It all boils down to the shop owners and the people they employ. I’ve been to many horrible PADI/SSI/NAUI dive shops (pushy, rude, expensive)...and I’ve been to many wonderful PADI/SSI/NAUI dive shops (friendly, fun, affordable). The success of the dive shop does not depend on the scuba agency, but rather the owners and the people that work there. It is mainly a service based business, so the people make all the difference.