Fundies and no more?

[Vie]

I wanted to just learn the stuff taught in Fundies (back in '05) and just see how it goes. Then I wanted to try T1 a then start gaining technical diving experience slowly. Before I could do that, my two regular T1 buddies just HAD to do T2 at a particular time so I got roped into that (I felt ready but was financially unprepared...) - so long story short, we have now completed T2 and will leave it at that. Would love to do C1 but that is out of my reach (financially and timing wise) for the foreseeable future.

My two T2 buddies are located in Singapore and Shanghai respectively so we are trying to build up a T1 trained community here in Thailand.

 

[roakey]

Option 4: Took GUE Cave I, then several years later took Fundies (Fundies didn't exist when I took Cave I )

Roak

 

[dbulmer]

Did Fundies last September, got a provisional pass then work got in the way and I cannot do a re-eval now (6 months is up) - for me Fundies showed me what I needed to work on as a recreational diver and now I need to work on my trim when stressed. At the time I said I would not go to twins - I was wrong - I'm now starting to work on twins and the lessons I learned will be of great help. Of the 5 on my course I was the only Single tank diver but I did everything they did except the doubles valve drill.

I spoke to one of my course mates today who I haven't seen in a while - he's going on to Tech1 and I know it's not going to be easy

My future does not lie in tech diving (I am not good enough for a start) but I'd like to be a diver with some solid skills who can maybe pass on some ideas to those aspiring to dive in more challenging conditions.

 

[El Orans]

So I got curious about how many people out there have taken Fundies for the skills for their recreational diving, and found that was enough.

Guilty as charged.

I had lots of technical plans until I discovered that I'm quite happy with the occasional fish 'n' ships.

 

[dbulmer]

El Orans,
If you were a wreck diver that would be Wrasse and Chips.

Only Fish prodders would eat Fish and Chips

 

[stiebs]

I did Fundies about a year ago. At that time I had actually intended on doing the CDAA (Cave Divers Ass of Australia) "Deep Cavern" course. That is their first level cave course, which limits dives to 60m (200') linear distance from the surface, and remaining within the light zone.

At the time there were no other takers for the course, but there was interest in a Fundies course running shortly after. Two weeks ago I started my cavern course, and now have one dive remaining which I should finish off next time I'm in cave country (First weekend in June.. Too long away..)

 

[kidsdream]

I took the class last Spring (provisional pass) just to learn some new skills and "see what it was all about". I did not not know any of the others in class and frankly had little in common with them above the surface. I might havae gone back to get a full pass (with doubles), by the two instructors no longer are affiliated with GUE.

Also as a UW photographer, the teamwork aspect does not fit all of my diving interests. That said, I have been slowing inching into more technical diving with a one of my friends in Florida. We have done some very mild wreck penetrations with line strung from outside the openings and have planned our dives with gas planning and contingency plans etc. I should note that has taken more advance training including Intro Cave than I have (although he as less total dives).

I have been trying to take an Advance Nitrox and Deco classes in Michigan, but with so few students interested in this training, the travel time to a shop actually doing the training is over 90 minutes from my house.

I

 

[Mo2vation]

Also as a UW photographer, the teamwork aspect does not fit all of my diving interests.

I

What does this mean?


Thanks

---
Ken

 

[kidsdream]

Frequently when my dive objective is Photography, my focus is on the shot, the behavior of the fish, invertebrate etc. I may stay in one place for 15 minutes trying to get the "right" shot of a Mantis Shrimp for example. I certainly don't expect my buddy (most of which are photographers) to wait at my side - for me to hopefully get the shot. Similarly I am not in tune with their exact position.

I am not condoning this behavior, nor asking for some members approval. I was just responding to the thread. I certainly learned (and continue to practice) many of the things I learned in my Fundies class, but I simply do not apply all of it to all of my recreational dives.

That said, when I am doing a more challenging dives (including deep or wreck dives), I certainly apply nearly all of DIR tenets.

I hope that explains my perspective.

What does this mean?


Thanks

---
Ken

 

[TSandM]

I assure you, Kidsdream, the intent of the thread was not to criticize or malign those who don't go on, or don't adopt all of the principles. It really was, pure and simple, to find out how many people had taken Fundies and felt that that was all they needed. I'm actually quite surprised at the poll results; what it tells me is that the people who take Fundies and post in the DIR section of SB have almost all gone on to further training. I still suspect, as nadwidny said, that there are a great many people who have taken the class and not done any further training. They're not posting here, though.