- What is your refund
policy?
- What is the
difference between the dive agencies?
- Can I do the academic
and pool part of the instruction with you and do the ocean part on my
vacation?
- What happens if I fail
the class?
- Should I buy all my
own gear?
- Do you sell gear, and
if so, will you pressure me to buy it?
-
What is up with this whole pirate thing?
-
What do I do if I can't make one of the class
dates?
You are entitled to a refund minus any deposit up until the day the
class starts. If you can't make the chosen class date, you will be
automatically enrolled in the next available course. If the class is
cancelled for any reason, you will be entitled to a full refund.
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This is a question that people ask quite a bit. Just like sports teams,
everybody has their favorite. People are usually are very loyal to
whichever agency certified them and there is definitely some rivalry.
However, the bottom line is that they all certify people to scuba dive,
they all have standards that they follow, and they are all accepted by
dive shops and resorts around the world. So you can go to any of them and
learn to dive.
The main difference is in how they sequence their instruction and minor
differences in the skills they teach. Some agencies are more popular than
others. For instance, PADI, is the largest dive agency in the world. This
is due to the fact that they are a for profit corporation and are very
market savvy. PADI's approach is very regimented and follows a very strict
sequence of instruction, so there is a great deal of consistency in
instruction no matter where in the world you take one of their courses.
NAUI, on the other hand, is a non-profit organization which is owned by
its instructors. As such, they give their instructors a lot more latitude
over how they sequence instruction. So the instructional framework is
slightly different from organization to organization, but the basic skills
are the same.
However, as with any instruction, it comes down to the instructor. This
is the one variable that you should be more concerned about than agency. A
good instructor will provide you a better experience regardless of agency.
Can I do the academic and pool part of the instruction with
you and do the ocean part on my vacation?
Absolutely, due to the universal referral program, I can refer you to
an instructor in any dive destination in the world to finish your
certification.
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In the unlikely event that you fail the class, you will be invited back
to the next class at no extra charge.
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In a word, YES! Why? Because you will be more comfortable in gear that
is yours. When you travel, it is better to use gear that you are familiar
with and know how to use. It will also help ensure that you continue to
dive. Diving requires both a financial and time commitment. By buying your
own gear you are more likely to continue your diving adventure
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No, I do not sell gear. I promise to do my best to help you be informed
about the different types of gear out there. Naturally, I have my
favorites, as do most divers, and I will talk about them and why.
So, don't get caught up in the frenzied search for the "best gear". There
is no "perfect gear" for everyone and anyone who says different is selling
it. The most important thing is that you get gear that fits, works for
what you want to do, and that you like.
However, I do have a working relationship with the wonderful people at
Innerspace Dive and Travel and I do encourage you to check out their gear.
Getting your gear from a shop that you trust and will give you good
service is extremely important.
I have always been fascinated by pirates, ever since I was a boy and
rode on Disneyland's famous Pirates of the Caribbean ride. When I was
older I joined the pirate crew of the Cardiff Rose at the North California
Renaissance Faire. I spent several seasons teaching fencing, scowling,
cursing, and having a jolly good time. By the way, this was long before
Johnny Depp strapped on a cutlass. In any case, I definitely enjoy the
whole Hollywood pirate style. However, as a historian I know all about
what real pirates were like and that is a totally different matter.
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