Gaining Experience and Learning Without Taking Courses

[JohnN]

you're in the UK, king of dive clubs. Find one local to you with divers that are like minded and try to find a mentor. Other than that, read read read. If you want to be serious about your dive planning and self sufficiency, I would recommend taking a GUE fundamentals course aka Fundies.

Ahhh but to dig up the dead. . . BSAC considers long primary hoses and primary donate a no-fly zone

 

[Neilwood]

Not true. Not a BSAC member but AFAIK the current policy is that they are acceptable if you have been formally trained in their use

 

[tbone1004]

but the point is that they don't allow it in their training, and they still don't recognize GUE as a training agency... not particularly relevant, but I'd still just plan on looking for a GUE fundies class if you're serious about it. Bunch of GUE divers in that area. Disclaimer, I'm not one of them, I just recognize a good training agency when I see one

 

[Edward3c]

but the point is that they don't allow it in their training, and they still don't recognize GUE as a training agency... not particularly relevant, but I'd still just plan on looking for a GUE fundies class if you're serious about it. Bunch of GUE divers in that area. Disclaimer, I'm not one of them, I just recognize a good training agency when I see one

Your out of date. BSAC & GUE are working together, here is the advice to enable both to dive together.

 

[rivers]

but the point is that they don't allow it in their training, and they still don't recognize GUE as a training agency... not particularly relevant, but I'd still just plan on looking for a GUE fundies class if you're serious about it. Bunch of GUE divers in that area. Disclaimer, I'm not one of them, I just recognize a good training agency when I see one

I heard through the grapevine that a hog loop/primary donate SDC is being written.
But yes, GUE and BSAC are friends now.