As someone who took the official Dry suit class. And was thankful that I didnt have to pay for it. I thought it was a waste of money. It sounds to me like your "DIVE GUY" is just looking out for his main interests his pocket book. But that is just my opinion and my opinion only. There are any number of Good diver with good dry suit abilities that would take the time and dive with you to make your experience as safe and fun and enjoyable FOR FREE at the Meet n Greet. As I have said before You dont have to come to meet and greet to dive. I will be lucky if I dive at all this year I havent decided.
I can't remember where a certain Mitten Diver got his initial drysuit course.
Ted, you are going to be equipped better than me in one respect this year. My canister light battery is fried and I am not replacing it prior to meet and greet due to funds. So, you will have a canister light there and I won't. I will be using my older halogen light which should work just fine for quarry diving as I don't often need a light in there.