GUE training and deep diving

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The non-stop tables are NOAA dive tables. That's where they come from.
So the NOAA tables tell you to stop at 50% of max depth and then do a series of stops to the surface?
 
. . .

It's a method of controlled ascent. It helps keep the group together and helps lay out a schedule and a benchmark that everyone can gauge--are we going to slow or two fast? Do we actually have control while ascending (the slow stops) or are we ascending slightly out of control but adjusting/compensating with air dumps and adds. As stated above, there is little difference between the total ascent times between the methods, but min deco has a consistent approach between rec and non-recreational diving.

But--playing Devil's Advocate here--for an ascent from less than 100 feet (which is what GUE rec-only divers supposedly limit themselves to), I think a group could keep together pretty closely and ascend at pretty much the target rate without the 30-second stops. And after all, the first phase of the Minimum Deco Ascent is to ascend at 30 fpm to half the maximum depth, and THEN punctuate the remainder of the ascent with those 30-second stops. I suppose it could be argued that keeping a group of divers together becomes more important as they near the surface, to avoid separation on the surface, but that seems like a weak argument to me for complicating an ascent that other agencies demonstrate can safely be done by ascending at a fixed rate, right up until the safety stop.
 
The decompression theory behind the ascent profile for MDL dives is simply the understanding that a controlled ascent to the surface if preferred over a direct and rapid ascent. For an MDL dive, the ascent time is about the same as an ascent straight to 15' and then conducting a 3 minute stop, the stop time is just distributed over several stops.
So what effect does redistributing the stops to favor a deep stops theory have on decompression? Research over the past decade on decompression diving found that distributing decompression time to favor deep stops is not all that good for you. What makes you think the same distribution theory will work better in NDL diving than it does in decompression diving?

Its what deco planner spits out when the maximum stop times are 1min. That's it. Thats the minimum decompression limit. Any longer bottom time, and the stop times become greater than 1min.
So it is the same process that created the deep stops process applied to NDL diving, except with one minute stops. Is that correct?

Could you point me to the research that says this is advantageous?

They don't, and they don't claim to. Just like nobody "knows" that a 30/70 GF is "better" than a 90/100 or a 20/80.
Actually, there is a pretty fair amount of research out there that points to a significant difference in those factors. That research is giving people a pretty good idea.

Are you saying that after well over a century of study and countless people getting bent during research, no one has any idea, and so any ascent strategy is as good as any another?
 
At OP, How many dives do you do each year? where do you see yourself in 2-3 years?
49 dives in 1 year and 3/4. Probably 35-40 this year. I do not see myself progressing to tech diving (would like to get certified to 40m for insurance reasons).

If these numbers are correct, your SAC rate on the bottom was between .6 -.7 cuft a minute which is a great SAC rate for a new diver and right around the average for an experienced diver. What where the conditions like on the ascent that caused such an elevated breathing rate -- current? How long did it take you to ascend?

If you think that 25 min at 30m was too quick I think doubles and deco might be in your future.

Yes, there was a bit of current but main point was stress due to low air (left already past the 25 min and 70 bar). My point is that it would be more relaxing to reach the surface with significantly above an empty tank, lets say 50 bar.
 
Talking about GUE, I took 3 classes with them and I can say that it is not always about making a diver a better diver as 2 of the 3 classes were evaluation...
And it seems, reading posts, that evaluation is taking over learning.
It seems (I might be wrong) that more and more, with any agencies, you come to the class to be evaluated as you need to do your "homework" before. The skill aspect is now merged with the academic aspect. Yes, you can do, on your own, the academics but how can you prepare for the skills? Taking a class, is it not anymore of learning new skills and to better yourself?
I am getting confused...
 
But--playing Devil's Advocate here--for an ascent from less than 100 feet (which is what GUE rec-only divers supposedly limit themselves to), I think a group could keep together pretty closely and ascend at pretty much the target rate without the 30-second stops. And after all, the first phase of the Minimum Deco Ascent is to ascend at 30 fpm to half the maximum depth, and THEN punctuate the remainder of the ascent with those 30-second stops. I suppose it could be argued that keeping a group of divers together becomes more important as they near the surface, to avoid separation on the surface, but that seems like a weak argument to me for complicating an ascent that other agencies demonstrate can safely be done by ascending at a fixed rate, right up until the safety stop.
Instructors have told me that running a continuous 30ft/minute to 50% and then 10ft/min to the surface without any stops is perfectly OK. It's just very hard to do.
 
Thank you all for your inputs.

Any ideas on the following 2 that went unanswered:

Any recommendations for a good BPW setup that is not Halcyon and available in EU? (importing from outside is not an option due to VAT)

Lastly, what would be the appropriate cert for 40 m after: PADI deep diving or Gue rec 3? (I have no interest in tech down the road)

Thank you.
 
49 dives in 1 year and 3/4. Probably 35-40 this year. I do not see myself progressing to tech diving (would like to get certified to 40m for insurance reasons).

Yes, there was a bit of current but main point was stress due to low air (left already past the 25 min and 70 bar). My point is that it would be more relaxing to reach the surface with significantly above an empty tank, lets say 50 bar.

You have three options right now:
1. Ascend up sooner---do a dive for 20 min instead of 25
2. Dive with a larger single tank-move up to a larger 15L-17L tank
3. Dive with a pony bottle to remove the stress

I think your initial steps might be spot on. 1. Drysuit 2. Doubles primer with rented gear. The primer will allow you to get your feet wet with doubles and get exposure to GUE all without having to commit to buying all the new gear and equipment.
 
@jale , I’m sorry you had that experience too. I know it was frustrating for me. Out of curiosity was it the same instructor or different instructors?

Also, I want to be clear... although I did have the “evaluation” experience with one class, the six other classes I took with GUE were focused on instruction with a necessary component of evaluation. And I’ve sat through many other classes with multiple instructors where I videotaped the in-water aspect of the class, and I saw a focus on learning/instruction in all of those classes as well.

Talking about GUE, I took 3 classes with them and I can say that it is not always about making a diver a better diver as 2 of the 3 classes were evaluation...
And it seems, reading posts, that evaluation is taking over learning.
It seems (I might be wrong) that more and more, with any agencies, you come to the class to be evaluated as you need to do your "homework" before. The skill aspect is now merged with the academic aspect. Yes, you can do, on your own, the academics but how can you prepare for the skills? Taking a class, is it not anymore of learning new skills and to better yourself?
I am getting confused...
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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