mike_s
Contributor
Les,
Divers Supply is a legitimate company like the others here have said. They are authorized dealer of everything they sell. They also carry Sea Elite, which is their own line of equipment. It's also good equipment and almost all of it is a "duplicate" of a name brand piece of gear that is made in the same factory as the name brand ones are. It's just not as well known because they are smaller in stores than all the other dealers. You'll find some LDS's and other folks bashing Sea Elite, but chances are they've never owned it. Most folks you find that have owned Sea Elite have no problems with it and are happy with it.
Divers Supply made it's niche by starting out with catalog sales of equipment. They don't sale ScubaPro because ScubaPro's dealer agreement doesn't allow catalog, mail order, or internet sales of their equipment. That's the only reason you don't see it and other brands at this shop.
As for the wetsuit, I agree, that as a new diver, the best way to obtain a "best fit" on a wetsuit is to try it on in the shop. The shop can help you obtain the best fit. This is important because a poorly fitting wetsuit that is too loose will allow more water movement and reduce it's capacity to keep you warm.
Shop around on the net and do a little research and then head to your local LDS. Chances are they might match or lower their price to meet the internet price. If they go to the trouble of helping you select a wetsuit, obtaining proper fit, telling you benefits of different suits, then you've also gotten some "value add" from your LDS on the wetsuit. The extra few bucks they charge for that are worth it in the long run instead of getting a wetsuit that doesn't fit or doesn't have right features for your diving needs.
Hope that helps.
-Mike
Divers Supply is a legitimate company like the others here have said. They are authorized dealer of everything they sell. They also carry Sea Elite, which is their own line of equipment. It's also good equipment and almost all of it is a "duplicate" of a name brand piece of gear that is made in the same factory as the name brand ones are. It's just not as well known because they are smaller in stores than all the other dealers. You'll find some LDS's and other folks bashing Sea Elite, but chances are they've never owned it. Most folks you find that have owned Sea Elite have no problems with it and are happy with it.
Divers Supply made it's niche by starting out with catalog sales of equipment. They don't sale ScubaPro because ScubaPro's dealer agreement doesn't allow catalog, mail order, or internet sales of their equipment. That's the only reason you don't see it and other brands at this shop.
As for the wetsuit, I agree, that as a new diver, the best way to obtain a "best fit" on a wetsuit is to try it on in the shop. The shop can help you obtain the best fit. This is important because a poorly fitting wetsuit that is too loose will allow more water movement and reduce it's capacity to keep you warm.
Shop around on the net and do a little research and then head to your local LDS. Chances are they might match or lower their price to meet the internet price. If they go to the trouble of helping you select a wetsuit, obtaining proper fit, telling you benefits of different suits, then you've also gotten some "value add" from your LDS on the wetsuit. The extra few bucks they charge for that are worth it in the long run instead of getting a wetsuit that doesn't fit or doesn't have right features for your diving needs.
Hope that helps.
-Mike