What's a reasonable standard for rental equipment maintenance?

Have just returned from my first warm water dives since becoming certified. In five dives arranged through the same dive shop I, or my buddy, had primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. that could not be convinced to stop leaking; a leaky low pressure inflator; an SPG that indicated a full tank even after 35 minutes at 45'; and a depth gauge that would show 0' or 40' and nothing in between.

We couldn't pressurize the gear until we were on the dive boat, by which time the leaky regs and inflator were all we had to go with. We quickly learned to check the SPG for an ability to show changing pressure before leaving the boat after that one bad experience, but the faulty depth gauge still has me stumped.

When returning the equipment after each dive the attendant didn't ask if there was anything that needed to be fixed or adjusted, didn't seem to want to hear about it, and just put the stuff back on the rack for the next poor sod to deal with.

Admittedly, nobody died and in most cases the problems were more inconveniences than seriously dangerous but it did not leave me with a good feeling.

My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to put it in perspective.

Thanks,
Wayne

Wayne wrote:
> Have just returned from my first warm water dives since becoming certified. In five dives arranged through the same dive shop I, or my buddy, had primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. that could not be convinced to stop leaking; a leaky low pressure inflator; an SPG that indicated a full tank even after 35 minutes at 45'; and a depth gauge that would show 0' or 40' and nothing in between.
>
> We couldn't pressurize the gear until we were on the dive boat, by which time the leaky regs and inflator were all we had to go with. We quickly learned to check the SPG for an ability to show changing pressure before leaving the boat after that one bad experience, but the faulty depth gauge still has me stumped.
>
> When returning the equipment after each dive the attendant didn't ask if there was anything that needed to be fixed or adjusted, didn't seem to want to hear about it, and just put the stuff back on the rack for the next poor sod to deal with.
>
> Admittedly, nobody died and in most cases the problems were more inconveniences than seriously dangerous but it did not leave me with a good feeling.
>
> My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to put it in perspective.
>
> Thanks,
> Wayne
>


I'm sorry to say it's pretty much normal. People who work in shops think
dive gear is pretty fool proof too. It's also common for the better
shops to ask "how did things go? Did you have a good trip?", which is
when you say "Well, it was great except for this busted gage". If they
then put it back on the rack run away and never look back.

"Wayne" <myranger17@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:yYyLe.214250$s54.185930@pd7tw2no...

<snip>

> My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental
gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to
put it in perspective.

Absolutely unacceptable. Demand a refund.

This is life support equipment.

Another reason to own your own.

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 19:49:29 -0800, James Connell wrote:

> Wayne wrote:
>> Have just returned from my first warm water dives since becoming certified. In five dives arranged through the same dive shop I, or my buddy, had primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. that could not be convinced to stop leaking; a leaky low pressure inflator; an SPG that indicated a full tank even after 35 minutes at 45'; and a depth gauge that would show 0' or 40' and nothing in between.
>>
>> We couldn't pressurize the gear until we were on the dive boat, by which time the leaky regs and inflator were all we had to go with. We quickly learned to check the SPG for an ability to show changing pressure before leaving the boat after that one bad experience, but the faulty depth gauge still has me stumped.
>>
>> When returning the equipment after each dive the attendant didn't ask if there was anything that needed to be fixed or adjusted, didn't seem to want to hear about it, and just put the stuff back on the rack for the next poor sod to deal with.
>>
>> Admittedly, nobody died and in most cases the problems were more inconveniences than seriously dangerous but it did not leave me with a good feeling.
>>
>> My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to put it in perspective.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Wayne
>>
>
>
> I'm sorry to say it's pretty much normal.

It shouldn't be.

"Wayne" <myranger17@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:yYyLe.214250$s54.185930@pd7tw2no...

> Have just returned from my first warm water dives since becoming
> certified. In five dives arranged through the same dive shop I, or my
> buddy, had primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. that could not be
> convinced to stop leaking; a leaky low pressure inflator; an SPG that
> indicated a full tank even after 35 minutes at 45'; and a depth gauge that
> would show 0' or 40' and nothing in between.
>
> We couldn't pressurize the gear until we were on the dive boat, by which
> time the leaky regs and inflator were all we had to go with. We quickly
> learned to check the SPG for an ability to show changing pressure before
> leaving the boat after that one bad experience, but the faulty depth gauge
> still has me stumped.

Wait, let me get this straight. You went on your first dives after being
certified with all this faulty gear and continued to do so for five dives?
You should have your C-card revoked.

"Greg Mossman" wrote in message news:11ftjcl85rn9804@corp.supernews.com...
> Wait, let me get this straight. You went on your first dives after being
> certified with all this faulty gear and continued to do so for five dives?
> You should have your C-card revoked.

Well, SPGs and depth gauges are optional... A little minor leak should not
be enough of an issue to make you want to call the dive... Sometimes you
have to play they hand you're dealt... Improvise, adapt, overcome...

Wayne,

Where did this happen?

George


"Wayne" <myranger17@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:yYyLe.214250$s54.185930@pd7tw2no...
> Have just returned from my first warm water dives since becoming
> certified. In five dives arranged through the same dive shop I, or my
> buddy, had primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. that could not be
> convinced to stop leaking; a leaky low pressure inflator; an SPG that
> indicated a full tank even after 35 minutes at 45'; and a depth gauge that
> would show 0' or 40' and nothing in between.
>
> We couldn't pressurize the gear until we were on the dive boat, by which
> time the leaky regs and inflator were all we had to go with. We quickly
> learned to check the SPG for an ability to show changing pressure before
> leaving the boat after that one bad experience, but the faulty depth gauge
> still has me stumped.
>
> When returning the equipment after each dive the attendant didn't ask if
> there was anything that needed to be fixed or adjusted, didn't seem to
> want to hear about it, and just put the stuff back on the rack for the
> next poor sod to deal with.
>
> Admittedly, nobody died and in most cases the problems were more
> inconveniences than seriously dangerous but it did not leave me with a
> good feeling.
>
> My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental
> gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to
> put it in perspective.
>
> Thanks,
> Wayne
>
>

James Connell <jconnell@gci.net> wrote:

> Wayne wrote:
> >
> > My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental
> > gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to
> > put it in perspective.
>
> I'm sorry to say it's pretty much normal.

I'd say that having *one* problem isn't too unusual.

But having three problems in a single set of gear ... in addition to
leaky O-rings ... is absolutely unacceptable.


Wayne, please tell us where this shop was.


Anyone want to place bets on if it was a "5 Star" operation?



> It's also common for the better
> shops to ask "how did things go? Did you have a good trip?", which is
> when you say "Well, it was great except for this busted gage". If they
> then put it back on the rack run away and never look back.


True, but the customer should speak up and volunteer the information of
a problem even if not prompted. This can take the not as
confrontational form of:


"Where should I put this regulator? Its SPG doesn't work"

or

"Better put this one aside for repair - its SPG doesn't work"


-hh

"Wayne" <myranger17@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:yYyLe.214250$s54.185930@pd7tw2no...
> Have just returned from my first warm water dives since becoming
certified. In five dives arranged through the same dive shop I, or my
buddy, had primary and secondary 2nd stage regs. that could not be convinced
to stop leaking; a leaky low pressure inflator; an SPG that indicated a full
tank even after 35 minutes at 45'; and a depth gauge that would show 0' or
40' and nothing in between.
>
> We couldn't pressurize the gear until we were on the dive boat, by which
time the leaky regs and inflator were all we had to go with. We quickly
learned to check the SPG for an ability to show changing pressure before
leaving the boat after that one bad experience, but the faulty depth gauge
still has me stumped.
>
> When returning the equipment after each dive the attendant didn't ask if
there was anything that needed to be fixed or adjusted, didn't seem to want
to hear about it, and just put the stuff back on the rack for the next poor
sod to deal with.
>
> Admittedly, nobody died and in most cases the problems were more
inconveniences than seriously dangerous but it did not leave me with a good
feeling.
>
> My question for the group: Is this both normal and acceptable for rental
gear? Before I go bad-mouthing that dive operator I'd like to be able to
put it in perspective.
>
> Thanks,
> Wayne

Excellent essay on why you should own your own gear.

My LDS uses top of the line Scubapro gear, and services it regularly.

If you told the truth, it's also your responsibility to name the operator.

Douglas W. "Popeye" Frederick wrote:

>
> Excellent essay on why you should own your own gear.
>
> My LDS uses top of the line Scubapro gear, and services it regularly.
>
> If you told the truth, it's also your responsibility to name the operator.


Dive shops take much better care of their rental gear because
they hope to sell you some.

When the dive shop gear gets a bit old and worn, they sell it to
the charter ops.

An essay on why ya should rent yer gear from the LDS, not from
the charter.