Granted, they don't own swimming. But neither do any of the scuba/freediving teaching organizations own scuba or freediving. That's why I say, let's just see what they tell.
And frankly, I can very well remember a time in the scuba industry not so long ago where there were so many different organizations and at first they too thought they were the only ones and did not accept certification done by others. Luckily most of them sat together and agreed on some kind of mutual equivalence table. But those thinkings ("Standesdnkel und Grabenkriege", sorry for my German) are still there, under the surface (no pun intended), especially in German clubs and with the elderly there. Experienced it myself, when I went looking for a club some twenty years ago. They told me "You did learn with what organization? Not us? Then you don't know how to dive and probably will never learn." And that was before I even put a toe into the water with them. Needless to say, it wasn't the club I went with.
I think there are two possibilities: Either it is just about money, then it will be very easy to spot. Or they are really concerned about safety and proper teaching, then it could be the time to at least start talking to each other. If they don't want to, fine. But at least then I know where I stand.
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