JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Florida warned consumers about an Arlington company that certifies people to dive, News4Jax learned that the owner of Scuba Lessons Jax has been officially expelled from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, also known as PADI, sent an email Friday morning to all its Florida members, notifying them that Scuba Lessons Jax owner Chris Conrad had been expelled for failure to adhere to certain standards and unethical business practices.
According to the BBB, as many as 180 people paid hundreds of dollars through Groupon to take scuba lessons at Scuba Lessons Jax -- but numerous customers complained that they took the course and never got their certification cards.
The BBB said it believed that customers couldn't get their certification cards because Conrad is no longer affiliated with PADI.
RELATED: BBB warns of Arlington scuba certificate program
Conrad told News4Jax on Tuesday that he switched to a different instructor affiliation back after taking payments from people looking to get certified to dive. News4Jax asked why.
"Well, that would be a long explanation. The bottom line is fees and some other things," Conrad said.
But PADI said that's not the truth. According to the organization, Conrad was expelled from the organization and he is no longer allowed to represent PADI, teach PADI courses or issue PADI certifications.
The organization said that Conrad and his assistant conducted unethical business practices and failed to adhere to PADI standards.
First Cove Diving owner Dan Mechelke said those standards are in place to keep diving students safe.
“If those are not followed, then certainly lives can be in danger because an instructor will be certifying people who are really not qualified to dive, so those standards are in place to protect the student, but also to protect the industry," Mechelke said.
The BBB explained how customers who paid through Groupon to take Conrad's course can try to get their money back.
“You can contact your financial institution. However you paid, go to them and, say, 'He’s not authorized to provide these certifications that I paid for. I may have taken the class but I didn’t get anything in return,'" said Shannon Nelson of the BBB. "Even if it’s out of there 90 day policy, see if you can reach out request a refund at this point.”
Matt Hayes said he never received his PADI certification card after paying nearly $400 through PayPal for lessons at Scuba Lessons Jax. Now, he's fighting to get his money back.
“I knew he wasn’t going to respond because you have to go through the seller first. Then it escalates to PayPal themselves. I’m actually trying to get my money back through PayPal. If he doesn’t respond within 10 days, it’s all my money," Hayes said.
News4Jax tried to talk to Conrad on Friday to get a response about the letter sent by PADI, but he could not be reached. The phone has been disconnected, no one was at his office, and the Scuba Lessons Jax website is no longer online.
As for people who recently received PADI certification cards through Conrad before his expulsion from the organization, the BBB said they should contact PADI to check the status of their membership and see if it's valid.