insistence on ONE essential equipment configuration is one factor that prevents them from being more broadly relevant IMO. Not the only factor, but one of them. I’m sure they are fine with that.
And I think that's a mistake. It makes sense when you see what the end goal is. The folks at the top of the GUE pyramid are doing some pretty serious dives that only a small number of divers will ever do. However, being that is the end goal of their training, their insistence on team diving, equipment, makes complete sense.
As I said, go for the skills, take what you want, and go back to whatever you want after the class.
For those interested, here are the equipment requirements from
https://www.gue.com/files/standards9/Fundamentals-Standards-v9.2.pdf:
Appendix A - GUE Base Equipment Configuration
The GUE base equipment configuration is comprised of:
a. Tanks/cylinders: Students may use a single tank/cylinder with a single- or dual-outlet
valve. Students may also use dual tanks/cylinders connected with a dual-outlet isolator
manifold, which allows for the use of two first stages. Dual tanks/cylinders connected
with a dual-outlet, non-isolator manifold can be used, but only in recreational (no
decompression) diving, and are considered an alternative for a single tank/cylinder.
Consult course-specific standards and your instructor to verify size requirements.
b. Regulators:
i. Single tank: The first stage must supply a primary second stage via a 5 to 7 ft/1.5
to 2 m hose. A backup second stage must be necklaced and supplied via a short
hose. The first stage must also supply an analog pressure gauge, inflation for the
buoyancy compensator (BC), and (when applicable) inflation for a drysuit.
ii. Double tank: One first stage must supply a primary second stage via a 5 to 7
ft/1.5 to 2 m hose (7 ft/2 m hose is required for all cave classes), and inflation for
the buoyancy compensator (BC). The other first stage must supply a necklaced
backup second stage via a short hose, an analog pressure gauge, and (when
applicable) inflation for a drysuit.
c. Backplate system:
i. Is held to the diver by one continuous piece of webbing. This webbing is
adjustable and uses a buckle to secure the system at the waist.
ii. A crotch strap is attached and looped through the waistband to prevent the
system from riding up a diver’s back.
iii. The continuous webbing must support five D-rings;
1. The first placed at the left hip
2. The second placed in line with a diver’s right collarbone
3. The third placed in line with the diver’s left collarbone
4. The fourth and fifth are placed on the front and back of the crotch strap
when divers plan to use advanced equipment such as DPVs.
iv. The harness below the diver’s arms has small restrictive bands to allow for the
placement of backup lights. The webbing and system retains a minimalist
approach.
d. Buoyancy compensation device (BC):
GUE General Training Standards, Policies, and Procedures
Excerpt from Version 9.2 view the full document at
www.gue.com/standards
5
i. A diver’s BC is back-mounted and minimalist in nature.
ii. It is free of extraneous strings, tabs, or other material.
iii. There are no restrictive bands or restrictive elastic affixed to the buoyancy cell.
iv. Wing size and shape is appropriate to the cylinder size(s) employed for training.
e. At least one time/depth measuring device
f. Wrist-mounted compass
g. Mask and fins: Mask is low-volume; fins are rigid, non-split.
h. Backup mask
i. At least one cutting device
j. Wetnotes with pencils
k. Surface marker buoy (SMB) with spool: when required, the SMB should be appropriate
for environmental conditions and deployed using a spool with at least 100 ft/30 m of line.
l. Exposure suit appropriate for the duration of exposure
Additional Course-Specific Equipment
a. Where required, back gas and stage cylinders are marked in accordance with the GUE
General Training Standards, Policies, and Procedures document and configured in line
with GUE protocols.
b. When drysuit inflation systems are applicable, they should be sized appropriately for the
environment; small tanks are placed on the left side of the backplate with larger supplies
affixed to the diver’s left back gas tank.
c. Underwater lights:
i. When required, backup lights should be powered by alkaline batteries (not
rechargeable) and stowed on the D-rings at a diver’s chest.
ii. Backup lights should have a minimal amount of protrusions and a single
attachment at the rear.
iii. The primary light should consist of a rechargeable battery pack and be fitted with
a Goodman-style light handle.
iv. When burn time requirements create the need for an external battery pack, it
should reside in a canister mounted on the diver’s right hip.
d. Guideline devices, as required during cave diving activities:
i. A primary reel is required for all cave diving and provides a minimalist form
factor with a handle designed to support a Goodman or “hands free” handle
operation. The primary reel must contain at least 150 ft/45 m of line.
ii. A safety spool is required for each diver while cave diving and must contain at
least 150 ft/45 m of line.
iii. A jump or gap spool is required during Cave 2 diving and must contain at least 75
ft/23 m of line.
