TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Ocean Hunters, Inc. and its owner, Abdiel Falcon, face a complaint filed by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi this week alleging the company participated in misleading business practices by selling fraudulent diving certification courses and cards.
The Doral diving company allegedly sold open water scuba certification courses that it advertised as being certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). The courses allegedly were found not to be PADI certified.
In addition, the store allegedly sold fraudulent PADI certification cards to more than 300 customers who paid between $149 to $399. In some cases, Falcon allegedly failed to deliver any certification cards after consumers had taken the required courses.
Bondi is seeking a permanent order that would prevent Ocean Hunters and Falcon from doing business in Florida. In addition, she is asking the court to require Falcon to pay $10,000 per violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, $15,000 for each violation involving senior citizens, and reimbursement for investigation and court costs.