NEVER EVER GO THERE!!! I wish I can rate it a negative star.
About one month before the class, I had some spare time to use on weekend. Because I will go to Bali this August and all the PADI courses around the world had the similar price, I thought why wouldn't I finish PADI OW course before I went to Bali so that at the time of arrival, I could enjoy scuba diving directly. Then I looked online to check if there was a good scuba diving center nearby. After reviewing at the extremely high rating on yelp, I convinced myself to drive there to check it out.
Tim was a guy who received me. I asked him what's the starting time of the course to make sure I can finish the course and get the certified card before I leave the country. And I asked him about the equipments that I had to buy. He told me the only thing I had to bring was a mask. And I was 100% sure that's what he said when he talked to me. At that time, if he told me that I had to buy a snorkel and fins, I definitely won't sign up for the two reasons. Firstly, fins are too big for me to carry internationally and I am out of luggage space, so it would be very expensive to bring fins with me while traveling to Bali. Secondly, the same course provided in BALI will not only provide every piece of gear, but also it will provide free lunch and a free ride from hotel, why would I pay an extra $300 dollars on those gears? It doesn't make any sense. Looking at around $500 course fee, I thought it was a little expensive but still, I paid for it. Tim asked me the medical condition which I was totally qualified for that. But he didn't mention I had to swim 200 yards and float 10 minutes on the water. I know lots of people are good swimmers who can easily finish those two tasks. Unfortunately, I can barely finish those. If he mentioned about this prerequisite, I don't think I will sign up for the course. Anyhow, I paid for the course with my credit card. Tim took me to its shop to try those masks(only masks, no fins). The masks there were well made and expensive, but I am near-sighted, so I decide to buy a prescription mask online. Then a girl handed a package to me to ask me to read the book before the first day of class. When I drove back home, undersea scuba center called me saying that they forgot to let me fill out a medical insurance form. Next day, I drove 40 minutes to write that form and they didn't even say sorry to me. But Tim did remind me buying a mask before coming to class. What a responsible salesman!
Everything is out of my mind on Saturday when we were about to hit the pool to practice. First of all, we were tested to finish 200 yards swim and 10 minutes floating. Apparently I failed although I tried my best. Then, as mentioned before, I only took my mask. Tim asked me where were my fins and snorkel? I was so surprised that I had to buy fins and snorkel, which I wasn't told to. So I can't go to the pool to practice with everyone else. The French teaching assistant was the only nice guy who tried to give me his fins. However, it didn't fit. So I had to sit near the pool and wait for 3 hours until they finish. I was shocked that even the class was finished, the instructor Tim just ignored me and he didn't even look at me. So I had to run to him and ask solution. He told me he had to go back to discuss with owner Bruce and he will give me a call next Monday. And apparently, since I didn't have pool practice, I can't continue to finish the following courses.
That call finally arrived 3 weeks later. The owner Bruce called me. He said Tim told him a little about me. Then I asked if it is possible to have a partial refund. He insisted saying no. I double explained my situation and my logic, but he kept saying it was my fault to hear that wrong. I was unhappy because to a newbie of scuba diving, it is shop's responsibility to explain correctly to me the requirement and prerequisite of the course. He said everything was on their website and book. But it didn't make any sense. First of all, I didn't view their website, I just found on yelp and go to shop. If I assume I went to their website, there is still not customer's responsibility to read tens of thousand of information posted on their website. Secondly, the book he mentioned wasn't given to me until I pay the money. If I knew this before, I definitely won't pay. In final, he still insist not refunding me any penny. And he hanged up the phone rudely.
Bruce told me that if I posted review online, he would take legal method. Now, I wrote down my personal awful experience. Bruce, if you see this, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take legal steps now, I am waiting for you. I am responsible for every word I typed here. Although I am a ordinary customer, I won't be afraid of threaten by a shameful owner. I will protect customers' rights as many as possible.Hope there won't be any innocent customer like me be played around by them. read more