADI system. Although the training agencies may be changing, everyone will continue to receive the highest quality of training and service as they have come to expect. The only difference is that you will train with me and an extended staff in a larger and much nicer facility.

Bluewater will offer the primary product lines you have learned to enjoy and trust, such as Scubapro, Aqualung, Tusa and Henderson, to name a few.

Effective March 2, 2010, the current Bluewater Scuba location on White Bridge Road has been closed to more easily allow for the merging of the two businesses.

Thanks for your friendship and your support. I hope to sea you soon in our new facility.

Our new business hours will be Monday through Friday - 10:00 - 6:00, Wednesday - 10:00 - 2:00 and Saturday - 9:00 - 5:00.

Steve & Elizabeth Slattery

Bluewater Scuba