Support my LDS? Really?

[Belmont]

Why get a DM cert from a guy who brags about diving to 147 feet on air incurring unplanned deco?

 

[lv2dive]

Your first LDS is compensating for a small SMB.

i have never heard that, love it!

 

[gcarter]

There are multiple LDS's in my area, and I have been inside most of them but the majority of my dealings (by far) have been with one, where my son did his OW and we both did our AOW. We have bought a bunch of gear there (but not exclusively, and never get looked at sideways for having gear of a brand they don't carry), and get our fills there. We tag along on the wet Wednesday dives and have met some awesome people.

Last night we went on a boat dive loosely organized by the shop, but the recompense was to the boat operator, not the shop.

There was an opportunity to do a short drift or a long drift. Because I am an air HOG (take note of the caps) I declined the long one - I knew I could not do it on my 80's. The shop owner, whom I had met multiple times but had not had the pleasure of diving with before, was on the boat. Unbidden and unasked, I found myself wearing a steel 100 out of the back of his truck and doing the long drift. He did not need to do that, but he did. Everyone that I have met affiliated with that shop is the same.

THAT's the kind of LDS you want to find. If you can't, no biggie, just that there would be no reason to exhibit any more loyalty than you would to Wal-Mart. If the business does not EARN loyalty, there is no reason to give it. There is no magic law for LDS's.

(As a shout out, the LDS in question is Sharky's. For fairness, my limited dealings with the others have not been negative - I have just always gotten good vibes here. ScubaGeek is another good local operator.)

 

[ferris213]

why get divemaster: not sure, really. I guess like you all said it, just the "natural progression" of things. I dont really have any desire to teach or etc, so I'm really not sure why I'd take it. I can say for certain that I would not take the class if I was paying for it.

I certainly wouldn't take DM just for the sake of doing it, and by the sounds of things the shop owner is not the type to give things away for free.

You might find yourself doing a lot of unpaid, menial tasks around his shop just for the pleasure of getting a pointless cert (for you) off someone you don't like or respect...

The course might be financially free, but 150 foot dives on air with unplanned deco could end up being very costly.

 

[pThrift]

I certainly wouldn't take DM just for the sake of doing it, and by the sounds of things the shop owner is not the type to give things away for free.

You might find yourself doing a lot of unpaid, menial tasks around his shop just for the pleasure of getting a pointless cert (for you) off someone you don't like or respect...

The course might be financially free, but 150 foot dives on air with unplanned deco could end up being very costly.

The shop isn't giving the class away. He charges some $900 for it. But my workplace (I work for a union factory, so this is a union benefit) will pay the cost for the course if I wish to take it.


But I see where you are going with this. I am also in agreement that unplanned deco @150ft seems awful, well, dumb.

 

[lv2dive]

why get divemaster: not sure, really. I guess like you all said it, just the "natural progression" of things. I dont really have any desire to teach or etc, so I'm really not sure why I'd take it. I can say for certain that I would not take the class if I was paying for it.


Also, I'm sort of worried about the quality of the course. Like it was mentioned, I think I will catch a lot of flack and just get another piece of plastic.

But you would be paying for it... with what I would consider your most valuable commodity of all... your time and energy and focus. If you question the quality of instruction you would receive... is the "free" class really "free" after all?

And on the subject of money... I believe you said your union or employer *would* be paying for it - so it's free *to you* but not really free, right? Is there better use to which those dollars could be put than a class you are questioning before you even start?

---------- Post Merged at 11:48 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 11:43 PM ----------

Please do not misunderstand; if this was something in which you were interested I'd be saying, go for it, figure out a way to work with the jerky owner. But not having a clear reason for wanting to take an expensive course, combined with a quality concern... it just seems like a no-brainer to me.

 

[UnderSeaBumbleBee]

The shop isn't giving the class away. He charges some $900 for it. But my workplace (I work for a union factory, so this is a union benefit) will pay the cost for the course if I wish to take it.


But I see where you are going with this. I am also in agreement that unplanned deco @150ft seems awful, well, dumb.

Will your union pay for you to take the class from LDS#2? Might be worth checking into and give a $$$$ to the guy who is trying to treat you right.

 

[Sonic04GT]

I would have already been gone. Drive to the courteous dive shop an hour away, or order online if necessary.

 

[Doubler]

How is a dive class a union benefit? And you wonder why so many states are starting to reel them in.

 

[supergaijin]

The "Support your LDS' campaign doesn't mean supporting bad businesses. It sounds like there is another one in your area (albeit further away)- just go there.

Personally I'd take the initial purchases on the chin (like I do when I buy something from one shop and then walk 2mins down the road and see it in the window for a cheaper price).

As for doing a DM course... up to you. If you feel that the instructor is a good mentor... why not. If it turns out that the DM course is not actually free, you haven't lost anything by quitting.