DIR Class: The Truth Comes Out

[Blue Space]

As a new diver reading these post has really proved invaluable to me. I only dream of having the knowledge and skills that many of you have. Its very obviouse to the only way to gain that knowledge is through practice practice and more practice.

 

[SeaJay]

Mike, thanks a bazillion, bud. I'll see you again soon for "round two." This time, I'm gonna impress us both with skills. No doubt, though, that you'll hand me new ones aimed at helping me out. What can I say, other than the fact that I learned more in your class over one weekend than in all of my other classes combined?

Yes, you guys both taught me the value of team... Plenty. I was wondering how you'd react to that last part in my report.

Let's just say that after a weekend of beating myself up, I really needed to reinforce that what you guys were saying was right. I still was having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I didn't posess the skills I needed to dive safely. That last dive made me realize that what you were saying was true. Of course, I already knew that, but the reinforcement helped.

And now I realize why I thought I was pretty good, and found out that I really wasn't... It's because the "bar" that PADI set was so low that I found myself easily exceeding it. I was the local dive expert! Funny how my attitude changed about that when I was asked to do some pretty basic skills... And found out that I wasn't up to "par." Hard to take, man.

...So let's just say that I went to check out PADI's version of the "bar" again... To verify what I'd learned... That it was very low.

It was.

I'm dedicated to excellence, Mike. It's going to take a while, though. I have a lot of changes to make. Wait'll you see me next time. One day I'm gonna be good enough to get invited to some of the dive y'all are doing in Mexico and maybe even the almighty Doria.

Thank you for helping me to see GUE's "bar." Thank God it's up there, and not down there with PADI's.

See, Mike, I can say that, even if you can't.

Thanks for the compliments on the report. I hope that it serves other divers here and that some will challenge themselves to be the best and learn what it is to really dive.

You mention that GUE's DIR-F class is not known for it's positive reinforcement. Please don't change that, Mike. Yeah, it hurt a while, but in the long run it makes for a much more effective class. I'd rather you help me with my shortcomings than point out the things I'm doing right. Yeah, it can be hard to take, but that's life. "Getting better" means first understanding that you need to get better. "Dumbing it down" only makes the process longer.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I had no idea. Care to share? Was it diving related?

Lastly, you mentioned in class something about getting some of the video on a CD-ROM. Is that still available? I sure would like to examine that a million times.

Thanks again. See you in the next class.

(Hey, you're welcome to share pics with the board, even if they aren't the most flattering poses.) Sure, man... Let's have 'em!

<Ducking and running for cover...>

 

[westcoastdiver]

Well I have to say what a great read! I live on the west coast of BC Canada Great diving. A bit about me to start, I am an Instructor (it doesn’t matter with who). I have been One for the last 10 years I have done around 2000 + dives. I have worked on charter boats, in shops, with the military, doing recovery, and freelanced ECT. I have seen every sort of diver with every level of certification that are great and that should not be in the water what so ever. I have found it not un usual that people who have not been diving in years think they do not need refreshers. I have also found it interesting that with every certifying agency that I have come in contact with do not stress the need for revisiting skill practices and do not revisit the basic skills first learn. I am now discovering DIR fundamentals. I do not find it surprising that people are blown away. The things that are taught are things that are common since if it works great if it does not well then. The thing I like is the stress put on PRACTICING your skills over and over.

In addition, I quote:
WJL wrote:
It is not that Andrew, Mike and company try to squish egos in any overt way. They're a little more subtle than that. They don't come out and say "We're the best, and you're not." They prefer to let you come to that conclusion yourself, after seeing them in the water. They will give plenty of chances to anyone claiming to have this diving business whipped to show their stuff.

As a new diver, they let me squish my own ego, when I tried to perform the skills they demonstrated. They looked good. I looked bad. And seeing video of myself looking bad, in front of the rest of the class, pretty much finished the squishing. The end result was good though: I made a determined resolution to practice and improve, and I've been doing just that since the class.
End quote.

As skills go the people who dive and take it seriously, practice skills and keep up with continuing education are few and far between (out side of this board) doubt what I am saying? Look at the stats of people who take a course and keep it up. Better yet, Go to your local dive shop and watch the people who show up for the drop in dives most people are good but there are the ones that have 10 dives 10 years ago, don’t plan there dives and or have not a clue. The DIR ideas should be given a Place with in the recreational diving world IE: certifying agencies could learn a thing or two or even adopt some practices! Safer divers make more fun.
End of my rant
P.S. I have to take the D.I.R fundamentals corse, you never stop learning.

 

[GearHead]

If you're looking to doing DIR-F in your locale, you can check in with a great guy I met on a dive trip to Nanaimo last year: Colin Stares. He's an expat Brit GUE instructor who teaches and is a mate for Ocean Explorers . I think he teaches DIR-F fairly frequently, and from his manner on our boat, he seems like a born teacher.

Cheers,

Rick

westcoastdiver once bubbled...
P.S. I have to take the D.I.R fundamentals corse, you never stop learning.

 

[SeaJay]

I was contacted by GUE recently, and they asked me to critique the DIR-F class that I took.

Of course, I answered their questions... But then sent them a link to page 1 of this thread. They need to know what kind of effect they're having on the scuba industry[ at least, those who take DIR-F.

Anyway, I reread this entire thread. How unbelievable it is to relive that entire experience! Simply amazing...

At one point I said something to the effect of, "I want to write it all down so that I can reread it later and learn from it all over again... So I really write for selfish reasons!" How true that is! I think I actually got more out of it this time than I did from actually taking the class!

I gotta take DIR-F again. What a blast... How cool is it when some class you take literally changes the way you dive, permenantly?

Too cool.

...And I can't express how cool it is to reread other's posts and responses... Especially now that I know y'all better. It's as if I now have a background on y'all... And your commentaries mean that much more to me.

Amazing. Simply amazing.

 

[herman]

I got a note from my DIR-F instructor that my class report that I posted on SB was forwarded on to him, for which he thanked me. I know of 2 of the GUE staff who frequent the board. I suspect there are more. It has not been that long ago for me, guess I need to wait several more months and re-read it. Just to see if my perspective has changed..... although I kind of doubt it. In any case, it was a class worth taking.

 

[Ezh]

Thanks for a great report SeaJay!! Lots of information, plus a pleasure to read

In mid October I'm taking Dirf class in Milwaukee, and guess what, I'm going to have the same instructors

I hope that I won't feel that humiliated, just cause I'm a newbee, and know that my skills suck anyway

khel

 

[SeaJay]

khel once bubbled...

In mid October I'm taking Dirf class in Milwaukee, and guess what, I'm going to have the same instructors

Lucky you! I haven't worked with any other instructors, although I believe that I've met a few, since I'm sorta hanging out with that crowd from time to time. Still, I don't think I would rather work with anyone other than MHK and Andrew G... I can't say enough about them.

You're a lucky guy to be in their class.

 

[crawford]

Seajay,
Just found this thread while doing a search. I really appreciate your honesty, very few people would share all their thoughts and struggles like that. It made me want to go out and practice like crazy.

Read your profile and noticed you were born one day before me, I was born March 12, 1970. Maybe I'll stop by Beaufort and dive sometime. Take care.

 

[SeaJay]

Heck yeah you should stop up here and dive with me.

Have you taken the class?

Thanks for the compliments...