Brand new OW diver - PADI or GUE to progress?

[EastEndDiver]

Why not get some dives and exposure to other divers,dive shops,etc. and then make a decision on what you observe and consider best for your situation.
With only having been certified 2 weeks ago it may be to soon for you to make decisions about future training without seeing some of what is available.
Additional dives will help you make that decision.

 

[salmon_ella]

Why not get some dives and exposure to other divers,dive shops,etc. and then make a decision on what you observe and consider best for your situation.
With only having been certified 2 weeks ago it may be to soon for you to make decisions about future training without seeing some of what is available.
Additional dives will help you make that decision.

I'm not planning to jump immediately (for one thing one of us still needs to certify...) At this point more looking for information and advice from those who might know while I gain experience.

 

[EireDiver606]

If you've got to the point of asking this question, then get training from GUE. The fundamentals class is an incredible way of increasing your capability and confidence.
Get in touch with the guys in Seattle, they will gladly help you, and you can't go wrong with any of them. Just be upfront and explain your situation, and discuss with them the best way forward. There is a great deal of sumour out there about GUE, most of it exaggerated. For example, the post higher up about Tech classes and fitness. We do require a certain level of fitness for all our classes, but the swim tests for most of the classes are not that arduous. We do have a ban on smoking however (and personally I wouldn't trust a diving instructor, who *did* smoke)
I would happily answer any direct questions you have, but would advise getting in touch with Alex, Kees, or any of the others who are regularly in the Seattle area.

Thanks
John

+1 with John.

The only reason I didn’t do GUE Recreational Diver Level 1 was because I didn’t know it existed. It’s also more fun and much much safer.

And quite frankly, I have no idea what to say about this...

When I was talking to some tech instructors they told that they can not enroll into GUE as they are smokers

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

GUE and UTD offer very high level training. I would not hesitate in pursuing either as early in my diving as possible. Training outside these two agencies generally suffers from very pool quality control and is very instructor dependent.

GUE is a non-profit organization and you have to become a member and keep membership on an annual basis. Their training is meant to create divers for GUE projects which are quite interesting. This is why they reserve the right to put certain demands on their members. UTD on the other hand is a for-profit model in which you are treated more as a paying customer rather than an Non-profit member. There is no annual fee and agency can make "recommendations" about fitness level, life style etc.

Divers from these two agencies are some of the most competent I have come across so far and training is top notch.

 

[leadduck]

boy, the GUE marketing brainwashing really worked on you, didn't it?

 

[Lorenzoid]

I'm not planning to jump immediately (for one thing one of us still needs to certify...) At this point more looking for information and advice from those who might know while I gain experience.

Great idea. Something like 25 dives under your belt would be a great point to take GUE Fundamentals. Not too late, not too soon, but just when you feel like you're getting the hang of diving.

 

[EireDiver606]

GUE and UTD offer very high level training. I would not hesitate in pursuing either as early in my diving as possible. Training outside these two agencies generally suffers from very pool quality control and is very instructor dependent.

GUE is a non-profit organization and you have to become a member and keep membership on an annual basis. Their training is meant to create divers for GUE projects which are quite interesting. This is why they reserve the right to put certain demands on their members. UTD on the other hand is a for-profit model in which you are treated more as a paying customer rather than an Non-profit member. There is no annual fee and agency can make "recommendations" about fitness level, life style etc.

Divers from these two agencies are some of the most competent I have come across so far and training is top notch.

This is meant as no disrespect but I don’t think you know much about GUE.

You do not have to be a member. It’s only if you want. There is no annual fee. You are not treated as a non profit member...whatever that means. Their training is meant to educate divers better, help conserve the environment and explore new things.

 

[salmon_ella]

Wow I had no idea I was about to start a faction war... XD

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . .
You do not have to be a member. It’s only if you want. . . .

Right. GUE offers memberships at various levels (with attendant membership fees), which gets you stuff like access to extra course materials, the Quest magazine, discounted swag, etc. I believe a portion of the membership fee goes to conservation and research projects. But membership is not required for a person to take a GUE course or hold a GUE c-card. One is free to consider himself a "GUE diver" if he wishes, regardless of whether he has a membership.

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

This is meant as no disrespect but I don’t think you know much about GUE.

You do not have to be a member. It’s only if you want. There is no annual fee. You are not treated as a non profit member...whatever that means. Their training is meant to educate divers better, help conserve the environment and explore new things.

Thanks for the info. I thought that there is a 35 USD annual fee to be a GUE member and training happens within that membership?