I'm with O-ring on this one. There's no way in hell I'd have passed that course if it was a "pass/fail" style course.
On the other hand, I certainly would like to have some sort of certification once my skills are up to par and my lifestyle change is complete. I would love to have something like that to hold personally to tell me "I did it."
...And I can imagine one day going diving somewhere really serious... You know... Like asking the dudes at Ginnie for the keys to the grate, or taking a charter to the 'Doria... Something like that. And while all they can do now is ask for your log book and your PADI/NAUI certifications to decide whether or not you are qualified, being able to show a successfull DIR-F cert card would be a terrific thing.
But the bottom line, Mike, is that if cert cards are offered for the class, then the focus becomes a little different. The students would undoubtedly feel the pressure of success, and over time, there's no question that this pressure would begin to lay on the instructor's shoulders. Eventually, I fear that this whole thing would end up truly "lowering the bar," or worse... Frustrating failed divers so badly that the whole DIR-F class would end up getting a bad reputation.
One of the things that I found so great about the class was the fact that I was there to learn... Not to pass or fail. There is a simple beauty in that, which seems to be a prevalent philosophy in DIR diving. The long hose is simple and functional. The necklace is uncomplicated, simple to use, and dependable. The backplate just makes sense... The body position... The skills... The focus on trim and buoyancy... It's all very DIR; a simple, "holistic," very pure form of diving. In a way, I find it almost spiritual. It's a radical departure from everything else that's being taught.
Simply put, I fear that the pursuit of a DIR c-card is not at all "in line" with the entire thought process behind DIR.
So if you asked me my opinion... And you didn't... But if you had... I'd tell you that I would be disappointed to see DIR-F become a certification course.
That said, I can see the reason why the BOD would want to make it so, and I would proudly hold a DIR-F c-card in my hand. Those who knew (and they certainly will soon if they don't already) would immediately know the skills, the thought process, and the eliteness of such an accomplishment.
...So with all due repect to GUE's BOD, who seems to have already made a decision to make the course a certification course, I have some suggestions:
Perhaps GUE would see to it that it could create a skill level-style certification. Level one, achieved opon completion of DIR-F, could be called, "Level One," or "Beginner," or "Explorer," or "GUE certified." Level two could be Cave Diver I or Tech I or whatever, and so on. Thus, the person earns the certification when they pass DIR-F, but can increase their skill level, and therefore their certification level, on the completion of new courses. This wouldn't be unlike OW and AOW training, but it would have more of a "chain of events" thought process behind it, rather than individual certifications. In a way, this would be similar to other certifying agencies, but just a little more in-depth with it.
...But that's not all. Here's the addition that could make this idea pretty radical: It could be set up so that when a diver takes any GUE class and completes it, they receive a diploma stating that they went to this class and completed it.
Thus, people who take the class and complete it, regardless of their skill level, receive something that said that they did, in fact, take the class. Call it a "diploma" or whatever. But only those who were able to demonstrate those required skills are actually "certified."
I believe that this would prevent the "bar" from being lowered, and at the same time still reward every diver for the effort that they put forth. DIR would not earn a bad rep, and you guys wouldn't be in a position where you felt pressure to "lower the bar."
Whatcha think?
To be perfectly honest, I think the whole shebang is too complicated, and would prefer it to be focused on learning and not on a grade (c-card.) But if the BOD insists, then perhaps they'll consider that as an alternative.