Fundamentals or Fundies

[b1gcountry]

The OP didn't ask about UTD, but enough people keep posting that Fundamentals and Essentials are "basically the same class", so I thought it worth pointing out that this is not true. UTD's Rec 2 is much closer to Fundies than Essentials is. Essentials does not cover nitrox (Rec 2 and Fundies do), Essentials doesn't cover things like shooting a bag (Red 2 and Fundies do), Essentials is only a couple of days long (Rec 2 and Fundies are usually four day classes). I'm sure Essentials is a great class; it just doesn't cover all that you get in a Fundamentals class.

But "ESSENTIALLY"...

 

[ae3753]

So that many of our stories do not become lost on the Internet, I started collecting various Fundamentals, Intro-to-Tech, and Essentials class reports.

This should give people interested in all courses some good reading.

Btw, if I missed a class report, please drop me a line. Glad to add to the list, I know I missed some classics.

 

[TSandM]

Great collection, Don!

I think Fundamentals is more similar to an Intro to Tech class than anything else offered by other agencies, but it is definitely acceptable to take it in a single tank, for the recreational diver. It is a superb way to improve diving skills -- as someone recently put it, "Fundies is about simple things done with precision."

 

[peterbj7]

it is definitely acceptable to take it in a single tank, for the recreational diver

But not with a recreational setup. I see two first stages are required, as is a backplate (why?). Skimming down the list of requirements I see that it's also mandatory to have a back-up light that's powered by three C-cells. That specific. What, even in daytime? Seems unnecessarily prescriptive. Or am I missing something?

 

[Wetbones]

Just to be clear, in Essentials we did NOT cover Nitrox, but we did have to shoot a bag-the memory of my instructor sadly shaking his head "no" at me underwater on my first attempt (right before I dropped the spool on the bottom) is pretty well burned in my memory.

 

[Rainer]

But not with a recreational setup. I see two first stages are required, as is a backplate (why?). Skimming down the list of requirements I see that it's also mandatory to have a back-up light that's powered by three C-cells. That specific. What, even in daytime? Seems unnecessarily prescriptive. Or am I missing something?

You're missing something.

To do Fundies AT THE RECREATIONAL LEVEL, you need only one first stage. You don't need back up lights (or any lights). You do, however, need a back plate. It's part of the DIR gear configuration (for many reasons, some of which include: simplified gear, same set up when/if transitioning to doubles, not inherently buoyant, adds weight over your lungs to help achieve better trim, allows for simple and robust hog harness, etc).

 

[CompuDude]

But not with a recreational setup. I see two first stages are required, as is a backplate (why?). Skimming down the list of requirements I see that it's also mandatory to have a back-up light that's powered by three C-cells. That specific. What, even in daytime? Seems unnecessarily prescriptive. Or am I missing something?

At it's heart, the class was designed to improve diver's basic skills to the point that they can probably tolerably attend a formal Technical Diving course without completely embarrassing themselves and wasting everyone else's time. (or, at least, to give you a roadmap of how to get yourself there)

Without a backplate and wing, you won't be taking technical diving courses from very many technical training agencies, so learning the proper skills with the proper gear is considered essential... even for those planning to stick to the recreational levels. That way you don't have to support two curriculums... and equally important, if the "recreational" student later decides they do want to pursue technical training, they don't have to "unlearn" a bunch of irrelevant procedures first. (More about that in Fundies )

Two first stages are NOT required. Absolute requirements vary slightly by instructor, but in general, you need a bp/w, a long hose regulator rig (with long primary and necklaced secondary regs, no Air2-type octo-inflators allowed), and non-split fins. Anything else is probably negotiable, within reason.

 

[TSandM]

There's no requirement for a 3 C-cell backup light in Fundies. There's no requirement for a canister light, if you are only going for the rec pass level. The class is a bit schizophrenic, because it's used for a gate to regulate the passage of divers into GUE technical training, as well as offering skills refinement to recreational divers. If you want the tech pass, you have to do the class in doubles, with a canister light and full tech setup. For a rec pass, the required gear is a Bp/W, long hose, non-split fin setup.

 

[b1gcountry]

But not with a recreational setup.

The single tank BP/W setup is a recreational setup, it's just not your everyday recreational setup.

I see two first stages are required, as is a backplate (why?).

The backplate is such an integral part of your setup that it just makes sense to have you in one if you are going to take a fundies class. You absolutely 100% need the backplate if you are going to go on to any sort of tech training. For recreational diving, you can definitely develop the skills and abilities you learn in Fundies in just about any set of gear, but the way you will be taught to do things in Fundies will not be compatible with many styles of jacket BCs.

Teaching a long hose is easier when you have a BP. It makes the routing and stuffing a lot easier than when its done with most traditional BCs. Mounting a canister light is insanely cleaner with a BP. Also, the D-Ring placement is essential for the way you are taught to clip off your regulators, SPG, and (later) stage bottles.

GUE made the fundies class to prepare students for later tech training. I don't think it was originally intended to be marketed to recreational divers. It also isn't a run of the mill training agency. The goal is not to turn out good divers, it's to turn out good divers that follow a structured set of protocols and procedures. I think part of the issue with Fundies now is that it has become a very useful recreational class. There are a lot of people that are interested in the class for the skill set that aren't otherwise interested in a BP/W or equivalent. I think that's what GUE is trying to address somewhat with it's couple specialty classes they introduced recently. I also think the Essentials course has more lax gear requirements, but I could be wrong.

Tom

 

[TSandM]

Yes, Tom's right. The original name of the Fundamentals class was "Fundamentals of DIR diving", and the DIR idea is that you start with a gear configuration that you can use throughout any diving you would ever decide to do -- thus the requirement for a setup that can and will permit the use of double tanks, when you begin to do deeper or overhead diving. And even if you don't think you are ever going to do that kind of diving (I didn't) you are set up to transition easily, when it turns out you were wrong

Essentials was envisioned as even more of a transitional class, and I believe the gear requirements are a long hose setup and non-split fins (at least they were when my husband took it).