An observation about divers

[MXGratefulDiver]

I agree that we rec folks don't really get it bad from the current DIR set, but that hasn't always been the case, at least not online. I mean, you still see this "natural progession" from rec to tech assumption malarky sometimes, but not so much from the divers really doing it, more from "new enthusiasts".

I think in some ways the current DIR divers online are having to sleep in the attitude bed made by their earlier forbears.

But there's a lesson in that, too...

I'm not so sure ... if we're going to judge people by the actions of their earlier forbears, we're all guilty ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[NeedABiggerBoat]

Do what you want. Dive how you want. Just play nice with others. It is a fallacy to think that someone is more or less safe because of how they choose to dive.

 

[FritzCat66]

if we're going to judge people by the actions of their earlier forbears, we're all guilty ...

Oh sure. Like I said, it's a lesson. I did not mean to imply that it's not a lesson learnable by "both" sides.

...and I put that in quotes, because in the end, we're all enthusiastic about diving, and lucky as heck to live in a time and a world where we can all pursue that enthusiasm. Passionate divers of any kind are - fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective - a remarkably small subset of the population, so no sense in alienating a good percentage of that already-small subset.

 

[FritzCat66]

...even if some of us do fall into temptation to tease the "other" side at times. :devil3:

(oh come on, they make it so EASY!)

 

[randytay]

Just for the record, when I told my CD I am going to do DIR essentials concurrently with my mainstream education, he commented "We call DIR as Divers Ignoring Reality". I really feel very disappointed with the whole attitude.

On the other hand, I have spoken to a GUE instructor who says I can get my CD involve in the fundies and literally threw down the gauntlet: If you CD can perform all the skills I demonstrate without my instructions, I will teach the entire group for free.

*shrugs*

Either way, I am excited about starting my essentials and see how it goes after I complete it.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Do what you want. Dive how you want. Just play nice with others.

... and keep in mind that the whole point of diving is to have fun ...

It is a fallacy to think that someone is more or less safe because of how they choose to dive.

Well ... that depends entirely on the choices. I've met some people who, frankly, scare the crap outta me underwater. It's always the individual's choice how to dive ... but choices made in ignorance, or due to ego, can be blatantly unsafe ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Kingpatzer]

If you CD can perform all the skills I demonstrate without my instructions, I will teach the entire group for free.

I really am curious as to what the super secret mystery skills are that no one else in the diving world can know without GUE instruction.

 

[danvolker]

I really am curious as to what the super secret mystery skills are that no one else in the diving world can know without GUE instruction.

Not secret skills...Just bouyancy and trim and propulsion, taken to the point that they are perfect for the diving situation, WHENEVER THEY NEED TO BE.

This probably sounds unlikley to you--unlikely that there could be any bouyancy or trim issues a 20 year diving veteran might not have mastered. When you see the skills first hand, and see them used in the natural setting they are intended for, this should change your attitude on the issue.

An obvious skill from Fundies is to learn how "not to" silt. While this came from cave diving, we have many uses for this in recreational diving. Getting close to the deck on a shipwreck, to be near a Goliath Grouper, or doing a minor shipwreck penetration ( with picture window size exits all along it) can mean being close to a very silty bottom--if you flutter kick near it, you will destroy the vis....if you need to be close to the bottom, maybe inches from it, there is a perfect way to do this without silting, but it is not a skill most long time divers would be proficient in. Maybe you need to be out of the current and close proximity to the bottom is critical....maybe you are looking for nudibranchs...their are many reasons.

Other skills are more about perfection in boyancy and trim as this will effect a safety or deco stop--where in a team scenario, you would want to maintain face to face connection of all team members the entire time....this means a perfection of each person in hitting and maintaining a set depth, and not having to carreen around all over in an attempt to hold depth ( thus losing eye to eye contact, and ability to watch a buddy's gas switch was performed with the right gas, etc) ... while this is more tech oriented, without the skill, future tech diving is hampered. If you never go to tech, it is still awesome to be able to hold an exact depth and flat trim as if you were being held in place.

Just a few of the skills are demonstrated here ... YouTube - gue-reversekick1

 

[Kingpatzer]

Not secret skills...Just bouyancy and trim and propulsion, taken to the point that they are perfect for the diving situation, WHENEVER THEY NEED TO BE.

This probably sounds unlikley to you--unlikely that there could be any bouyancy or trim issues a 20 year diving veteran might not have mastered. When you see the skills first hand, and see them used in the natural setting they are intended for, this should change your attitude on the issue.

I'm pretty sure I never once suggested that people should not practice and perfect their skills. Nor have I ever thought that every diver spends the time they need to perfect their skills. But I sure don't understand the arrogance of assuming that someone doesn't have those skills unless they've attended a GUE course.

 

[danvolker]

I'm pretty sure I never once suggested that people should not practice and perfect their skills. Nor have I ever thought that every diver spends the time they need to perfect their skills. But I sure don't understand the arrogance of assuming that someone doesn't have those skills unless they've attended a GUE course.

No, you didn't...But you did raise the perfect issue about what a GUE class could offer even to a Course Director for PADI, NAUI or others..as well as many recreational divers with strong diving skills and big experience....

From what I have seen, most of the divers signing up for Fundies with a GUE instructor, are already exceptionally strong divers, and they typically have exceptional bouyancy and trim skills at the inception of class ( compared to most divers). When they complete and pass the Fundies class, they are always at a level they much prefer to be at, than the one they went in with