The Dive Shop Canada! ... ANYONE!

[Michael_Lambert]

Hey guys,

So as stated in a previous thread im taking there SSI course in October! .. and well i have been looking and no one has of yet said they deal with them or where certified with them?

Has anyone here done the SSI OW Course with them, or know of someone... I mean whats going .. They claim to certify 500+ people per year.. but yet i never see any one them here.. or anywhere online..

So they have either been left on the bottom of the lake somwhere, or dont have computers!!!

Come on peoples!

Michael

 

[Groundhog246]

You mean "The Dive Shop" in Newmarket? I haven't been much impressed with the skill level of the divers they churn out. You can always tell when they've been to the J.C. Morrison. And consider that your OW cert qualifies you to dive in conditions similar to those in which you trained. So you do your OW to max 35 feet in warmish water on the Morrison (albeit, probably low vis). This IMHO, does not qualify you to then head up to Toby or Kingston and do a dive to 55 to 60 feet, under the thermocline. I've buddied with a couple of folks with that kind of cert and they quickly bailed, which was probably a wise choice, since they weren't comfortable with the cold or darkness (not real dark, but a lot less light at 60 feet than 30. Might be an OK cert if you plan to travel and dive in warm tropical waters.

 

[Michael_Lambert]

Sorry, THere website is http://www.thediveshopcanada.com/

Yes that is the one, now i have heard the same, Which is why im looking for locals.. so when i do finish the course i can get in a coupe of dives with some experienced divers, as well i do plan on picking up a couple of other courses from Aquasub.. they have some "Continuing education" course.. on Boyency and such.

 

[Tamas]

Can you cancel the course with them and take your $$$ to a shop that can actually certify you properly (based on the above mentioned stories)? If they are as bad as they are, why even get certified there?

There are a number of shops in the northern GTA area, Colt Creek (just down the street from them), Aquasub (of whom which you already know) Scuba2000 (Richmond Hill) amongst a whole bunch more PADI and SSI certified stores in the GTA. You best bet would be to look at PADI's centers and SSI centersfor their locations.



ps. for the record this is a non-biased post for those of you that like to stir the pot

 

[Groundhog246]

Or join one of the training clubs. Generally you get good training from folks who care, as well as meeting potential buddies and access to pool time in the winter to keep skills sharp.

 

[Michael_Lambert]

I can't and thats where im stuck, Myself and soon to be wifes uncle have allready signed up, had to pay for the course in full, just over $300 invested.. i dont wnat to lose.. and honesty can't afford to. I personally don't know if they are bad? thats what im trying to find out.. I mean being a much cheaper shop it tends to make peoiple ask why.. so thats what im doing..

 

[gitterdun]

PM sent

 

[TorontoDive]

I can't and thats where im stuck, Myself and soon to be wifes uncle have allready signed up, had to pay for the course in full, just over $300 invested.. i dont wnat to lose.. and honesty can't afford to. I personally don't know if they are bad? thats what im trying to find out.. I mean being a much cheaper shop it tends to make peoiple ask why.. so thats what im doing..

Actually at least 2 other shops - Colt Creek and Aquarius - are both cheaper and both seem to turn out good divers (OW checkouts at Big Bay down past the thermocline).

My personal experience with The Dive Shop was not a good one (though I can in no way at all speak about their training as I have not done any with them). When I walked in to rent a tank (for $15/day no less!!) the guy there tried to sell me a PST 120 Steel tank for $550 and telling me what a great deal I was getting - YEAH RIGHT!!

 

[Rollie]

The basic certification is just that, a basic certification and it is up to the diver to carry on and gain his or her experience after wards. If you think the other dive shops are going to teach you anything different your dreaming. For an instructor to take a basic student down under the thermal Cline in darker water is foolish and not part of the PADI protocol its more of an instructors stupped ego blow off. Diving in colder deep darker water is a slow process learnt after wards at the divers pace. Remember there is more bad advice out there for the want to be diver than there are accidents waiting to happen.

 

[MANTA1]

When I walked in to rent a tank (for $15/day no less!!)

That seems like an average price to me.