GUE Fundamentals BP/W: Hopeless without Halcyon ?

[Roger Hobden]

Naturally, it makes a lot of sense that the founder of GUE would feel to be compelled to create a company that can produce the gear that such a person has in mind. Nothing wrong with that.

One aspect which is problematic, though, is that the commercial link which de facto exists between GUE and Halcyon is not made crystal-clear on the GUE website.

To my knowledge, such absence of disclosure would be impossible under Canadian law.

 

[Dogbowl]

To my knowledge, such absence of disclosure would be impossible under Canadian law.

Can you please elaborate on this? I'm not aware of such requirement under Canadian law, but of course I'm not aware of every law that exists in Canada. I'm thinking...maybe it's part of the civil law in Quebec? Thanks.

 

[JohnnyC]

GUE and Halcyon are entirely separate entities. Halcyon is a business. GUE is a non-profit. While JJ is the President, as well as the Training Director and Chairman of the Board of Advisors, there is no legal link between the two.

 

[Roger Hobden]

Can you please elaborate on this? I'm not aware of such requirement under Canadian law, but of course I'm not aware of every law that exists in Canada. I'm thinking...maybe it's part of the civil law in Quebec? Thanks.

I believe you are correct: it would be hidden somewhere either in the The Civil Code of Québec or in the Quebec Consumer Protection Act. I keep forgetting that, here in the Province of Quebec, we are indeed a "distinct society".

 

[BlueTrin]

Naturally, it makes a lot of sense that the founder of GUE would feel to be compelled to create a company that can produce the gear that such a person has in mind. Nothing wrong with that.

One aspect which is problematic, though, is that the commercial link which de facto exists between GUE and Halcyon is not made crystal-clear on the GUE website.

To my knowledge, such absence of disclosure would be impossible under Canadian law.

Well it's on their website.
GUE Instructor resumé | Global Underwater Explorers

I do not know about Canadian law, but there are two factors:

1. In most of countries, this requirement has to be done when doing official reports, like annual reports and such. They just have to disclose it in the official sources (whatever is considered as official in that country, usually that would be the official filings for shareholders or public disclosures that nobody reads)
   
   
2. GUE is non profit, I do not know the regulations in Canada for non-profit but they tend sometimes to be different from for-profit companies

 

[runsongas]

Well someone had to make quality gear for those dives..... and there was no one at the time.

dive rite has been around since the 80s

 

[CptTightPants21]

Halcyon makes some great gear - the wings and lift bags especially. They can be a little pricey if you don't buy them used, but is scubapro any different?. I am not surprised they come highly recommended. The quality design and function is there and it doesn't have to be about drinking the kool-aid.


Other decent Halcyon items are the BC Storage Pak, the webbing (although a little pricey for what it is), regulators are rebranded scubapro

There are a few items that are rather expensive (in my opinion) .
1. The SS backplate - I would look to buy a generic one or another brand used
2. The spools
3. The webbing - it is very nice, but there are cheaper options

If I was looking to build a kit, I would aim for the Halcyon wing and then look for generic/used backplate, webbing, and harness hardware.

 

[EireDiver606]

Same brand is not standardization.

The parts that are replaceable on wings are interchangeable between my DSS wing and my buddy's Halcyon wing. If anything, a bunch of us locally swapped out the OPV on the Halcyon wing with the one DSS makes. Also, I bought a used Halcyon wing recently and swapped out the K-inflator with the generic one you can buy at DGX.

If you read my earlier post, you would have seeen that I do not like the way GUE almost endorses Halcyon gear. I never said the same brand is standardization. Standardardization is having the same equipment configuration.

 

[EireDiver606]

Way back when, you were indoctrinated into GUE, drank the cool aid and bought Halcyon. Many today, although proud of the training they passed, wear H gear as a badge of honour. A lot of GUE club pictures look like a Halcyon convention. If you want to join the club you have to wear the uniform.
This is, of course, completely ridiculous and sadly draws a type of person/diver that is more of a deterrent than an ambassador for a company.
Luckily many of the GUE guys I dive with aren’t like this and the instructors are more sensible.

Yes I don’t like the fact that it almost endorses Halcyon gear through an ngo. It’s not right.

 

[CptTightPants21]

EireDiver606 - Can you actually post the equipment suggestions you made and that the instructor shot down and his reasoning? Maybe screen grabs of the emails.