CameronMartz
Fitness Instructor
StSomewhere:YSo although they are available, someone working from the published standard only learns by chance here that the GUE website is out of date, and the actual standards are in fact being modified without any advance notice?
Its one thing to publish standards and changes, but changing standards in mid-stream on someone is almost by definition arbitrary or capricious.
I totally missed this thread, and not to beat a dead horse, I feel compelled to respond by the language being used.
1. GUE is not changing, will not change, has not changed any standard without first investing much, much reflection and discussion.
2. GUE instructors and administration have been discussing the swim test and other fitness standards for quite some time and, as indicated, took the discussion directly to GUE members to incorporate their views before making any decisions.
3. No changes have been made at this time, but as stated multiple times, the listed standards are *minimums*, not maximums, as is the case with many dive training agencies. As said by others, the best way to find out any of the standards of any class is to contact the instructor you would expect to train with. You will not be required to sign up, commit, pay, or otherwise oblige yourself to training in order to find out any instructor's standards. <g>
Also, I hope that participants in or spectators of the fitness standards discussion on the Quest list did not feel that it was anything other than civil. Members certainly weighed in on different sides of the issue, and some people certainly have some anxiety about fitness standards of any kind, but I did not see anything expressed beyond that.
If the fitness standards (or any others, for that matter) were ultimately changed, the change would not happen overnight and will not surprise anyone already signed up for a class.
Cameron