Sports Chalet for Open Water?
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DevonDiver
N/A
who??
surfinusa555
Contributor
As is always said, it's all about the instructor. I got certified at Sport Chalet because out of several instructors I talked to, the one I liked the most and thought I could get the best class from, happened to work at Sport Chalet. Just read this thread http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ne...ng/287780-how-find-excellent-scuba-class.html
Sports Chalet is not an agency. It is just a store. As was already said read the thread on how to find a good class. If the instructor is good and has the freedom to set class requirements it could be great. If you just get put thru assembly line style it can suck big time.
As has been said, if you think the instructor will do a good job then it really doesn't matter which store/shop you go through. I actually have a cert (actually a rescue re-cert) from a Sports Chalet instructor who I had the utmost confidence in.
inventor
Contributor
Don't know your location, but I took my OW and AOW through Sport Chalet here in Las Vegas. My instructor, Scott Carmody, was very attentive and a good teacher. And they give discounts for buying gear during the classes.
on_two_wheels
Contributor
I've got three certs through sport chalet (2 different locations). The OW was great. The AOW was horrible. Nitrox was a joke but a very young instructor. However, since I already had a mentor teach me much more, I just needed the official cert.
OW and AOW was a classic example of how the instructor matters. What's more, what the instructor is good at matters. My OW was private instruction and the instructor did a great job and I felt very comfortable when I was done. I started AOW with the same guy. With a very small group, his ability to monitor several was very disappointing. I finished AOW with a different instructor.
Read the linked thread above and ask all the right questions. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR A DIFFERENT INSTRUCTOR IF YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THE FIRST ONE. Of course, if you go through 2 or 3 instructors, might not be the instructor.
OW and AOW was a classic example of how the instructor matters. What's more, what the instructor is good at matters. My OW was private instruction and the instructor did a great job and I felt very comfortable when I was done. I started AOW with the same guy. With a very small group, his ability to monitor several was very disappointing. I finished AOW with a different instructor.
Read the linked thread above and ask all the right questions. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR A DIFFERENT INSTRUCTOR IF YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THE FIRST ONE. Of course, if you go through 2 or 3 instructors, might not be the instructor.
Same here ..... I did my OW with an SC instructor in 1999 and it was fantastic
.... then I did my AOW after few years with a different SC instructor .... and it was a nightmare 
Ask lot of questions ... and make sure the class is not too big
Alberto (aka eDiver)
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