Bring on the Kool-Aid

[Halthron]

And don't forget that the instructors are EVIL! If you think that they're bad below water, unclipping objects and stirring up silt so you lose your buoyancy, they're at their worst above water. You'll know he's the spawn of the devil himself if you have bikini models distracting the class.

 

[Mo2vation]

Oh, there's ample footage of me flailing about as well.

My point is this: You will get more out of the class if you are able to get through the whole thing. And your chances of getting through the whole thing dramatically improve if you arrive with the basic skills - specifically buoyancy control. And if your entire team is solid, its even better still.

But if your team is held back by a Provisionator, it will impact your experience. I believe in trying to maximize the experience. Hence:

a) Practice as a team before class. Sign up as a team. Take it as a team and you will generally go deeper into the training

b) Foist the Provisionator on the other guys, so you're on the Alpha team

This is a Fundamentals class. There will be swing-and-miss beginners in the class. But you know what, I paid the same price as they did. I want to go as deep into the training as I can, and by me arriving ready doesn't guarantee that. If I'm on the Beta team, I'm missing out. So you have two choices: Bring your own team, or plan, fanagle and posture yourself onto the Alpha team.


---
Ken

 

[letterboy]

Having taken DIR/F, and ushered many (MANY) of my friends into the class, I get this question a lot. In fact, I was just speaking with a buddy about this last night. I've given this some thought, but I haven't polished it yet... so bare with me as I try to memorialize this for the first time in writing.


SNIP



I'm sure there is more I'll come up with once I give this a little more thought. Have fun. I went into my DIR/F with 16 pound and though I was properly weighted. I came out diving 8. I went in doing 30 dives a year, I'm now doing over 200. It changed everything for me. Not just diving, but health & fitness as well.

Its the single best thing I ever did for my diving, taking DIR/F.

Come back and tell us all about it!

---
Ken

That is some of the best insight i have seen into DIR training in a long time. . .

ALOT of good points makes me want to go diving and practice. . . and practice more and more!!!

Hey Frog Good luck and make sure to give us a report when you come back!!!

 

[cummings66]

What is the number of people for a team, the most and the least that can make it a team in other words.

Thanks for the explanation, I'm aware of Jim Jones so I understand it.

 

[cummings66]

When a person fails or gets a provisional, do they have to retest as a team or as an individual?

 

[Frog77]

When a person fails or gets a provisional, do they have to retest as a team or as an individual?

Its my understanding that you fail or get a provisonal as an individual, and have to retest also as an individual.

 

[Ben_ca]

I helped my buddy get thru his provisional check dive and guess what... the instructor had me do all the skills as well... don't know what she would have done if I had messed that up

Speaking of skills....

Monterey Skills dive
Sat Morning 0800
Red DUI, Double 100's (Like people can recognize you when you are geared up)
PM for details

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Its my understanding that you fail or get a provisonal as an individual, and have to retest also as an individual.

Not sure what the defined 'law' is here, but I know for a fact that at least one GUE instructor will NOT let you retest 'solo', in fact I'd go so far as to say none of them would. Solo just is not in the vocabulary nor mindset.

If you mean can one person on the team fail with the others passing, the answer is 'yes' that can happen.

I agree with Ken as well, a very bad diver can grossly impact a team of divers that very well may have passed if it wasn't for a diver that is so under skilled they just cannot get anything together.

I personally think a student should rule # 1 a fellow student, or go equipped as a team that has at least similar skills and some familiarity with each other.

I was pretty fortunate in this respect, but I know a few others that were not so lucky.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Lamont and I were teamed up with a fellow who insisted on doing the class in doubles ... even though his skills were such that he could not hover in them.

We spent half the class chasing after him ... and the other half trying to get out of his way ... :11:

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I wish I was with you man. But this class came up after I had already committed and paid for my trip to Brockville. One of my buddies had Bob for his instructor. I just could not afford nor did I have the vacation time left to do both. Oh well, maybe next one. Will probably get adv nitrox and deco procedures in first though.