What does your favorite cave dive shop do really well?

The most important attribute for me is being able to fill from the car. I can do that at Extreme Exposure and Amigos. I enjoy the Amigos events Wayne has as the apple cider and shrimp chowder are awesome.

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Originally Posted by MichaelAngelo

happy birthday

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Thanks Michael Angelo (and others...)!

I can only think of one facility that you can self fill and log your purchases at the computer kiosk 24 hours 7 days a week. AMIGO'S

Great people make a great dive shop....

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Originally Posted by Dark Eternal

I have nothing bad to say about any of the cave shops, however I find myself frequenting a few more than others, Im sure some of it just out of comfort.

Cave Adventurers - Edd & crew make this my favorite dive shop, period. Everyone knows his prices are unbeatable and thats great - but its not the main reason I keep going back. Their service and knowledge do. I have always been treated like I was their most valuable customer, however this is something they do to everyone - which shows how great their service really is. I have also probably gained as much knowledge talking with them as I have in any class I have ever taken, albeit a different kind of knowledge (one does not replace the other in any way). You cant put a price on that, yet its given away freely. I have also met a lot of great people at the shop, which is important in a small community. The fact that they are right on the mill pond, have lodging next door and use crack dealer sales techniques is just icing on the cake.

Dive Outpost - Cathy makes this a home away from home. The general sense of community you get there is unparalleled. Its in a great location and nothing beats not worrying about leaving your tanks in the back of your truck or someone stealing your wet gear that is hanging out to dry. It seems like every evening someone on our team is making adjustments to their gear, and needs some random part. Its always almost to perfect that its always just in the next room hanging on the wall! Ive also met a lot of great people here, and had a lot of fun staying in the cabins / bunk rooms. It may not be a 5 star hotel, but everything is clean and I would choose the community and convenience over a hotel any day.

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Both favs of mine, but I also like Cave Excursions. Bill Rennacker tells the best damn cave diving stories.

+1 on Dive Outpost. One of my favorites.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dark Eternal

I have nothing bad to say about any of the cave shops, however I find myself frequenting a few more than others, Im sure some of it just out of comfort.

Cave Adventurers - Edd & crew make this my favorite dive shop, period. Everyone knows his prices are unbeatable and thats great - but its not the main reason I keep going back. Their service and knowledge do. I have always been treated like I was their most valuable customer, however this is something they do to everyone - which shows how great their service really is. I have also probably gained as much knowledge talking with them as I have in any class I have ever taken, albeit a different kind of knowledge (one does not replace the other in any way). You cant put a price on that, yet its given away freely. I have also met a lot of great people at the shop, which is important in a small community. The fact that they are right on the mill pond, have lodging next door and use crack dealer sales techniques is just icing on the cake.

Dive Outpost - Cathy makes this a home away from home. The general sense of community you get there is unparalleled. Its in a great location and nothing beats not worrying about leaving your tanks in the back of your truck or someone stealing your wet gear that is hanging out to dry. It seems like every evening someone on our team is making adjustments to their gear, and needs some random part. Its always almost to perfect that its always just in the next room hanging on the wall! Ive also met a lot of great people here, and had a lot of fun staying in the cabins / bunk rooms. It may not be a 5 star hotel, but everything is clean and I would choose the community and convenience over a hotel any day.

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You took the words right out of my mouth.

For me, Cave Excursions, is no longer a simple dive shop but rather family. Linda is great and always ask about my girls and wife and she has seen them grow (not my wife) over the years. Bill always welcomes me with a joke or a tale of the old days. We just back up our truck, check out the internet, have a drink and a snack, repair gear, meet friends, talk, analize and off we go to dive again. I have never had a bad time there and the team, family, will do everything within their powers to assist you. I must say the same for Wayne at Amigos. Both get the best of best ratings.

Most of the shops are like family or old friends. One of the things that enthralled me was the casual yet professional approach in cave country. It is a little bit more nanny state now but it is still a gazillion times better than almost any OW shop.

Based on personal experience and multiple reports from buddies and buddies of buddies, one shop can stop under filling tanks, forgetting to open the fill valve on one of the two sidemount bottles, and learn to make their mix actually accurate rather than a crapshoot everytime you go in there.