DIR vs Hogarthian

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Simple translation: "I know nothing about what you are asking and that plays upon my inferiority complex. Rather than admit ignorance, I will dismiss the concept considered as irrelevant".
OR he was really clumsilly saying. "hey FOCUS on what you are learning now not stuff that has no relevance here and now"
 
@ Ayisha
too bad Toronto does not have good venue, Humber is good depth wise but unpredictable vis wise. Otherwise we would have more classes here. Ottawa and even Kingston are much better for that...
@OP I would look at Ottawa option. Although its a bit of a hike but its almost as far as Brockville. The limestone quarry where Steve teaches is the best training location I have ever seen, 40m deep the vis is usually at least 50-60 ft.
The lady that owns the quarry keeps the place clean and nice she also allows divers to camp on the property so you can take a tent and save on hotel. There is a grocery store nearby.
Steve is a great instructor and goes an extra mile to help the students.

Ottawa is a bit further than Brockville for the OP. For those who don't know, the distance from Windsor to Ottawa is 805 km/499 miles, taking about 7 1/2 hrs to drive; Windsor to Brockville is 687 km/426 miles taking about 6 1/2 hours to drive, and Windsor to Toronto is 367 km/227 miles, taking about 3 hrs, 39 minutes to drive.

The OP can also just drive across the Windsor-Detroit border and probably get a GUE instructor even closer to him than in Canada.

Many of the GUE instructors travel to their students as well, as has been previously mentioned. The OP has more options than some may realize.

Elan, you obviously really like Steve Blanchard, and he is a great guy. He would probably be the easiest one to coordinate dates with since he lives in the province, but is the furthest away.
 
Ottawa is a bit further than Brockville for the OP. For those who don't know, the distance from Windsor to Ottawa is 805 km/499 miles, taking about 7 1/2 hrs to drive; Windsor to Brockville is 687 km/426 miles taking about 6 1/2 hours to drive, and Windsor to Toronto is 367 km/227 miles, taking about 3 hrs, 39 minutes to drive.

The OP can also just drive across the Windsor-Detroit border and probably get a GUE instructor even closer to him than in Canada.

Many of the GUE instructors travel to their students as well, as has been previously mentioned. The OP has more options than some may realize.

Elan, you obviously really like Steve Blanchard, and he is a great guy. He would probably be the easiest one to coordinate dates with since he lives in the province, but is the furthest away.

Thanks! I will do some research on those that are located in the Detroit area as well as try and get in contact with those in Ontario. Hopefully I will be able to set something up for after I have finished my AOW.

@ DevonDiver, I apologize for jumping to conclusions.
 
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@ DevonDiver, So my failure is trying to look ahead at learning new things and seeking out new information? Hmm.. Maybe I should just stick my head in the sand and try to be oblivious to what's around me.

I think he was responding to daniel f aleman...who has a well known hatred of anything DIR or WKPP or GUE related....you will see this clearly if you search his name and read past posts dealing with these topics.
Aleman is representative of "some" dive shop owners....they are not DIR or GUE, and they desperately want to be EVERYTHING to the new divers that enter their shop....to them, the solution is to ridicule , rather than to learn.
 
Aleman is representative of "some" dive shop owners....they are not DIR or GUE, and they desperately want to be EVERYTHING to the new divers that enter their shop....to them, the solution is to ridicule , rather than to learn.

I don't think this is limited to some shops or to the subject of DIR/GUE. The attitude is pervasive across the industry.
 
Oh, and although it's back a ways in the thread, I'd like to address the "military versus religious" characterization, and say that in my view, DIR is neither. The essence of the military is doing what you are told; the essence of religion is taking things on faith. In the DIR system, there is a good reason for every decision, and anyone teaching or mentoring you should be able to articulate it. In some cases, there is no "best" decision
I would like to disagree with this a little bit. Mainly the military part. I understand that during a soldiers Initial Entry Training, doing what you are told is a big thing. However, I have been an instructor for the Army for 3 years now. Best job in the world IMO. While I teach many different tasks, one of my largest pieces is weapons instructor. I teach soldiers wishing to become Military Police. The weapons part is pretty major. I have never told a student, do this because I told you to do so. I would probably be reassigned. Everything I teach has a reason. For instance, I teach many different stances, and explain why I prefer one over the others. I explain what 15 years in firearms and tactical instruction has shown me to work best. When clearing buildings or neutralizing an active shooter, I explain to the students why I teach the way I do, and it has never been "because the army says so". Also, for those who state that the military does not make changes or evolve, rubbish. Our course curriculum is constantly being modified.



Anyways, back to DIR vs the world! LOL

I might actually add to the OP's original topic shortly. lol
 
I would like to disagree with this a little bit. Mainly the military part. I understand that during a soldiers Initial Entry Training, doing what you are told is a big thing. However, I have been an instructor for the Army for 3 years now. Best job in the world IMO. While I teach many different tasks, one of my largest pieces is weapons instructor. I teach soldiers wishing to become Military Police. The weapons part is pretty major. I have never told a student, do this because I told you to do so. I would probably be reassigned. Everything I teach has a reason. For instance, I teach many different stances, and explain why I prefer one over the others. I explain what 15 years in firearms and tactical instruction has shown me to work best. When clearing buildings or neutralizing an active shooter, I explain to the students why I teach the way I do, and it has never been "because the army says so". Also, for those who state that the military does not make changes or evolve, rubbish. Our course curriculum is constantly being modified.



Anyways, back to DIR vs the world! LOL

I might actually add to the OP's original topic shortly. lol

Scubaboard might break.
 
Out of all this "information" I hope your question has been answered to your satisfaction. Good luck with your future training regardless of what path you choose. Remember scuba diving is supposed to be enjoyable, have fun and enjoy the experience.
 
I would like to disagree with this a little bit. Mainly the military part. I understand that during a soldiers Initial Entry Training, doing what you are told is a big thing. However, I have been an instructor for the Army for 3 years now. Best job in the world IMO. While I teach many different tasks, one of my largest pieces is weapons instructor. I teach soldiers wishing to become Military Police. The weapons part is pretty major. I have never told a student, do this because I told you to do so. I would probably be reassigned. Everything I teach has a reason. For instance, I teach many different stances, and explain why I prefer one over the others. I explain what 15 years in firearms and tactical instruction has shown me to work best. When clearing buildings or neutralizing an active shooter, I explain to the students why I teach the way I do, and it has never been "because the army says so". Also, for those who state that the military does not make changes or evolve, rubbish. Our course curriculum is constantly being modified.



Anyways, back to DIR vs the world! LOL

I might actually add to the OP's original topic shortly. lol

It's been over 20 years since I was in the military, but I remember a lot of things that were carry overs from an earlier time. The whole drill and ceremonies thing is basically a holdover from the Napoleonic era. Sure, it probably still has it's place in indoctrinating new troops, but it's real significance was back when armies formed lines and actually fought in formations. I also remember things like shelter halves. Pretty much the worst backpacking tents ever created, (or at least they seemed that way in early 90's). Even back then, cheap, lightweight, nylon tents had been around for decades, but the army persisted in issuing those heavy chunks of canvas with wooden tent poles. There were many other things as well but I'm not really interested in nitpicking our military's equipment or procedures. On the whole, I believe they do and have done a very good job, but IMO, they are also sometimes very reluctant to change.

As far as the doing what you're told bit, I'm with you. There's hardly a job in the world where you don't have to do what you're told. In that regard, the real difference between the private sector and the military is that you can't always quit the military and they can do more than just fire you.
 

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