By Greg Rodgers
Asia Travel Expert, about.com
Figuring out how to choose a dive shop in Southeast Asia is part
knowing what to look for and part just listening to gut instincts.
In popular diving destinations such as Koh Tao in Thailand, the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, and the Gili Islands in Indonesia,
you’ll have an overwhelming number of shops from which to choose.
Diving isn’t a particularly cheap hobby -- and it can be inherently
dangerous if not done properly. Don’t cheat yourself: choose a dive shop
that will give the best experience possible!
Check the Boat[post_ads_2]
The size and condition of a dive shop’s boat says a lot about the organization and how much diver turnover they experience.
If
boats are kept at the harbor or elsewhere, you can still ask if “big
boats” or “little boats” are used. Check around to get a consensus
across many shops. Bigger boats are more stable (to help prevent
sea sickness), offer more room for putting together equipment, and are
usually much more social than smaller, noisier vessels such as the
longtail boats used in Southeast Asia.
Some dive shops may switch to running only small boats to save
money during the low season, while other new or makeshift operations may
not even own a boat and need to charter a local taxi boat each time
they have customers!
Peek at the Equipment
This one’s a no-brainer; if a dive shop can’t maintain their equipment properly, then they really don’t deserve your business. Don’t settle for a limited range of masks that don’t fit properly or leaky regulators that will lose half your air.
A
glance around the place may be a good initial indication. Gear should
be clean and organized, not thrown around in sandy disarray.
Hang Around the Dive Shop[post_ads_2]
Travelers
are often welcome -- encouraged, even -- to linger around dive shop
common areas. Some shops have integrated bars and screen videos from the
latest dives. Local divemasters are usually a wealth of information
about islands in Southeast Asia; most are friendly and willing to help you get settled, hoping in return that you book diving or snorkeling later.
Just
the general atmosphere in a shop is often the first indication as to
whether you should dive with an organization or move on. Is the
place buzzing with activity? Are the staff friendly, energetic, and
excited about their sport? Or are they worn down from too many
consecutive dives, too hungover from last night’s party, or too
overworked to answer your questions?
Divemasters do work long,
exhausting days -- and they certainly don’t do so for the money. But all
should still share one thing in common: an excitement and passion for diving!
Asking a few questions about what was seen that week, if any whale
sharks or mantas have made recent appearances, and general diving chit
chat should have them smiling. Bring up their favorite subject and see
if the mojo starts flowing.
Along with speaking to staff, with a
little timing, you could catch some divers returning from a trip. Give
them some time to get situated and update their log books, then ask if
the experience was pleasant and whether or not they would recommend that
particular dive shop.
Make Sure Communication Is Good
The
divemaster in charge of your trip should have an excellent command of
your native language. If English is your common language and theirs just
barely passes the grade, you may not be able to understand important
instructions related to your dive. A little shopping around will
certainly turn up plenty of excellent English-speaking divemasters.
If
you plan to take a course for the next level of certification, find a
shop that offers the book and materials in your native language.
What About Extras?[post_ads_2]
Many dive operations in competitive areas such as Thailand’s Koh Tao
will bundle your certification course and accommodation for a discount.
Perks are sometimes included to sweeten the deal; ask about free
breakfast, food vouchers, bar credit, happy hour drinks -- you could end
up surprised at little extras thrown in to retain your business!
Certainly ask about discounts for future dives or diving bundles. You can score significant discounts for returning to the same shop for subsequent dives.
Don’t Always Believe the Wall of Fame
Dive
operations prominently display their PADI and SSI certifications along
with accolades from Tripadvisor and other sites. Even rogue shops that
have had their “5 Star” statuses revoked still display the certificates,
while some operations print their own fake certifications to frame.
There are simply too many dive shops in the world to be policed by each
certifying organization.
The only way to really be sure of a dive shop’s current standing is to research them with their parent organizations. For PADI schools, you can research individual instructors and divemasters by running their member number on PADI’s Pro Chek tool.
Member numbers should be present on displayed certificates; asking a
divemaster for their identification card is technically an option but
probably won’t help you to make friends!
Use Online Reviews Cautiously[post_ads_2]
Although
checking online reviews is logical -- and often recommended by others
giving generic advice for how to choose a dive shop -- all review sites
share one common flaw: they don’t always reveal the big picture.
Customers are far more likely to go leave a review after a bad experience or when they feel wronged in some way. Only a dedicated few -- and the friends of owners -- take the time to leave positive reviews after a great experience is over.
Check
for reviews, but keep in mind that one disagreement with a divemaster
may prompt someone to leave a negative review, meanwhile, dozens of
happy customers didn’t bother because they were busy getting on with the
rest of their trips.
