PADI. Sport Chalet or Beach cities scuba?

[luicci]

Hi,
I want to sign up for my PADI OW cert sometime this week. I live in huntington beach, and I can't make up my mind on whether I should do my OW cert at sport chalet or beach cities scuba. Any experiences? I also want to get all of my equipment from the same place I get my cert from so I get my 10% off.

 

[dwaters]

Welcome to the 'board and hopefully to the underworld of SCUBA.
Sorry no experience on either, but before dropping the money down, check out who your instructor(s) will be as they are the one that makes it good or just so so. Please check out this link to gain more insight:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne.../166469-what-consider-new-student-diving.html

Oh, when you do get that c-card, join in the fun here and let the real learning begin as you dive and then dive more. Enjoy!

 

[fnfalman]

Hi,
I want to sign up for my PADI OW cert sometime this week. I live in huntington beach, and I can't make up my mind on whether I should do my OW cert at sport chalet or beach cities scuba. Any experiences? I also want to get all of my equipment from the same place I get my cert from so I get my 10% off.

Do you have any aversion to driving 30-miles westward? If you don't then I will wholeheartedly recommend Sea D Sea in Redondo Beach. It's arguably the cheapest and most conscientious shop. Barry is the owner of the shop and has been there for forty years. He's also been diving since the mid-1960s and only quit recently due to health issues. He will never sell you a piece of equipment that you don't need and he will work with you on costs of new equipment. He also won't sell you a $2000 dive computer and a $1000 BC if they don't fit the type of diving that you plan on doing. No, he won't be able to match on-line prices, but he would come damn close.

Sea d Sea Scuba Diving Center -- 1911 Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 -- (310) 373-6355

 

[scjoe]

The quality of instruction at either place will be fine, but in terms of convenience I would pick the SC Huntington Beach store. It has a pool on site whereas the Huntington Beach BC store does not. If you go with Beach Cities, you will need to drive to Laguna Beach or Cypress to do your pool work.