GUE & Halcyon Gear

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'm not a meme person but this always gave me a chuckle

View attachment 583354

Despite having a MOF, he doesn't look like he's panicking.

 

[O-ring]

lol...found it.

"Now I realize that all of this is getting somewhat complex, especially
for a pea brain such as yourself, so I have created the "BARKOMETER"
scale of abominable behaviors. It goes like this:

SNAFU - A dive on which JT is a participant. Invariably, something
incredibly stupid will happen.

CF - A SNAFU on which JT is the leader or organizer. Most likely, a NDE
(near death experience) will occur.

TARFU - A CF which is the fruit of a long 4 minute thought process by
JT. Typically involves highly avoidable multiple NDEs.

FUBAR - A TARFU which is the result of a malicious 3 minute thought
process by JT. It is typically preceeded by several TARFUs, and is done
in an attempt to smokescreen the multiple TARFUs that initially created
the need for a FUBAR.

In closing, JT, can I please have an order of McNuggets, fries, a happy
meal, a bottled water and extra napkins -- to go? BTW - Make it snappy
and I'll send a letter to get you into McDonalds University."

 

[Doc Harry]

I utterly despise GUE and the behavior of their instructors.

But I really like Halcyon gear. I just bought a new Halcyon backplate-wing setup.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I utterly despise GUE and the behavior of their instructors..

GI3 is gone you know. The GUE instructors in my area, and I'll name names: Guy Shockey, Kees Leverenz, Alex Adolfi, are all exemplary people. That's my exposure to GUE, so I don't understand the vitriol.

 

[Doc Harry]

That's my exposure to GUE, so I don't understand the vitriol.

You have limited exposure to GUE, that's why you don't understand. In my experience in taking multiple GUE classes, the GUE instructors were some of the most vile and disrespectful people I have ever met. And I found out years later, after I paid for a custom drysuit from a GUE instructor (I was right on the cusp of stock/custom sizing), that he actually substituted a stock drysuit and pocketed the $800 difference.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

You have limited exposure to GUE, that's why you don't understand. In my experience in taking multiple GUE classes, the GUE instructors were some of the most vile and disrespectful people I have ever met. And I found out years later, after I paid for a custom drysuit from a GUE instructor (I was right on the cusp of stock/custom sizing), that he actually substituted a stock drysuit and pocketed the $800 difference.

Yes, my experience is limited to the northwest which while does have a sizable community, but is not representative of all of GUE, but they do a fine job of representing GUE and scuba in general. Second hand stories of Liz Tribe indicate she's also someone with integrity. While my exposure to her is limited to Facebook, she's always been polite and respectful. People I know who have taken courses from Liz speak highly of her. I can say the same about a few other GUE instructors around the country/world. John Kendall seems like another upstanding individual. Luke Inman is another great individual with integrity.

While GUE is not as big as mainstream agencies, your experience is limited as well, wouldn't you agree? Or did you take courses from JJ himself?

When you discovered that you were ripped off, did you report it to GUE HQ?

 

[Doc Harry]

When you discovered that you were ripped off, did you report it to GUE HQ?

No, I did not. I had already complained vigorously to GUE about the instructors. Years later when I found out that I had been ripped off, I didn't think that complaining again would matter since GUE had already blown off my original complaints.

 

[Doc Harry]

Oh, but I love Halcyon gear

 

[EireDiver606]

@Doc Harry make a thread and have a real conversation about it and others experiences rather than throwing it randomly into this thread with no clear reason.

 

[Ayisha]

You have limited exposure to GUE, that's why you don't understand. In my experience in taking multiple GUE classes, the GUE instructors were some of the most vile and disrespectful people I have ever met. And I found out years later, after I paid for a custom drysuit from a GUE instructor (I was right on the cusp of stock/custom sizing), that he actually substituted a stock drysuit and pocketed the $800 difference.

It does sound like you're basing your opinions on certain individuals. GI3 and other shall we say, "strong personalities", were kicked out 15 years ago, before you even got a Fundies Tech Provisional, which is not a pass or certification, though you may have accepted a Recreational pass. I looked at your profile to see which GUE certs you have for the courses you mentioned above, and you don't have any listed. However, you apparently chose to go back to GUE for "multiple" courses, so perhaps you didn't always have issues with them?

I have met quite a lot of GUE instructors that have come here or across the border, plus the ones that live near here, and have been diving with them or taken a course or workshops with them or helped out on a course. A couple of them have/had a reputation for having strong personalities (like people in other agencies as well), but by and large, they appear to have integrity and are dedicated to their students and to high standards in the sport. Some of my most fun dives have been with GUE Instructors.

Making an accusation about a GUE instructor ripping you off should have been made through any of the appropriate channels, not on SB. Not sure how that represents GUE as a whole, anyway.