Tarpoon Lagoon Dive Center — Attraction in Miami Beach

This review is for when I got my PADI Open Water Diver Certification with Pat Gaughran (main instructor) and Hannah Moore (DM - Assistant - no longer works there) in December 2020.

It's been four years since I got my PADI Open Water Certification from here and looking back, I realized it was the worst place I could've gotten it. Pat was my instructor. He was impatient, not empathetic, rude, dismissive, and sarcastic - he should not be around customers. Hannah (the DM - assistant - who no longer works there) was on the other hand, very hardworking, patient, informative and the reason I was able to get through the entire certification. And, it's also because of her that I went on to pursue my PADI Advanced and Rescue Diver Certification!

I'm writing this four years later and felt compelled to say something because I noticed that Pat is still teaching there and is a tour guide. There have been many other divers who have expressed the same negative sentiment as I do and this dive shop seems to still defend the actions of a man who clearly should not be around customers.

The PADI Open Water Certification is a three-day course where you complete the e-learning on the PADI website prior to setting foot in water. On the first day, we learned skills in confined water, which was at a swimming pool, located about an hour away from the dive shop. On the second day, it was just Pat and another guy who was also getting his PADI Open Water. On the second and third day, you go out on a boat and perform the skills that were learned in the swimming pool.

The conditions in a swimming pool and the ocean are completely different. You have pretty much a day to master the skills you learned in a swimming pool and about 30 minutes to learn how to use a compass and practice in their parking lot before you do it out in open water.

From the beginning, Pat comes off as intimidating. He's curt and sarcastic. The first day in open water (ocean) was a complete nightmare for me. The swell was rough and choppy and I puked at least 3 times before getting into the water. Upon entering the ocean my first time, my ill-fitting mask popped off (even as I was holding onto it as I jumped in - later on, I had to purchase a larger mask from their dive shop for +$100) and the weight belt slid down to my ankles because there was too much weight. Pat was impatient and couldn't deal with taking the time to address the issues. I understand that there was limited amount of time in the water, so he went off and performed skills with the other guy while Hannah and the Captain of the boat helped me. Hannah was so great with being in stressful situations. Eventually, I was able to get underwater and perform all of the necessary skills.

I felt that on the third day with Pat, he just became increasingly condescending to me - making me feel weak as a person. I never understood his gripe with me. The last day, the swell was just as rough as the prior day. Pat would continue to yell as me in the water. This man never stopped criticizing and yelling at me during a time when I was struggling and really needed patience and compassion. On our return to shore, he told me that because I successfully performed all of my skills that he would certify me (almost as a courtesy?), but insisted that I never pursue Advanced.

Four years later, I have my PADI Advanced and Rescue Certification. I'm so glad that I followed my instincts to improve my skills and build my confidence. After my subsequent experience at other dive shops around the world, I realized this dive shop did not provide me the necessary tools to succeed in open water. To expect a new open water diver to have all the knowledge to perform skills they've never done before in an environment they've never been in before (at the bottom of the ocean) with this intimidating, gruff man (Pat) is delusional.

The dive itself isn't anything I'd recommend. There's not much to see. We went to Neptune Memorial Reef two days in a row. Just what I needed as a new open water diver...to visit an underwater cemetery on...

I don't normally do reviews but this was such a bad experience that I felt that I had no other choice. To start, we were sent out on a scuba diving boat as snorkelers. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal as I'm a certified diver and season snorkeler. The company called me about 1/2 hour before we were suppose to arrive (we were already in car at hotel getting ready to head over) and said it's a little choppy and to grab dremamine if you get sea sick. I asked what the visibility is and if the waters are still snorkelable and the lady said she didn't know. I told her that I would call back after I talk with my gal who has never snorkeled before in her life. I called back and a guy answered the phone and I immediate said, "I want to cancel". He put me on a long hold and then got back and said that the visibility if 50 ft and the chop isn't bad, and we can still snorkel. I asked again to cancel and he proceeded to talk us into going saying it's not bad, you'll be okay. When we arrived at the store, we got our gear ready and I took the dremamine per the recommendations earlier. When we got to the first stop, it was suppose to be a 30 ton sunken ship however, it was a reef that was 20-30 ft deep. The chop was not chop, it was waves averaging about 5-6 ft with white caps. We were warned by the guide to try to avoid the Man O Wars that are on the surface of the water where we would be snorkeling. I got in for about 3 minutes and the chop was so heavy that it kept overpowering my snorkel and I couldn't breath. Additionally, the visibility was about 15 ft. I could barely see the bottom. I got out of the water and stayed out for the remainder of the trip. My gal, never even got in. Not that it's important, but I did end up getting sick during that first trip because of the heavy rocking of the boat. Note, this is the first time in my 36 years I have ever got sea sick... EVER!!!!! 3 of the divers came out becasue the conditions were to bad for them and it was their first dives. 6 people threw up when they got out of the water. We went to the next spot which was slightly less aggressive but still 4-5 ft chop. Needless to say, the divers that got out originally along with myself and my gal, did not get in at this location. When we got back to the dock, my gal and I went to the store and talked with the lady that originally called me. She was EXTREMELY RUDE and placed the blame on us. I don't care that I got sick but I care that we tried to cancel, they talked us into going still and we were the only 2 snorkelers on the boat... we should not of been sent out in those conditions. That was irresponsible on their part, false advertising for taking us to a different location then what we signed up for, and then had the tenacity to blame us. I asked if there is anything they can do in terms of a refund and I was shut down. So, to anyone that is considering using this company - BEWARE. GO...

We booked an afternoon snorkeling trip for 6/12/2021 that was scheduled from 4 to 9pm and the actual snorkeling taking place from 5 to 8pm. We got there around 4:30 and they said the boat was running a few minutes late. Well a few minutes actually turned into 40 minutes. We literally were not leaving the dock until around 5:40.

The first “reef” we went to literally looked like sand. I still do not believe it was a reef. I did not see any fish and even if the fish were there it was impossible to get a good look because it was so far down! I think that the Captain should have considered the water depths when picking spots for snorkeling, as I feel the first spot may have been more suitable for diving.

After the first spot we all got on the boat and the crew said we would be packing up to go back to shore. A few of us started questioning why we paid to snorkel two reefs and only snorkeled one. They stated that there must have been some sort of confusion so they did take us to another reef. That reef had less depth than the first and I was able to see a lot of fish. The second reef was a great experience but if I could do it again I would like to go to a reef that has minimum water depth. I still believe that the “Captain's Choice” of two reefs should take into consideration that the depth snorkelers can see very different than the depth divers can see.

We did go in the late afternoon and the water was EXTREMELY choppy. Myself and everyone who was in our group are excellent swimmers, but when we jumped in the water it was so choppy that the focus became more about swimming instead of seeing fish. I wish the Captain would have emphasized how choppy the water was. It was more kind of “oh can you swim? If so you’ll be fine and you aren’t required to blow up your vest.” Which was not the case, even phenomenal swimmers would have preferred a blown up life vest in that water (especially if you are new to snorkeling).

So if you are going please be aware that some areas are very choppy and it is definitely a lot easier to blow up your vest fully before you enter the water.

Everyone was very pleasant but I do think the Captain and crew were in a rush because they were already running later than usual. I also do not think the Captain or crew were prepared to handle emergency situations, such as drowning. If I could do it again I would pick a day trip so the water is easier to see and I would research or ask the water depth before booking the...