Changes to Fundies...

[*Floater*]

I don't see DIR-F as a class where someone will learn you to dive doubles. Generaly, the rule is: use the equipment you're used to. You have enough other tasks to manage, you don't need something more to deal with.

So what if you are singles diver, interested in DIR-F, who wants to use doubles on and off in the future. Should you (a) hold off on DIR-F until you've taken another course where you learn to use doubles or learn them on your own, and then take DIR-F, or (b) take DIR-F in a doubles now anyway. [(c) would be to take it twice, single rig now and doubles later, but that might not be do-able for some people].

 

[headhunter]

Well, the class might be less enjoyable, but if you'd learn more... I do agree there would be no point if you know with near certainty that you will never use doubles, but I think a lot of singles divers fall into the grey area where they don't really know whether they'll use doubles at some point in the future.

I'm only speaking from my own perspective having just taken the class. If I say anything that may be off, I'm sure someone with more experience and knowledge will correct my errors.

I plan on diving doubles again in the future as well as advancing through the Cave and Tech classes that GUE has to offer. I'm very excited about moving forward in with my dive education. However, I'm not in a hurry to rush to the next level. I'm very much enjoying the journey.

One of the concepts that I got out of this weekend is that of using "building blocks" to further my knowledge and build a solid foundation for my diving in the future.

I'm glad that I took this class in a single tank.

I have enough to work on without introducing one more thing I have to concentrate on. When I get each of the skills sorted out and they become second nature, then I'll add more to the mix. I feel that when I get to the point where I don't have to concentrate so much on the basics of buoyancy, trim, propulsion and planning that I can then start to add things like doubles to a more solid base of skills.

In my opinion, until I have these basic skills up to the standard that our GUE instructors expect, I have no business trying to move on to anything more complicated.

Keep in mind that everyone starts out on this path at a different level of competency, so if someone already has already built a solid base of competency in the basics before entering the class, then by all means I don't want to discourage them from taking this class in doubles.

Just my opinion at this time. I may think differently about all of this as I learn more.

Christian

 

[TSandM]

Floater, I think the answer to your question lies in part in why you're taking the class in the first place.

If you are taking it to pass it, to go on to further technical training with GUE, then you are looking at further expensive equipment and expensive training . . . At that point, the cost of a second go-round with Fundies is more or less going to disappear into the mix, I think. And it sounds as though GUE is going to require that a Fundies-level class be passed in doubles to go on, anyway. If they break the class up so that you can take "Fundies" in singles, and then do a re-eval later for the "tech" level certification, that would probably make the cost pretty supportable.

Then you just have to ask yourself how close you are to being able to tackle the class with the doubles. I'm really glad I did it with the equipment I have. I'm not sure I'll ever dive doubles (have to figure out how to walk with two tanks on my back first!) but I am sure I'll make frequent and grateful use of the skills we worked on, and that I will continue to work on, through all the diving I do, no matter what direction I end up going.

 

[*Floater*]

Well, my main motivation to take dir-f tech rather than rec would be to learn skills that I might need anyway if I start diving doubles, but I will just ask the instructor what he thinks about it. I brought it up here because I appreciate hearing opinions from people who've taken the course and also I think some other people may be in my position.

 

[cmalinowski]

Well, my main motivation to take dir-f tech rather than rec would be to learn skills that I might need anyway if I start diving doubles, but I will just ask the instructor what he thinks about it. I brought it up here because I appreciate hearing opinions from people who've taken the course and also I think some other people may be in my position.

I must be missing something. There is no seperate class, only seperate certs at the end of one class from my understanding.

When I took the class, I did it using a single tank. The best I could have hoped for from a cert standpoint is a rec-f cert. Another guy took it in doubles with his can light. He could have gotten a tec-f had he passed. That being the case, we both got provisional and I don't see there being a provision rec and a provisional-tec.

When we go back to get checked out and certified, if he can do all of the skills in doubles with can light, then he will be tech-f cert'd and can move on to tech1 or cave1. If I go, I will probably do it in singles again, and will only get rec-f. If I want to move onto cave1 or tech1, I would have to get checked out again in doubles with a can light. That's it.

All of the skills besides the valve drills are the same. If you don't know the valve drill before entering the class, then you need to study that first as the class is not a "how to dive doubles" class. Most stuff has no effect from the doubles or singles.

Chris

 

[Spectre]

I guess the alternate question would be, and it may have been answered already, is what does a REC-F Cert get you that those who would have gotten a provisional before wouldn't get? Well, aside of the "I got a shiny plastic card" thing? e.g. is there anything you can do with a REC-F cert? like Triox maybe? Or do you need the tech-F cert to move on?

 

[lamont]

I guess the alternate question would be, and it may have been answered already, is what does a REC-F Cert get you that those who would have gotten a provisional before wouldn't get? Well, aside of the "I got a shiny plastic card" thing? e.g. is there anything you can do with a REC-F cert? like Triox maybe? Or do you need the tech-F cert to move on?

I've heard some rumors about the triox class being split up into a recreational single-tank class and a "tech 0" class in doubles.