Scuba Schools of America/Rusty Berry

[fnfalman]

Apropos of nothing, and that I am NOT advocating any illegal activities...

I think that if somebody were to soak me up for a goodly $3000 or $8000...it's gonna cost that person a lot more to replace certain things on his body.

 

[ChrisM]

At any rate, Lina, you did a service pulling the scab off this wound. It's like some time warp or something, I am getting back into diving after a couple year layoff and amazingly, people are still complaining about this shop!

I had one encounter with Rusty on Chamber Day, 2003 or 4 maybe. Went on the SSA boat since all the others were sold out. I just got the creeps from that dude, and would never do an SSA charter again.

 

[D_B]

Dang
Lina ... I hope that you find a good instructor to finish your training with (I'm not sure from this thread if you have) I know that Jim Lapenta is one of those or could help you find one in your area (and apologies to any others I missed while reading thread with mouth open)

As for the buying more stuff than you thought ... quite easily done when your thinking that this guy knows what he's talking about, and I sure dont know anything about scuba ... maybe I really do need this stuff

 

[Lina77]

As for the buying more stuff than you thought ... quite easily done when your thinking that this guy knows what he's talking about, and I sure dont know anything about scuba ... maybe I really do need this stuff

He also took advantage of the fact that I did have a fear of being underwater, so he sold me on this is safer than that and that one's better and so on...really took advantage of my inexperience.

 

[sneighbor]

An older thread where a member had a bad experience with SSA:

scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/117130-nitrox-tank-cleaning.html

 

[muddiver]

No, the wine is only offered when he was selling me everything. Not before going into the pool...I know better than that.

There is your most important point under California Contract Law. If consumption of alcohal is involved at any time when entering into an agreement or contract, the entire event is void and illigal.

 

[muddiver]

Dang
Lina ... I hope that you find a good instructor to finish your training with (I'm not sure from this thread if you have) I know that Jim Lapenta is one of those or could help you find one in your area (and apologies to any others I missed while reading thread with mouth open)

As for the buying more stuff than you thought ... quite easily done when your thinking that this guy knows what he's talking about, and I sure dont know anything about scuba ... maybe I really do need this stuff

If no one else finds you a good instructor, I know a number in the North Orange County, Long Beach and Central Orange County areas.

No pressure, attentive, and there to help you learn scuba instead of selling gear.

 

[padiscubapro]

Yes...he was trying to sell me a rebreather before I ever went out into the ocean. He taught one of the classes that I was in and the whole time just talked about how cool rebreathers are and went on and on. Someone in my class asked about the dangers or if there had ever been any incidents where some had been injured or killed. He flat out said NO. Later, I found out there was a wrongful death lawsuit that he was named as a defendant in because someone died using a rebreather. The man was under for an hour before they started searching for him. Here's the link to the document that was found on the suit: http://crossbowdiving.com/robles2/complaint.pdf

I was shocked when I read this. He plays with people's lives and someone else is going to eventually get hurt, if not worse.

you should have done more research before bringing the wrongful death suit into it... SSA sold the rig to the person in question and during training the diver was found to be incompetent and SSA tried to buy the rig back and notified the manufacturer of the rig and ANDI.. the diver in question found another party that was willing to certify him (very quickly I might add)..

 

[drbill]

I don't think I've spent $8,000 on certifications and gear over the nearly 50 years I've been diving (unless you include the cost of several multi-month dive/backpacking trips).

I just read that he tried to sell you a rebreather when you were certifying OW? Heck, after all my decades of diving I'm not sure I'm ready to take that step!

 

[lemon]

you should have done more research before bringing the wrongful death suit into it... SSA sold the rig to the person in question and during training the diver was found to be incompetent and SSA tried to buy the rig back and notified the manufacturer of the rig and ANDI.. the diver in question found another party that was willing to certify him (very quickly I might add)..

looking through the wrongful death suit complaint - and bear in mind that I am not a lawyer - you will also see that the plaintiffs essentially tried to sue anyone that was in any way associated with the rebreather including the manufacturer, the distributor, the manufacturer of the oxygen sensors, the certifying agency, etc. it appears that they did so without any clear explanation for the divers death.

i have no dog in this fight, but i don't know how relevant that suit is to the business in question.