Where is the best place to get certified? (1 Viewer)

[BrianPlankis]

My wife and I are thinking of getting certified before we go to Hawaii, where is the best place in Houston to do this? We would prefer a place that is reasonably priced, but safety and quality of instruction matter the most.

B.

 

[boudster]

question

My wife and I have the same question.....

 

[incysor]

I got my basic and advanced with Diver's Paradise in Webster. They're one of the least expensive places in town, and when I did it they were one of three places that you could take it and get PE credit at UH. I think the owner is an PITA, but the two instructors that I did both my classes with were awesome. They're been best friends for years, so they bring a fun chemistry to the class, and they were the best teachers for scuba I've had.

I got my nitox cert through Oceanic Ventures Inc.
Nice people, and they know their stuff, but they're mainly catering to the tech-diving crowd, and one of the more expensive places to get your basic certs.

I got my rescue diver cert through Gigglin Marlin Divers. They were about standard on their rates. They're a friendly group, and seem to know their stuff.

Let them know I sent you. I haven't dove with any of them in quite awhile, but I like to let them know I'm thinking of them.

B

Divers Paradise, Inc.
20801 Gulf Freeway Suite #10
Webster, TX 77598
281-332-9982
http://www.dpscuba.com
(Ask for Rob Verwers, or Loretta Shields)

Gigglin Marlin Divers
2211 Richmond Avenue
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 521-1859
http://www.gigglinmarlin.com/
(Ask for Martin Pollizotto)

Oceanic Ventures
2715 Bissonnet Street Suite 302
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 523-3483
http://www.oceanicventures.com
(Ask for Ann Keibler)

 

[BrianPlankis]

Thanks B! WOW, an expert at photography AND diving.

 

[Guest]

i got mine from a retired cop who use to dive for the county. It was alot cheaper than a scuba store and funner.

 

[incysor]

I've got a friend that was actually injured by a 'private' instructor that she found on the internet.

It took nearly 6weeks for her eardrums to heal enough to go to a shop and finish up her cert before she went to belize. All because the guy was a macho punk, and rushed her to descend even though her ears hadn'd equalized yet.

Shops usually have several instructors, and carry more insurance than individual instructors can afford. I'd stick with them unless you have a friend that's an instructor, or have a friend that have already gotten certs through a particular instructor.

I've dealt repeatedly with the people I recommended and I think they're good instructors.
However just because I gelled with their teaching styles and personalities doesn't mean everyone will.

B

 

[Wildfire]

Brian,

My store is Sport Diver's (in Webster, just across the freeway from Diver's Paradise). Their equipment selection is smaller, but the people there are much less "creepy".

IMHO, I break the two stores down like this:

Diver's Paradise - Hardware Store. Good selection and quality.
Sport Diver's - Everything else. Advice, classes, et cetera. They seem more honest to me....

 

[incysor]

Brian,

My store is Sport Diver's (in Webster, just across the freeway from Diver's Paradise). Their equipment selection is smaller, but the people there are much less "creepy".

IMHO, I break the two stores down like this:

Diver's Paradise - Hardware Store. Good selection and quality.
Sport Diver's - Everything else. Advice, classes, et cetera. They seem more honest to me....

I've seen sport divers....But every time I happen to be in the area they're closed so I haven't acually been inside.

I'm sure there are tons of very cool, knowledgeable folks to get your certs from, but I don't recommend them if I haven't taken a class from them. I have a really good friend who's an instructor and one of the most knowledgeable people I've ever met in scuba. He's got multiple agency instructor ratings. I took a class under him, and hated every minute of it. He knows his stuff, and is a safe diver, but he's a REALLY crappy teacher. So I'd never be able to suggest him for someone that's trying to get their basic certs.

B

 

[Wildfire]

Just a quick update:

I DiveMastered with the two OW1 classes from Sport Diver's over the weekend, and got to meet and see each of their instructors in action. I was very impressed with their clarity of explanation, patience with students, and their overall enthusiasm for their subject.

PLUS, they have another class starting in about a week..... So you'ld be done on May 22 (assumiing you don't do something silly).