Just an FYI...

Discounted rates for locals is a fairly common idea. I know if you are a resident of Hawaii, for example, "Kama'aina Rates" are available to locals (with proof of residency) for airfare, hotel stay, food, services, etc. Do a google search on "Kamaaina Rates Hawaii" and you'll see what I mean.

In Southern California, Disneyland and other theme parks offer promotions and discounts for Southern California residents (again, with proof of residency).

Agreed. i live in Miami and I get discounts at Disney World because I'm a Florida resident. It is a common thing...they do it in Vegas as well.

I'd like to make one point, Stu, which I think is very valid.

You said, "Chris - No need to get mad I wasn't going to post my stories until someone from your company asked me to."

In his post of April 5, wjb said (and I assume you're referring to this as wjb is indeed an employee of Chris's) he said, "I would invite you to stop by and tell us your stories, and maybe we could improve our service to our customers." He didn't ask you to POST your stories but extended a most polite invitation to you, which you apparently either misinterpreted or misread.

You dived with Chris four times but even the first time you obviously had problems but went back three more times before giving up, while not apparently ONCE expressing your dissatisfaction to Chris before posting your initial comment which I personally found extremely harsh and judgemental. I would far rather a customer come to me from the get-go to express a negative about my service or product rather than complain on an open forum after FOUR visits. Nobody in the service industry can please all of the people all of the time but, I'll repeat, you went back three more times and obviously not once said anything to Chris about your dissatisfaction.

As far as East Ender's comments about your own practices of offering your "free" service to visitors, I believe I read in an unrelated post recently that you have indeed just obtained your six pack license but there is still obviously much controversy about the ethics of your service and I believe that even you said in a post on that thread that you had discussed the matter with a Coast Guard official who said that although you were sailing a thin line in doing what you're doing, it wasn't strictly speaking illegal.

I have no doubt that you're a very good guy with all good intentions but you're living here in what is a very small community. Your initial post could have been worded so much differently and the more you post the more you seem to stick your hoof further in your mouth which I'm sure you don't really mean to do!

As far as Matt's comment about tourist vs. local rates, that seems to have been addressed and is pretty much a no-brainer so I hope Matt now understands! Cheers to all and Happy Easter!

STT Resident,

You acutally made some good points which my wife just made to me just minutes before I read your post. The original post was not about a review or comments about Chris Sawyer, and I should have kept my initial post positive. Meaning rather than going negative about someone's response to the recommendation, I should just focus on the original question and post my personal favorite dive company and say why, and not slam another company which was mentioned in a post by a responder rather than the initial poster. Which also leads to why we go so off topic so many times.

In fear of now going off topic yet again, but regarding the legality of the Coast Guard thing, it was before I had my 6Pak when he said it was walking a fine line. Which is why I got it, so it is on the up and up, and I have no idea why people are giving me such a hard time. I thought I was offering a nice free service, and I still think I am.

And yes I should state that my first two times were good dives. I stopped diving with them after my second dive because of the size of the large groups, but when my wife and I wanted to do a night dive they were the only ones going out which is why I went out with them (for the 3rd time), and they are the ONLY ones that go to the Rhone which is why I went out the 4th time with them.

And yes you are also right as there was no need to post my comments here, because he did say come into the store.

Apology accepted somewhat, Stu. However, all too often and so typically, the negatives are registered up front and the subsequent rebuttals or disclaimers end up in left field. I don't think Chris Sawyer really needs to worry about his business suffering.

I'm glad that you finally talked to him one on one and obviously if he offered you a refund which you chose not to acccept then that's your 'druthers so you really should have nothing else to say. But you might also note that internet messages last forever in cyberspace.

Just please be more circumspect in future. Cheers! And listen to your wife!

In StuScott's defense, he doesn't go around posting negative stuff about everything like some do so I don't think he needed to be jumped on at all. He' s been very helpful to a lot of people.

I do agree with that! Thanks StuScott.

Another vote for Blue Island Divers. Always small numbers and they go to the best sites.

Man, I opened a can of worms with this one. I am sorry that I asked this question. Actually the information is very helpful. I am still researching dive shops, but I know that Chris Sawyer stands up for his company and is willing to try and fix any issues that may surface. In my book, that is an added bonus and that will weigh heavy when I pick where to go. Thanks to everyone that helped with this topic, the good and the bad. Can't we all just get along?

Just a quick note to anyone reading this thread: I'm an experienced diver, and there isn't one single dive operation I couldn't say something negative about. I don't want to rekindle any old fires by posting here, and I think both the posting by the dissatisfied customer, and the resolution by the concerned dive operator were very appropriate. You'll see plenty of complaints on Tripadvisor about excellent hotels - the key is the way the best of the hotels respond. Same with dive operations.

I'm a resident of Grand Cayman and fully expect a resident discount on my dives. Everyone here offers them. If they didn't, residents wouldn't dive with them but with one of the many who did. When my brother (not a resident) comes into town, he's charged full rate and I'm charged resident rate. We usually total the amount and split it 50/50. Tourists shouldn't expect to have as good a rate since they're not diving every weekend throughout the year, and they're not bringing in the business as much as a resident with visitors would.

I've never dived in STT, but if I do I'll EASILY give the Chris Sawyer operation a shot. Customer service is key, even if there are novice divers on the boat. The most important thing, as Chris seems to know, is that creating happy customers (or turning around unhappy customers as the case may be) is paramount to a successful operation.