Thumbs Down for Dixie Divers and Lady Go Diver

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OBXDIVEGUY

Contributor
Messages
952
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Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL
# of dives
Oh boy... here we go again. DiverGirl4u asked me to copy and paste her post from SB2. So, to continue the drama for those who didn't cross over to Scubaboard's limbo site, here it is:

Dixie Diver Florida shop thumbs down

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My name is Kim Porter and I do dive groups ... I would like to share my reports from this weekends event.
Kim P
Good morning all my friends and thanks you for making this event such fun.

Friday night we had 9 diver show up for our night dive is was great fun and we are discovering some great new divers . The dive itself was a lot of fun sleeping fish are so cool and we (showboat) got some great pictures. (post em Mr Dan)

I had a few issues since my tank was empty even though I had dropped it of at Dixie Divers the day before to have it filled but it was empty with tape on it, once again Dan saved the day by loaning me a tanks. Thanks Dan When I returned to the Dixie Divers to find out why the tank had tape on it but it was not filled the shop employee looked up at me and said “You mean you did not check your tank before you left the shop?” I then stated that this was a air fill and no other dive shop require you to check air only Nitrox and it was taped that mean it has been filled …. He did not say another word took my tank and filled it and said HERE, no I am sorry we messed up your dive or my mistake it wont happen again … nothing just HERE so I took my tank and left to go to Saturday morning’s event.


Saturday morning’s event was amazing we had 25+ divers show up and bring food dive and spend the whole morning with great company. Bonus one of our new members has a wife who cooks mmmm she brought homemade chilly pie and homemade brownies OMG we had sooooo much food and divers we broke into groups and had a ball.


Saturday nights advanced boat dive:
What a mess, the story goes like this. I had all of my divers call and book their spot on the boat and tell them they where with Kim Porter’s group. I informed the dive shop on several occasions that these divers are from online and I may not personally know them so PLEASE ask certification level and I told them they would all say “Kim Porter’s group” .

Every diver that called and booked was quoted 6 shoe 6:30 go unless they need tanks then come to the shop before the dive to pick them up and they would have to deliver them back to the shop after the dive. Since I needed to collect money to pay all at once some of my divers had not paid so I showed up at 5:15 to meet them collect $$ and then sent them over to the boat, my tanks was getting filled for the dive as well and I rented a tank also.

Cliff and I then looked at the manifest … Dixie divers did not make notes on who was in Kim Porter’s group even though we all had stated “Kim Porter’s group”

At 6 we (cliff and I) decided to go ahead and pay … this is was all the divers that where going to show … we had 10. While cliff went in the back room with the owner to take care of the money transaction I checked to see if my tank was ready. The large man who fills the tanks said it is going to take 45 minutes … I was like the boat goes at 6:30 and I have had this tank here for you since 5:15, I asked do think the boat will leave me? He said yes and smiled so I was like ok he just messing with me and went ahead and analyzed the rental Nitrox tank

At 6:15 my phone rings and it is Showboat aka Dan on the boat calling me to tell my the boat is leaving the dock … with Dan on the phone I went into the shop said the boat is leaving it is not 6:30 please call and tell them to wait …. The Owner looked at me and just shrugged his shoulders like …. So.

Now I am mad and I asked Dan to put the captain (NICK PALMER) on the phone he refused to take it and said we are not turning around because we will miss the draw bridge that only opens every 30 minutes.

Now my people on the boat are getting upset tell the captain and they want him to turn around or they will not dive… he then told them “SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN” ….

By this time every on of my group is calling me and the shop. No results, so in the state of mind I was in (pissed) I walked into the dive shop right into the back room and took all the money right out of Cliffs hand … looked straight at the owner and said if you do not turn the boat around you will not get paid and walked out of the store with the money.

My people on the boat are now upset and saying if you won’t take the phone the call you shop on the marien radio and see that what we are telling you is correct.

Captain Nick Palmer said “We do not have a marine radio aboard” Now my guest are getting worried what if something happens … not radio omg.

By this time Pavan (owner) is trying to reach the captain he would not answer so the shop had me call one of my friends on the boat and try to give the so called captain the phone telling him it was the shop owner.

Captain Nick Palmer said “What part of no do you not understand? Shut the **#* up and sit back down”

Ok so the boat belongs to Dixie Diver and they hire a captain who must now like to make $$ cause I still have it.

After about 15 minutes I calmed down and brought my rental tank back in for a refund on my CC at that time the fat man who fills the tanks is talking to another diver in the store and said loudly yes most divers a a bit nuts like that one over there and pointed at me and like that on is crazy.

This hurt my feeling I had worked so hard on this event and it brought tears to my eyes Pavan is still fiddling around with my refund on my card and doing something else and said I really need my card back because I did not want to cry in a store that is ok with insulting a customer in that manor … finally he finished I left to go see if the boat was at port

I was at the dock at 6:25 no boat so I went back to the store and talked to cliff outside and said here is the money … I do not want to go back inside to be insulted so would you please go pay for the divers on the boat only … it’s was only fair. Cliff went to the front door and it was locked … he gave the money sign to Pavan and Pavan said NO LEAVE …. So we left and Cliff went back later to pay. Pavan discounted the divers $5

As it turns out Lady go diver did not make the draw bridge anyway and sat there for 30 minutes until it opened again … instead of turning around and coming back he sat for the 30 minutes and waited for the draw bridge to open and went out.

Cliff went and paid and asked what he was going to do to make it right for me Pavan said absolutely nothing will I do for her.
This dive shop has my phone number and I have yet to hear one word from them ???

Sunday afternoon dive we had 10 divers show up and we dove the Jack very nice dive and we had a great time.
Until next Time
Kim P
Over and out

BTW I purchased ALL my lobster gear today ... I'll bet you can guess who did not get my $$$
 
wow...good for you. (taking the money back)

he then told them “SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN” ….

lol, thats when the USCG come in handy,... maybe.
 
Wow, I'll remember to never use Dixie Divers or that crappy captain.
 
vote with your feet / wallet!

there is one more dive shop that won't be getting my business or anyone I happen upon.



IF anyone connected to a dive operation says they don't have a radio and/or any required saftey equipment on a boat, call the USGC and report them.
 
catherine96821:
wow...good for you. (taking the money back)

Did you miss the part where she then gave it back?
 
OK I am also reposting my story now that this board is back up for now as well since I was the one that was told to F.O and F.U from Mr. Wonderful Capt Nick...

Kim, you did a wonderful job of putting this all together as U did and we did miss you on the boat and U did put the story as is and I do not think I could have said it any better... As for capt Ummmm Nick.. well what a pathatic apology... saying to the divers I am sorry for my behavior tonight, but I am working a 16 hour day and I want to say I am sorry to the person who I yelled at but the divers safety is my concern and etc.....

Well it would have been better if he called me to the back of the boat and say I am deeply soory that I have yelled and cussed at you tonight and offer a handshake in front of everyone.. from that I might have accepted, but still no excuse to make a bridge so he can be home at 11pm instead of 11:30pm. well if I did not feel rushed I would not have forgotten my wetsuit for this chilly dive so many thanks to laura, aka Justin's sidekick for loaning me a top to keep me warm.......

I did get to talk to Paven this afternoon and told him that I was very upset on Nick's behavior and totally uncalled for and that I have my money returned from Cliff so I can directly talk to Paven directly and I told him it would be very unfair to me to pay for a trip when a capt tells me "What part of "NO" dont you understand, I do not care if the shop is on the phone, So I am telling you to get the ******* down and ******* U" when I asked the capt for permission to come up top deck and hand him my cell phone so he can talk to Paven on the second try.. Well Paven tells me its up to me if I want to pay or not, but after another 5 minutes of B****en, he goes ok, never mind I will do U a favor and U do not pay and that he will talk to Nick.... Paven tells me he has known Nick for many years and had very little complaints about him..... Well to me it seems like Nick had a really bad day from one group and took it on to another (Bad choice Capt and chose the wrong group to try this with)

From this Lady Go Diver should give everyone from this trip a free dive outing to make up for this bad behavior., But from what I heard from Kim earlier tonight is that they only will discount to $40 from $45 wooooo hooooooo. well at least everyone can buy another big mac from the doller menue now.
 
Another repost from SB II

OK folks here is Pavens number to call and complain if U would like to reach him and or leave a message if nobody answers 954-420-0009.
This is for who was to be on the boat and or who did dive to complain. I did tell Paven that I do expect a full apology from Nick. He does have my number to call, but I would rather go in person and have a few witness' (I will not hold my breath on this)I would hate to turn blue in the face (As of Tues night 080707 still no call hmmmmmm I wonder why)???.
 
*** SB2 repost

I was on the boat Saturday night and can confirm the previous posts as an accurate representation of events. Needless to say, I'll take my dive dollars elsewhere and won't be patronizing Dixie Divers and the Lady Go Diver boat again.

Pavan's (shop owner) email address, pavan@dixiedivers.com, is posted on their website for anyone interested in contacting him directly. I'll be sending a message to express my disappointment with their actions and subsequent handling of this problem.

***

I sent Pavan an email last night. No reply so far......
 
I periodically drive to the other side of the state (from ft myers) to dive that area and I will not use them after reading that. There is way too much time and money involved in planning dive trips and to be treated like that is inexcusable. I am glad that the divers on the boat kept a cool head (unlike the boat captain) when being told to F.O. as a physical confrontation would have made this even worse for the people on board. I think Divergirl4u posted the email on the other site but if she will post it again I think it is justified for those of us who don't want to have this experience to let the dive shop know we will be going elsewhere in the future. There are way to many dive operations out there to put up with that type of treatment.
 

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