I was at a large sales event at a retailer last weekend. I needed a new
bc and was trying to decide between a Zeagle and Dive-Rite. I ended up
buying a Dive-Rite Transpac at the sale for a very good price (they do
not carry Zeagle). When I was at the fair I ran into one of my AOW and
Rescue instructors (from a different retailer, who carries Zeagle).
They are having a big sale this coming weekend and he was checking
prices. He is a very good instructor and and I was planning on going
through the Divemaster course through him very soon. He called me today
to inform me that there are "implications" to me buying the Dive-Rite.
He informed me that if I take the Divemaster course, the dealer requires
that you use only equipment that they sell since you will be working
with classes and they don't want you in competitor's gear. He informed
me that when he became a divemaster there he had a drysuit that he
loved, but had to buy a new one because it wasn't a brand they carried.
While I do understand the logic in this, I have very nice gear from
several different retailers in the area. Is this common?