After participating in Discover Scuba, my boyfriend and I bought Open Water classes. While he had a blast, it was a steeper learning curve for me (I had never even been to the deep end of a pool before this). An instructor took me aside and gave me one-on-one coaching that effectively brought me up to the speed of the class. We got hooked and signed up for more classes.
We could not have asked for a better learning experience, but I can only give 4 stars, as the woman handling rentals has been less pleasant on some occasions. While you would assume that you will receive working gear, always check for wear and tear and demand a replacement rental unit if the item looks unsafe. The employee should make your safety a priority.
Happy diving!