Took the STCW Revalildation course with George Baldwin on 6.14.19…read more Let me give you a play-by-play PARKING: Although the lot has abundant parking, there are specific spots that the school has assigned for their student to park. To have this go smoothly, please pull up next to the door where you will see a podium marked with a sign for parking passes. There will also be an attendant to guide you to where you need to park. LOBBY: Once you enter the building you will immediately be facing the counter where students check in. Help out by having your ID ready. On the day I arrived multiple staff members were checking in people, so I will reiterate, do have your ID ready because I wouldn't blame them if you were skipped over because of a line of students... I had mine in my front pocket before I came in the door. Follow suit, you can put it back in your wallet later. CHECK-IN: After the staff photocopies your ID and answers any questions you may have concerning check-in and the class specifics, they will tell you where your class will be held. This might possibly include receiving a map of the facility which may be highlighted, displaying the route you will need to proceed along to arrive at your assigned classroom. LUNCH: The staff will also inform you that you can order lunch and it will be delivered but, you have to order before 8 A.M. Although, I will admit to not paying much attention to the lunch order details, due to bringing my own lunch, I will try to relay how things progressed. So, they have menus, which were located on the counter to the far right. I believe they stated that it was cash only. They will also inform you that several other options exist in the area and that you will have 60 minutes (1 hour) for lunch... That is long enough for lunch and a nap, if you bring your own. Trust me, I witnessed at least one guy napping, lol. STUDENT LOUNGE: This well laid out area, is located to the right of the check-in counter. You will find two drink machines and a snack machine here. You will also find complementary teas and coffee. There are plenty of tables, most with 4 chairs per table, but a few two-toppers as well. There are two microwaves here, and they were spotlessly clean when I arrived. Please be respectful and leave them in the condition that you found them... or better. There is a full-sized refigerator here, where you can store your lunch while you are in class. Do note that stickers have been made available, so that you can add one to your belongings and then mark it with your name/date (and I'd toss in the name of my class). They have sink, dishwashing liquid and hand sanitizer for keeping things clean. I would also like to point out that they have utensils, paper plates, napkins (open a napkin, or two, up fully and cover your food if you are microwaving items, be respectful of others and keep in mind that those who are hired to clean up are not specifically hired to clean up after you), and finally they have a decent stock of condiment packets like hot sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup and such. So, what I am telling you is that this was well thought out and properly designed to make the most out of their space. If this was an Olympic event I would give them a 10 for organization and imagineering. CLASSROOM: Although I took only the STCW Revalidation course (6.14.19: $600), I did look into other classrooms, such as ones that was designed as an engineering operating station (EOS)/control room. Very well and simply laid out. THE FACILITY: Although this facility would not be confused with or compared to a college campus in sheer size, like campus buildings, the rooms are labeled with numbers and some with specific functions, i.e. "Testing Room" the aformentioned map will assist even the the most navigationally challenged individuals. MY CLASSES: After the classroom instructional, the class was bussed over to two different facilities for firefighting and watercraft survival. The classes progressed smoothly and by the days end we all had our certificates. END GAME: I liked the school but, I did price out these classes elsewhere. Hang onto your shirts as I announce this: San Diego: $600. Northern California: $650 Louisiana: $345

I took the 100 ton master class in June. There are many steps in receiving your credential but, the…read morestaff at TRMI helped in every step they could. The paperwork can sometimes be confusing. The ladies at the front desk are a HUGE help. Miss Leah helped me document my military service into sea service. She also helped me put the package together and now, I have my 50 ton master credential! The classroom is hard! If you do all your assignments and work on your memorization, you will be successful! The instructor will set you up for success but, you have to do the work. Its fast-paced and a lot of memorization. I do not have another course to compare TRMI to but, I had success with TRMI.

Terrible community! Students are very disrespectful to the residents that live around them. Pool…read moreparties, loud yelling, blaring music, in the middle of the night. Please teach your students about quiet hours.

I had the best interaction with the accommodation's office! They were amazing and so helpful!read more

We have been coming to Big Blue Swim since August of 2025. And have not had a bad experience until…read moretoday. Mind you, My son is autistic and we got very lucky to have had the same instructor for almost 6 months. He obviously started off his swim lessons a little nervous and apprehensive but quickly warmed up. Sadly our coach doesn't work here anymore. For the past 3 weeks my son has had a new instructor. Last week we had the pleasure of experiencing coach Denise. She was absolutely amazing, extremely patient. I must've thanked her so many times for being so great with my son. Well today she had not been there and that's okay but coach Frankie stepped in to teach the class and right off the bat was annoyed, not compassionate of the fact that my son isn't used to her and she was so aggressive in her approach to try to get my son to swim. He was screaming, crying and the session basically ended in her discriminating against my son and his special needs. Saying "I'm not going to do this with him, or put up with the screaming, he's obviously upset" I immediately pulled my baby out of the pool and told her how inpatient she was and that it wasn't a good fit for us either. Instead of trying to get my son to warm up to her and be playful and allow him to trust her first since it was the first time he was ever in her class she just threw her hands up and said get him out of my class basically. We both left in tears and I spoke to Ivan the general manager who tried to make things right but I just can't get over the fact that as mothers it is our job to advocate for our children especially the ones who can't speak up for them selves . She has no business being around people let alone children. I sat in the parking lot balling my eyes out for 30 minutes after over how mistreated we were by this woman. These are some of the things coach Frankie said to my son today in swim class. "You're going to leave that wall one way or another" "You grabbing onto me isn't helping yourself" "I appreciate you trying to float on your back but that's not what we're doing right now" I really hope no one else has to go through what my son and I went through today by coach Frankie!

Big Blue runs like a place that actually thought through every pain point parents deal with. I've…read moregot three kids, we've tried three different swim school setups, and this is the first one that feels genuinely organized instead of chaotic. The structure is real. Every class has a clipboard, progress notes, and a clear sense of where your kid is headed next. They move through real developmental tranches, not vibes. The pool itself is huge, warm, and the entire room is heated to tropical levels so kids never shiver through a lesson. It's so warm that I personally refuse to sit poolside, but the kids are thrilled. The locker room situation is elite. Two dozen stalls at minimum, which means no waiting, no crowding, no post lesson meltdown because someone else is taking forever. Instructors aren't just thrown in the water and forgotten. They're watched, coached, and evaluated by a team that clearly cares about consistency. A lot of the negative reviews here come from one time visits where the kid was miserable. And honestly, that's not a Big Blue problem. Learning to swim is scary. You're in the water with a stranger doing something brand new. All three of my kids struggled at the beginning everywhere we went. YMCA, Callan, you name it. Big Blue has been the smoothest of the bunch. Bigger facility, easier parking, better locker room flow, calmer energy. Are all instructors perfect? No. That's true anywhere. But across the whole journey this has been the least stressful experience I've had as a parent in the swim school world. You can't call the front desk directly because everything routes through the central call center, but the app is simple and the staff on site are always friendly and accommodating. If something goes sideways, just show up and talk to them. They fix things without attitude. My kids love swim day. I'm grateful for the warm welcome, the structure, and the easygoing vibe. Thank you Big Blue.

Used the school for years, both for informative classes and the herbal clinic. The most recent…read moreclinic experience following a bad motorcycle accident. The results were spectacular. Nice people, lots of useful information. A+

My experience in John and Jane's Herbalism 101 class was more than just disappointing--it was…read moreemotionally taxing, unprofessional, and, at times, outright disturbing. What should have been a sacred and respectful space for learning, healing, and growth quickly revealed itself to be dominated by ego, control, and a stunning lack of self-awareness. From day one, it was evident that this class was not rooted in integrity. John consistently made sexually suggestive jokes--habitual, inappropriate comments that disrupted the safety and sanctity of the learning environment. This wasn't a one-off misstep; it was a pattern of behavior that created discomfort and betrayed the seriousness of the subject matter. No one teaching herbalism--or any subject--should normalize that type of energy in a space intended for healing. Jane, on the other hand, carried an air of superiority that made it clear she was less interested in teaching and more interested in control. She mocked former students in front of the class, dismissing them for not "doing anything" with the knowledge they gained. That level of arrogance and public belittlement creates shame, not growth--and it contradicts everything a true teacher should stand for. When students sought clarity, John frequently dodged or deflected questions. Instead of thoughtful guidance, we were met with vague responses or outright dismissal. And Jane didn't stop at shaming past students--she went as far as making a degrading, classist remark about my partner, implying she was "probably poor" for being a caregiver. That wasn't just rude--it was prejudiced, judgmental, and deeply uncalled for. When my partner chose to leave the class and shared her experience publicly, I posted my review as well--because she stayed in the class longer and I wanted to speak for myself. Instead of accepting honest feedback, they responded by deleting my partner's review and labeling it "bullying." So let me make this crystal clear. Yes, I support my partner. But this review isn't about her--it's about my direct experience. And what I witnessed firsthand was bullying. What I felt was hostility cloaked in faux-spiritual rhetoric. What I endured was a space where power dynamics were abused and where criticism was met with retaliation, not reflection. You don't foster learning--you suppress it. You don't encourage growth--you stifle it. You don't lead with humility--you lead with ego and fragility. John's behavior wasn't "humor"--it was inappropriate and unprofessional. Jane's approach wasn't "tough love"--it was condescension masked as guidance. And your response to feedback wasn't "integrity"--it was image protection at the expense of truth. What you market as "honesty" is, in truth, spiritual bypassing. What you teach is overshadowed by the way you treat people. You shut down criticism, delete valid reviews, and paint yourselves as victims whenever you're asked to be accountable. And for the record lets keep it real. Gaslighting is erasing someone's experience and calling it an attack. Bullying is mocking students, demeaning their choices, and disguising superiority as mentorship. And ego is what drives you to silence anyone who doesn't flatter you. This review isn't meant to tear you down--it's meant to hold a mirror up. Because if you truly cared about herbalism and the healing path, you'd reflect on how far you've drifted from the values you preach. This isn't bitterness. It's boundaries. It's not hate--it's honesty. And it's long overdue.

I took an exam here (and passed!) It was perfectly fine for my needs. Let me lay some tips on you…read moreif you decide to come here for testing. - Read the instructions, guidelines, tips, etc. from both the company or organization who authored the exam (e.g., AWS) and from the test administrator (e.g., Pearson VUE). - Get a good night's sleep the night before. - Eat a good breakfast. I recommend oatmeal with plant-based milk, walnuts, and your fruit of choice. If you are so inclined, have a cup of coffee or tea. - Make sure you know where this location is (and don't confuse it with the other ACC). GPS misled me, I had to walk a quarter mile from where I parked on the street, and I was lucky to find the testing site. - Give yourself plenty of time to get here. I'm really glad that I did. Good luck!

WHAT THE... Probably…read morethe worst location to ever take any exam. Only picked this place because of distance to home and work. My colleague warned me about the noise level (construction noise outside) and I reasoned that she took the exam a few yrs ago and no construction at the moment. I should have taken that as a sign and pick a different location. 1) CROWDED EXAM ROOM. The front desk guy mentioned "if you want you can remove your mask". I replied, sure maybe when I sit down. When I was escorted to the room and saw the amount of people, I decided to keep it on the entire test. Although we are nearing the end of a pandemic, the pandemic is still here - 8 people per room and the rooms being tiny as a shoe box was sketchy. People next to me can see my screen and visa versa. I can hear the person next to me breathe. They could do a better job with logistics. 2) LOUD AF. People walking in and out of the room at a constant rate. The door keeps opening and closing. The front desk administrator guy keeps running his chops in the room. At the door way. In the hallways. Do you not see people are testing... this is not a communal lounge area. At the least the people who were testing were doing their best to keep quiet for others when shuffling in and out of the room but the staff here... please have some courtesy. In addition the cheap headphones didn't work very well. Also freeway traffic is loud but that's almost like white noise I didn't mind. It was a Sunday morning and apparently building cleanup crew were on site so there was vacuuming happening too. 3) UNCOMFORTABLE CHAIRS. Tiny desks with 30 yr old chairs were killing my posture. I have a small figure and that chair was tiny for me - it is made for a child. My back and neck were hurting for 1.5hrs making it tough to concentrate. Take some pain killers before coming here! It was the most inconvenient place to take a big exam that you spent hundreds of dollars to register, spent months studying for, and mandatory to pass and here you are struggling with the surroundings. The administrators move slowly. They said raise your hand if you have a question... my hand was raised for 5 minutes until someone came to my aide. Luckily I was done with the test but could you imagine if I was test taking - that's precious time. "The camera is right there just raise your hand if you need us"... LIES. ... anyways, I passed!

This place is really fun because you can learn multiple different instruments like drums, bass,…read moreguitar, and piano and you can play live to a lot of people.

Fantastic program for young music lovers. Passionate instructors who provide engaging lessons. My…read morechild has grown with School of Rock with her instrument and confidence. Highly recommend!

This is THE literary hub of San Diego! Situated in the midst of art galleries and other artistic…read morestudios at Liberty Station, you are surrounded by inspiration. The hallways are covered with art. The classroom always has an exhibit displayed by a local artist. They offer writing workshops for both fiction and nonfiction writers of all levels. They host events throughout the year in support of writers, books, and other creatives. The community is warm and supportive for its writers, instructors, and those who just pop in to visit from time to time. Be sure to check out the website, consider membership, and sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss out on upcoming events.

Been a follower of San Diego Writers, Ink for several years and finally able to participate in…read moreseveral activities over the last year. I am not even going to act like this review doesn't have a huge slant 'cause it does. I just love San Diego Writers, Ink and have for many years. I became an active volunteer for the free writing sessions last February. All of the staff that I met and writers who came in to participate were fabulous. Their energy helped so much with my own writing in the comfortable wide open space on Liberty Station, one of my fave parts of town. All of the events, classes, workshops, and such are a great benefit and not at any exorbitant costs either. If you're a new and budding writer or a page veteran and looking for like minds take a look at their website and stop into one of the sessions or classes. Happy writing!

Do not waste your money or be fooled by ABA Approved. There is no practical training and class have…read moreno objectives that relate to what a paralegal does on the job. I have worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for 5 years already and took this program to give me an edge and instead I wasted my money. Look up the difference between being CERTIFIED and Certificated and then you realize why this program has no benefit to you. I am now also a hiring manager and could not care less if someone told me they completed this program and would know they have no skill from this program. DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!!!

I met a couple people albeit briefly who had the courage to drop out--one for new baby reasons; too…read moremuch outside work required. Subject courses had their merit, but too fast. Learning a text in 6 weeks is not possible academically or professionally. Lectures could be effective though. The aggressive instructors were not pleasant, and provided a bad face for the department. We already know you're smart, but can you share your secrets? Advisement staff, not friendly, nor was the bookstore, nor was the accounting office, nor were the library faculty. We know you make high salaries, so can you give time to the commoner? Or, at least try to act in a hospitable manner. Internships were not supervised onsite. Why have them? Save your money and time. Work for an attorney first.