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#470
Training Frustration
planodiver - 5/13/2014 7:31 PM
Category: Training
Replies: 8

I just returned from what was supposed to be the first night on my Rescue Diver class. Showed up and went back for the class and the start time came and went. Went up to check and found out that I was the only student and the instructor assigned had failed to show up for work. I took the class at this particular shop because they were the largest in my area hoping for a lot more professional behavior than I had seen at other shops. No such luck.
#1639
Subscribed
SeaGoat - 5/13/2014 8:24 PM
That’s terrible! Rescue is my favorite class to teach...I love being theatrical and beating up my students.
You can always file a complaint with the shop’s certifying organization...PADI, NAUI, etc like to know which shops are soiling their reputations. Write a nasty review on Yelp if it makes you feel better.

Good luck finding a new shop. I prefer the little places and find I get better attention.
#11595
badintexas - 5/14/2014 4:55 AM
Largest doesn’t always mean best. You may have better luck with an independent instructor. At least you’ll be in direct contact with the instructor in the event the class is cancelled or rescheduled.
#20281
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Smithsgold - 5/14/2014 11:40 PM
I’d ask for my money back and find a new instructor !!!
#1406
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Green_Achers - 5/17/2014 9:17 AM
Maybe something happened to the instructor and there was no way to notify you?! Regardless, stuff happens.

I’d assume you’ll be getting compensated and then the instructor will be giving you the lesson anyway (and not messing up again). Let us know how it turns out.
#470
Subscribed
planodiver - 5/17/2014 2:14 PM
The answer Green_Achers would be no. I will say the shop owner is refunding the full cost of the class. In checking with some other shops, I found it very interesting how few students they get for AOW and even less for courses after that. I think International Scuba is having a Weekend of Rescue next month. I am going to look into that.
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#1406
Subscribed
Green_Achers - 5/17/2014 4:56 PM
Glad you got your refund. Too bad they wasted your day without compensation in any manner. Sounds like a poor business practice to let a customer walk with a bad taste in their mouth due to their own fault.
#12117
Eric_R - 6/13/2014 7:10 PM
Dive shops will fail without good customer service.
#142
Subscribed
USACMASDiver - 7/21/2014 1:17 PM
Too bad they wasted your time: You can always ask for an explanation. As a Diving Instructor myself, I honestly don’t know how anybody could "miss" a rescue class, especially, a rescue class. After all, Rescue Classes are based on the idea of what do you do when things "happen." Have a rescue plan ready. I would feel very nervous about learning from a Rescue Diver Trainer who didn’t have a plan for when he or she couldn’t even show up, lol! And you didn’t get a call? Or a message in a bottle? They didn’t have a dolphin come over and knock on your door with its flipper to tell you? Teaching rescue classes are really fun, so what happened?