Taken the classes but having hard time getting final cert dives :(

[Dive-aholic]

Regardless of who's right or wrong here, who did what and didn't do what, the bottom line is it's bad business. If Scuba Sciences can't accomodate iroc's schedule, they should do what they can to help iroc get certified. If they had said, "Sure, here's the training records. Good luck with your dives", then iroc would have gone out gotten certified, and maybe come back and buy all of his and his S.O.'s gear from them. As it stands, I think Scuba Sciences burned that bridge and lost out on some potential income. Not to mention the income they might be losing from potential customers that come across this thread.

Oh, and Steve, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I'm listed in the right column of their list.

 

[shark.byte.usa]

If Scuba Sciences can't accomodate iroc's schedule, they should do what they can to help iroc get certified.

I completely agree, I think we all do. The only problem is Iroc's never talked to them about his scheduling conflict as far as I can tell from the thread, he just marched in demanding his training record, saying he contacted SSI corporate, blah blah blah. It displeases me to have to defend S.Sciences but in this ONE single solitary instance, knowing their pre sign-up speech and in-class referral speech and the lack of going in and saying, "Hey, I just can't make any of your cert trips, I'd love to but my schedule just can't accomodate one of them, what can we do here to get me certified, I've paid and passed the class, bought all my gear, help me out.". I would expect them to say something like, "You can do an Universal Referral in San Diego, we'll contact shop XYZ and set-up mid week certification dives for you and provide you all the paperwork and coordiante with the shop." Now if I didn't get a response like that or something similar...then and only then would I demand a copy of my training record and file a complaint with SSI. Personally for all my gripes with S.Sciences, and the list is long and distinguished, the OW training was not one of them nor was the UR process when my son went through, they may not like to send business to local competition (I can't really fault them for that, although their methods can be extreme and untruthful), but they are up front about it and the restrictions on the referrals. The thread started with "I can't make any of their trips what are my options", sounds like a conversation to have with the shop first, before asking scubaboard.

Any yes Rob I expect you will make the list, wear it like a badge of honor my friend How about: Southwest Scuba - Not Recommended by Scuba Sciences since 2006! COME DIVE WITH US! Now that's a company tagline!!

Garrett
(I just may have to inflict pain upon myself for being the voice of reason for S.Sciences :shakehead, 8 lashes with a LP hose! )

 

[Dive-aholic]

I see your point, Garrett. But I'm not reading the same thing into it. To me it looks like iroc talked to S.Sciences about midweek options, S.Sciences said we don't do it you'll have to go to SoCal with us on one of our weekends, end of story. iroc, being new to this, doesn't know to ask about the other options available and came here to ask about them. His original question was if he has to do the cert dives with the school he did his initial training with. The thread has since evolved to a S.Sciences bash fest at no fault of iroc. He asked a question, and true to our SB blood, we gave him answers, probably more than he wanted to know. So now it's turned into something else. The suggestion of going to San Diego for a midweek is okay, but from everything I've read, here and on their referral page, San Diego doesn't qualify for a UR - http://www.scubasciences.com/referrals.htm - it states resort location, not sure SD would fit that in the diving world. I understand the local competition thing, but I always feel better doing business with someone that refers me to their competition if they can't help me. In fact, I try to buy more from them.

I like the new tagline. I just may have to adopt that.

 

[Iroc]

Just wanted to explain things a little better since shark.byte.usa seems to be getting a little excited on assumptions. I have talked to them several times about not being able to make the weekend trips and their reply to the problem was for me to "figure it out". After the last time I talked with them about the problem I decided to ask on here to see if anyone had any good advise. Scuba Sciences basically told me the last time I talked to them if i could not make one of their trips then i would have to retake the course elsewhere and consider it my loss as far as paying for and attending SS classes. Personally I think we were wonderful customers to them and tried to do everything we could to stay loyal (we are just like that). Just cuz they already got a ton of my money doesnt mean you should blow us off and do nothing to try to help us or even point us in the right direction. The last time I talked to them they told me they would call me back with an answer about the records. It has now been a week with no word (I have been really busy and unable to call them about it). Not sure but to me that is kinda rude and very poor customer service. I will try to call them here in the next couple days and i will kep you guys updated

 

[shark.byte.usa]

Just wanted to explain things a little better since shark.byte.usa seems to be getting a little excited on assumptions.

Excited? Assumptions? :no Not quite just based off of your original post. Believe me S.Sciences doesn't excite me at all

I would rather not ask them these questions as we dont want make any bad blood between us and local dive shop

Maybe I missed something, I didn't read the whole thread all over again...

However based on your better explanation/clarification, I cant' say I'm totally shocked at their response, and yes that's totally F'ed UP, I wouldn't have expected them to go out of their way like other dive shops, but jeez that's insane! Welcome to the club. I have been in their 7th st. shop once in the last 12 months to pick up my son's c-card and haven't been to metro in a lot longer. I only took my son to 7th st. for the instructor and SSI OW class, but now have no reason to step foot back in their shop.

I don't know why you want your training record anyway, when you retake the class you'll have to demonstrate all the skills to your new instructor/agency. Save yourself the aggravation and just cut your losses. Unless I'm missing something or it's just the principle of the matter. I'd definitley complain to SSI but Take a quickie PADI class and be done with it.

Good luck, hopefully you'll dive eventually!
Garrett

 

[Dive-aholic]

I don't know why you want your training record anyway, when you retake the class you'll have to demonstrate all the skills to your new instructor/agency.

With the training record iroc can avoid going through the entire classroom/pool stuff again. They would have to demonstrate skills and take the PADI final exam, but that's it. That would save them around $150 + a piece and a bunch more time in the classroom and pool.

 

[shark.byte.usa]

More lashes with a wet LP hose??? I was just thinking if I was an Instructor (which I am NOT, I don't play one on TV and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night) and my name/rep was going to be on the card, I'd want them to demonstrate the knowledge and skills prior to OW checkouts and they have to take the test again anyway as you pointed out. They may have to go through at least a couple hours of class/review, some basic info is different, such as tables, and possibly demonstrate confined water skills anyways depending on the instructor/shop. Since they're probably not going to get the records without a big hassle, which I think it already is and more time, they could be done with the whole thing in a couple days without the aggravation of dealing any further with S.Sciences. That was my thought at least.

 

[Dive-aholic]

It's about a 2-3 hour session, depending on the student, to do the skill set in confined water and the final exam. Even with PADI referrals I do a skill set review. Better to find out there are issues in confined water than in open water! But you're probably right, all the aggravation with S. Sciences will probably amount to nothing. I haven't had many dealings with them, but I don't see them providing a happy ending to this.

 

[venkat927]

IROC I was in the same boat as you are ..I went to scuba sciences for OW certification and finished my pools and classrooms.I wanted to take my dives in hawaii and they were not so keen in universal referrals.They were charging around 130$ for referral,so i went to an independent Instructor who evaluated my skills first in a pool and then took me to lake plesant for my checkout dives.

 

[venkat927]

oops i forgot to mention..The independent Instructor charged me only 150$