My own equipment not allowed for Open Water class?

[Stoo]

I have my own compressor and fill.station, ordered over the net/phone. Cost around 7k.

I have a bunch of friends with them as well, but for the vast majority of divers, it's a nonsensical solution.

 

[Bob DBF]

ya online can be less beacuse they have a crappy warehouse so less overhead. And no $30K air system.

Are you getting you fills from them too? Mail your tanks in, get them back in two weeks....

Support your local dive shop people... without them, you're going to be buying your own compressor.

A great sentiment, however if the shop in question does not carry the gear you want, and will not order it, what would you do?

Another example was a 19cuft pony that they would order, their price was twice what it was online and would take over 3 months to deliver, "when we place our next order". I had it by the end of the week as a retail customer online. They could have easily done the same as I, and sold it to me at a profit, but did not.

It's not that I would not buy from them, but I was limited by what they had in stock. They were OK folks, but needed lessons on running a business and were not Interested.

 

[Barefoot_Lawyer]

M-Cameron, not entirely correct.
Laws in various cities, counties and maybe even states do exist in the USA requiring certification to SCUBA Dive. Back in 1954 when LA County passed a law requiring certification to SCUBA dive, The Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation started one of the first SCUBA Certification courses in the Nation. It continues to this day and is an excellent course. This course was then taken by some of the instructors and graduates to the rest of California and the nation under the banner of a newly formed Non-Profit called the National Association of Underwater Instructors or more commonly known as NAUI.

The1954 County SCUBA COURSE came about as a result of a Los Angeles County LAW requiring certification to SCUBA dive in Los Angeles County. I refer you to Los Angeles County Code or Ordinances, Title 8, Division 2 Chapter 8.32 where it lays out the requirements for certification, what skills must be achieved, and more. Chapter 8.32. SCUBA DIVING, Division 2. BUSINESS REGULATIONS, Title 8. CONSUMER PROTECTION, BUSINESS AND WAGE REGULATIONS, Code of Ordinances, Los Angeles County

Another law that Los Angeles County tried to impose see regarding SCUBA Diving see

https://nytimes.com/1974/12/12/arch...angeles-law-recterficaton-mandatory-open.html

I should point out I live in California where every 4th person is an attorney, at least it seems that way.

Where in that county ordinance does it say you cannot SCUBA dive without a certification? I skimmed it and didn’t see that anywhere.

 

[Marie13]

A great sentiment, however if the shop in question does not carry the gear you want, and will not order it, what would you do?

Another example was a 19cuft pony that they would order, their price was twice what it was online and would take over 3 months to deliver, "when we place our next order". I had it by the end of the week as a retail customer online. They could have easily done the same as I, and sold it to me at a profit, but did not.

It's not that I would not buy from them, but I was limited by what they had in stock. They were OK folks, but needed lessons on running a business and were not Interested.

There are a couple of shops that I get fills from. I describe them as “warm water shops.” I’ve never been pushed to buy anything from them. Walking in with steel sidemount tanks for fills shuts that down before I even open my mouth.

 

[Bob DBF]

There are a couple of shops that I get fills from. I describe them as “warm water shops.” I’ve never been pushed to buy anything from them. Walking in with steel sidemount tanks for fills shuts that down before I even open my mouth.

These aren't even "warm water shops", the ocean is close enough, they are just holding to the old dive shop model that worked back 20 or 30 years ago and won't modernize. We've talked, but they are not interested in change, and they may die like 3 of the other shops that were in the general area.

 

[rick00001967]

Hey all,

A while ago I found the Dive Talk channel and really became interested in diving (I realize people have split opinions on that channel, we don't need to discuss that here). I'm a Type A personality who soaks up knowledge on subjects he finds interesting, so I have been learning and researching a TON on various dive topics, from the science, to equipment, to procedures, etc. I have a pretty decent high-level understanding of a lot of topics now, which you could argue is good or bad, seeing how I've had no formal training yet.

So on that note, there are two shops in my area, one a PADI shop, and one SSI. I checked out both and signed up for a "try SCUBA" class with the SSI shop. However, the SSI shop then told me that for the Open Water class I have to use their equipment, either rented or bought from them. Their reason was "liability and insurance", though they did say that beyond the Open Water class I can use my own equipment. The PADI shop does not have a rule like that.

I'm a bit torn. I know that if I like the "try SCUBA" I'm going to take many classes, dive a ton, with the eventual goal being tech diving and overhead environments. I also believe in the "buy once, cry once" principle, as well as not having to re-learn stuff (muscle memory). As such, I wanted to purchase a Deep 6 "signature" DIR (long hose) regulator bundle right away, along with their Eddy fins, and start with a BP/W setup, likely the DGX package as it seems to fit my needs (Dive Rite XT package being my second choice). However, I wouldn't be able to take the Open Water class with those through this SSI shop, and I'd have to use a rented vest BCD and standard hose Aqualung regulator and octo.

From what I've read and heard, SSI would be the preferred agency to do my training as PADI has some issues (I don't want to start a flame war in this thread). So what do you experience divers think? Am I overthinking this? Would you buy your own equipment and go PADI, or go SSI with rented equipment for the first class, and then buy your own?

I don't know if the liability and insurance explanation is real or if it's a gimmick to lock me into products the shop carries, but if the latter, I question the ethics and values of said shop. I realize everyone needs to make money, but I was already willing to buy various big ticket items from them that they do carry (Shearwater computer, Henderson wetsuit(s), etc.) AND spend money on lots of training in the future. Let me know your thoughts, thanks!

i did not have time to read all the comments so forgive me if i repeating what others have said.

there is no SSI standard that requires students to use equip either rented or purchased from an SSI dive shop.

each shop of course can and will set their own rules for who they choose to teach and who they do not.

i can tell you that with our shop, we provide all equip needed for an ow class included in the cost.

personally, i would walk away from any shop that insisted i buy anything from them other than the cost of the training.

 

[Stoo]

A great sentiment, however if the shop in question does not carry the gear you want, and will not order it, what would you do?

Another example was a 19cuft pony that they would order, their price was twice what it was online and would take over 3 months to deliver, "when we place our next order". I had it by the end of the week as a retail customer online. They could have easily done the same as I, and sold it to me at a profit, but did not.

It's not that I would not buy from them, but I was limited by what they had in stock. They were OK folks, but needed lessons on running a business and were not Interested.

Well there's that. Certainly in my area, some shops are much more responsive than others.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

ya online can be less beacuse they have a crappy warehouse so less overhead. And no $30K air system.

Are you getting you fills from them too? Mail your tanks in, get them back in two weeks....

Support your local dive shop people... without them, you're going to be buying your own compressor.

The majority of dive sites around here have their own rental tanks and fill stations. No need for the shop to have a compressor other than for convenience.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

The majority of dive sites around here have their own rental tanks and fill stations. No need for the shop to have a compressor other than for convenience.

Wish that were the case here. For some reason any shop that opens up close to the RI dive sites ends up closing, and no one has set up fill stations. Do I smell opportunity?

 

[BoltSnap]

Wish that were the case here. For some reason any shop that opens up close to the RI dive sites ends up closing, and no one has set up fill stations. Do I smell opportunity?

Is there a dive shop in Jamestown now to replace the dive that was there many blue moons ago (the one owned by David Swain)?