Am I the only one here who took R1? LOL!
Tech pass level is the f---ing solo mythic mode dungeon of diving. But I'll get there someday =D we will all get there!
I should have said "introductory GUE course" and not "Fundies". From what I've gleaned, Fundies and Rec 1 are quite similar in what they bring to the table and the requirements to pass. When I did Fundies part 1, I started with around 20 dives and those were spread out over 5 years so I consider myself having started Fundies essentially right after OW. I mean, I knew how to setup my rig (mostly), breath from a reg and clear my mask but that was about it.
For divers who are more experienced and are using Fundies as a gateway into the GUE system, what I said in my previous post is not applicable at all.
I don't have taken fundamentals, but I have heard too a couple of guys mentioning that Rec1 is about equal to Fundamentals. BTW, I didn't found R1 to be THAT hard. It is exhausting, it requires effort but it's not rocket science... both me and my girlfriend passed without problems. What I also heard is that teaching Rec 1 is somewhat easier than teaching GUE-F due to writing on a blank slate + having more time and students at the same level.
@Lorenzoid - All good points in
#104, I don't think it's possible to keep the current duration and cost of OW classes and get the same experience as Fundies. I do still think you need at add to OW but that means making it longer and more expensive which would discourage a fair number of divers. As an example, our local GUE instructor gets a few requests to conduct Rec 1 classes and actually asks them to do OW first, do a little diving and come back for Fundies. Rec 1 is a big commitment for someone who hasn't dived at all.
Strange... A friend of mine with Padi OW card was suggested to retake Rec 1 instead of Fundamentals (they cost the same here) since (instructor's words) Fundies is a kick in the face, too hard and too dense. Refusing to teach Rec 1 sounds odd.
To the beginners reading this thread and those considering picking up SCUBA: There are many great instructors who will teach you safe and sound diving. They will go out of their way to teach you diving, a sport that will bring you many years of joy and happiness. Seek them out from whatever agency they may be from.
This is the core of the problem: HOW to seek them out and discern them from the masses of crappy instructor while knowing absolutely ZERO about diving, THEN making clear what do you want from your course. There is no guarantee that an amazing diver and instructor will raise the bar where we want him to, especially for an entry level course. On the other hand, when divers seek tech training they have already heard the names of top instructors around, on boats/clubs/whatever... In less than 100 dives I already know where I should go if I wanted to learn how to dive sidemount, or tech, or even CCR(!).
Rec 1 instead really, and badly, wipes the floor with every competition. I don't love GUE that much but you pay your money and you get your good training. No ifs, buts, choose your instructor BS, etc etc ... from dive 1 you start diving with a bit of knowledge of what you should do and look like, and the more you dive the more the training you received comes into its own. At least that has been my experience.
Seeing other divers with the same number of dives and training as me = OW+AOW, I play in another universe. Not being especially gifted, I conclude that the reason is that most other newbie divers like me were taught by people who should have no business teaching diving.