You'll know you've found a top knotch instructor ... after he/she talks you out of taking a solo diving course.
Now, now...we're trying to be all-inclusive good ambassadors for the philosophy and all that. We are not allowed to slag off on any other form of diving, regardless of our personal opinion/experience.
Remember the whole fly/honey/vinegar thing? If we treat people all nice and accepting, then maybe they won't be so standoffish and mean towards US. And you must admit, we are in the minority here.
Strategy and Tactics my man. When I'm surrounded and outnumbered, I don't go on the offensive. I dig in and score my points where I can.
Or, (and I'm just trying to think outside the box here); I just don't give a sh*t how anyone else wants to dive. Less stress that way, and be honest, who REALLY gives a ****?
OW, fun recreational dive? I'll dive with anyone, as long as they are not a total f*ckbucket. And even if they are, I'll bend over backwards to help them and make them a better diver. I'm an instructor, that's my job. I want to improve the general state of divers in any way I can. I'm INCLUSIVE, not divisive. I personally believe in the DIR/GUE philosophy, but not everyone else does. That doesn't mean that they can't get something from the training and the philosophy though.
I remember how much I used to crap on it. I was SOOOO against it. I wanted to machine gun everyone who was into it, just because. (I believe the best tool for diplomacy is the machine gun. It tends to settle things. One way or another.) Anyhow, I was SOOOO antagonistic towards DIR/GUE. I hated them all. Then I took Fundies. And it was a done deal. I guess I see it as, "if my mind can be opened, then ANYONE'S can."
Well maybe not, but I'll do my damndest to try, and I'll try and be cool about it. Folks will either go for it or not, I can't force anyone. Mostly because I don't have a machine gun. At least not yet.
Regarding the class, if you take one, please post a report on it. Solo diving seems to be big in Texas, so I figure the training is out there. I'd like to hear what is taught, emphasized and required for the course. Not being familiar with the solo courses, I would be interested in hearing how the other half lives, as it were.
