Testimonials

Hi Laura!

Australia was great! I did 2 dives the first full day we were in Cairns. The first location had a pretty good current , which was a new experience for me. The 2nd dive was more relaxed, even saw white tip sharks!

I took my suit, New BCD and new mask along and also had the dive boat folks attach the special mouthpiece you helped me pick out. Laura, the hours of refresher instruction spent with you made all the difference! Unfortunately, the weather was rainy the rest of the time and I didn't dive again.

When I first visited with you on the phone, I immediately felt you understood where I was in my diving experience. You encouraged me, validated my concerns and instilled confidence that a resolution for my continued dive experience could really be something quite simple, with practice. Which it mostly was!

As it turned out your analysis of the wrong  BCD and trying a different mask made all the difference in my continuing to dive! Your emphasis on being familiar with my own gear instilled the confidence I needed and did prove helpful, as my air wasn't turned on for the 2nd dive and I found it before I put the tank on.

I would encourage any friend of mine to contact you for dive instruction! You were everything I needed in an instructor and I enjoyed you!

Pat Molhagen, March  2008

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Laura,

Just a note to say “thank you” for the terrific scuba instruction that you provided to me this past week.You were terrific! Your knowledge and attention to detail was superb. Your instruction provided me with exactly what I needed. In addition, your instructional skills were excellent and you gave 110% in terms ofyour effort. It was the best dive experience that I could ever have! You are not just an instructor, but a true professional.

 Thank you again and I look forward to diving with you in the future. 

Jeff Croll, April 2008

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“Laura is an expert communicator who can convey complex concepts in a manner that maximizes learning and understanding. Those lucky enough to learn from Laura will enjoy her winning personality and thorough knowledge. She's both incredibly fun to work with and remarkably competent.”

Mike Freeman, March 2008

———————————————————————————————————————-"Laura is committed to customer service. She provides extra value for every experience. Her passion for scuba diving is complemented by knowledge and experience. She only employs instructors which meet her own high standards."

Serenna Hoermann, August 2009

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Laura,

I hope you are doing well. I know we really miss you and being in Florida. I wanted to thank you for making Marion's scuba instruction fun and so informative. You are a really great instructor. I know that I will definately refer any of our friends. Should we decide to do the advanced course we will be headed back your way. Once again thanks for a great experience! Wish we were there diving with you.

Patti Loftin, November 2006

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Laura,

Just a quick note to thank you for all your help and training. Wayne and I were very comfortable with your training methods and were thrilled with the results.

I had doubts about myself when I started having such fear, breathing with the regulator and you encouraged me to think and relax. You reassured me that I could do it even when I coubted it myself. Thank you.

 We plan on coming back down to Florida and wanted to see you and dive with you while we are in town. Possibly take a refresher and more training like the Advanced couse. The water in PA is too cold and you have spoiled us in Florida.

Once again, thanks for all your help and support.

Peggy Norton, July 2005

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Laura,

 

My wife Shannon andI recently visited Florida and went diving for the first time. I wanted to thank you for your time and patience. Our vacation had gotten off to a rough start and was becoming more stressful than relaxing, but your help and guidance, that allowed us to go diving saved the trip. Thank you so much. Andthank you for the shells you help me find right before our dive ended.  We placed the shells on our entertainment center for all to see. We hope to return to Florida sooner than later and rest assured we will look you up for another dive.

Thanks again,

Matt and Shanan Harris

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Hello Laura,

Wow! Thanks so much for your patience and confidence in my scuba lessons. You were great! I look forward to seeing you again and will pass the word on how great your training is. Enjoy these little tidbits from my wonderful state of Michigan. Take Care.

Jari Nelson, January 2003

 

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Hey Laura,

Just a note to say we really enjoyed diving with you! You were a great teacher and we hope that we will continue our diving education with you in the future.  We will recommend you with the highest respects to anyone interested in learning to dive. Thanks again,

Dana Allegretti and Shane Ryans, June 2005

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We just returned to Minnesota after staying at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida as part of our UA officers convention held in October 2002. The large variety of hotel staff personnel that we came into contact with were pleasant and very helpful. In particular we wanted to bring to your attention an experience that was totally unexpected but was in fact, the highlight of our time spent in Florida.

I just happened to walk by the north side of the lower pool on Saturday afternoon and came across a very small signon a pool side table announcing snorkeling and scuba lessons. I spent time talking with Laura Parke to get all the infomation I needed to take a refresher scuba diving lessons the next day in your pool and her to make the arrangements for ocean diving through a private charter the following day.  Being that we were only spending four nights at the Diplomat, it was amazing that all these arrangements could be made withing this short time frame. I had spent many hours prior to our trip to Florida searching websites looking specifically to scuba dive and found nothing on your site, which as of this letter, hopefully will change.

I am writing to put in an EXCELLENT service recommendation for Laura Parke. As it turns our, her service is new to the Westin Diplomat. Our pool diving lessons on Sunday included myself and three children. Spending my whole career within an academic environment it didnt take long to notice that Laura was wonderful with the children. She was very patient and in complete control. They had a great time!

As for my personal experience she went above and beyond any expectations I had. She made the arrangements for a private charter for our oceans dives, she provided every piece of diving equipment needed, she used her own vehicle to drive us to and from Pompano Beach for the dive. The dive location she selected was fabulous and she even brought lunch on board for both of us! And again this was arranged within a couple of days. It was so very convenient to have this entire dive package applied to our hotel account.

It is our recommendation that the Westin Diplomat not keep Laura Parke a secret any longer. Spread the word about her, we sure did to the other UA Pipe Trade and their families that attended the convention and we continue to back here in Minnesota to all of our families, friends and fellow workers.

Joyce and John Wilking, St. Paul Minnesota 2002

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Laura Parke of Private Scuba Lessons.com provides what can best be described as a"concierge" service.

When my son asked to learn to scuba dive, we looked into several options - from the traditional local dive shop approach, to the resort/cruise ship option. What we needed was a professional, well-run, thorough approach that would provide us with safe and complete training, while also being flexible enough to work with our schedules and time requirements.

Laura Parke and Private Scuba Lessons set the standard in that area.

We fulfilled all of the PADI requirements and then had the added benefit of Laura's instruction and guidance, tailored to us individually. Chris, who had never dived before was soon diving with confidence tempered with respect for his new found favorite environment. As someone with previous military and commercial dive experience (who didn't admit to any of it at the time), I was very impressed with the PSL approach. The balance of fun and enthusiasm with respect and understanding (not just book learning or "knowledge") crafted a diver out of my son whom I know will be safe, sane and professional as he explores the wonders of the seas all over the world.

We were so happy with our training and the outcomes from PSL that we made a second trip back to Florida the following year.  Chris and I would take more training upon Laura's suggestion;  Advanced Open Water certification and specialty dives. The trips from Texas and California were well worth the effort. Laura's operation extends well beyond the dive platform; she was able to aim us in the right direction for accommodations, travel, eating and surface interval fun. She has provided us with her wealth of knowledge of the sea and Florida itself and helped us to feel at home diving where from Key West to the Georgia State Line.

Perhaps the best endorsement comes from people who don't know Laura or Private Scuba Lessons. On trips from the Texas Gulf Coast, to Mexico, to the Far East and Europe - people have commented on the approach to diving that we gained from Laura Parke and PSL. Diver masters and charter operators have all invited us back with the words, "I'd dive with you anytime". I chalk that up to Laura' guidance and example - and the great training and instruction we received from her at Private Scuba Lessons.com.

If you are a former Master Diver in the military, a weekend brown-water gunkholer, a once-a-year vacation diver or someone who's never put your face in the water (young or old), my suggestion is to contact Laura Parke at Private Scuba Lessons.com and come join the fun, under the seas.

Tom Van Kleef, Executive VP

Warren-Goodwin, Inc. Warren-Goodwin.com