GUE Fundies -- Locally or Florida?

[Ski_Lounge]

I've heard lots of great things about the GUE Fundies program (both in-person from local divers as well as here on ScubaBoard). I think this is the next step for me personally, to improve my skills and become a better diver. This much to me is not in doubt that this will further my diving career.

What I still have a question mark on, is where is the best place to do Fundies? I'm based out of New York, and I believe there's a few classes later in the season at the local quarry, Dutch Springs (which might possibly be full, but let's say I could get a slot). Is it better to do it here, or is it worth going to Florida and undertaking the course there? The big advantage I like about Florida is the visibility (compared with Dutch, which is, let's say, not as stellar clear visible). Conversely, a little less excited about having to travel when I could do the course locally.

I do plan on doing most of my diving in the NorthEast BTW, and do want to eventually start tech diving. So I was hoping to hear other folks opinions. Thanks very much!

 

[Marie13]

I’m of the “train in the conditions you’ll be diving in” mindset.

 

[Swedinsidemount]

I would do it locally, where i would be diving the most. If you plan to come down here very often then it would make sense, but otherwise i don't think it's worth the travel... <TG>

 

[rjack321]

wherever you will do the majority of your diving, assuming course availability.

 

[Compressor]

Another vote for local unless the instructor has poor ratings.

 

[_Ralph]

Local, as you would be exposed to more local GUE divers....

_R

 

[ScubaSam]

I've heard lots of great things about the GUE Fundies program (both in-person from local divers as well as here on ScubaBoard). I think this is the next step for me personally, to improve my skills and become a better diver. This much to me is not in doubt that this will further my diving career.

What I still have a question mark on, is where is the best place to do Fundies? I'm based out of New York, and I believe there's a few classes later in the season at the local quarry, Dutch Springs (which might possibly be full, but let's say I could get a slot). Is it better to do it here, or is it worth going to Florida and undertaking the course there? The big advantage I like about Florida is the visibility (compared with Dutch, which is, let's say, not as stellar clear visible). Conversely, a little less excited about having to travel when I could do the course locally.

I do plan on doing most of my diving in the NorthEast BTW, and do want to eventually start tech diving. So I was hoping to hear other folks opinions. Thanks very much!

You are correct about Fundies improving your skills and making you a better diver. You will come out of the class with more confidence in your water skills and will be a better buddy / team mate. It will give you solid fundamental skills for your tech class.

Do it local given the majority of your diving is in the northeast. You will meet local GUE divers as well. I did my Fundies at Dutch Springs in August 2009 (lived in NYC at the time) despite the not stellar clear visibility. We spent most of the class on the platforms so not deep at all.

Safe dives and good luck!

 

[ginti]

During the fundie you will be doing a lot of skills in shallow water, most likely without current. Because of the course content, you will probably gain the maximum in cold, low visibility waters with a dry suit; however, this point is not critical, so let's not consider it.

Advantages of doing it locally:
- cheaper
- meet local GUE people (very important if you want to continue with the GUE path)
- training for the conditions you dive the most; however, given the kind of training you will do with fundies, this is most likely a minor advantage

Advantages of doing it somewhere else:
- you gain experience because you dive into different environments; however, given the kind of training you will do with fundies, this is most likely a minor advantage

 

[beester]

Local! Mainly because your local instructor will be able to get you in touch with the local GUE community, so you can touch base with them after you've finished fundies and feel all nice and shiny and elite

 

[happy-diver]

Great choice best wishes

Okay bear with me but I would certainly learn a lot more and more pleasurably in FL and then having learnt
transferring to being trussed up in cold water with poor vis if that happened to be the case will be easy peasy