IANTD's Essential's Class

[Superlyte27]

Well, foolish me, I thought there were instructors here. I keep forgetting that the truly grown up people don't login to SB. Myself included.

 

[Superlyte27]

How many people have died on OC
How many people have died on Tri-Mix
How many people have died with a buddy?

LOL...
I'm not here to argue, and quite honestly I questioned whether to write the question on SB or a "better" forum. But I thought I would have access to the most (in number) of responses here. But I got a 22 year old with 5 percent of the dives I have questioning a class he's never seen or knows about, and bashing a man who's taken SCUBA from the stone ages into Nitrox, Tri-Mix and RB. And honestly, I could care less about any of that.

Honestly, I don't know the the montra of DIR. And seriously, in my camp, no one here wants to. My circle of diving comrads (and it's a large one) can't stand DIR people. It started with George I (yes, I know his lack of affiliation) And, it probably doesn't help that I'm a Dive-Rite dealer and Halcyon is our competition.

All that being said... after watching a class of Fundies I, a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to improve my skills. I don't care if that comes with an IANTD stamp or GUE stamp. My circle of friends said take the Essentials class. And of course they would. They've hated DIR people for more than a decade.

My point was this...
Would the class make me a better diver. Would it teach me better trim, better buoyancy, better gear configuration. If you don't know anything about the class, or don't know anyone who has taken the class, then it's really simple. Shut up.

 

[rjack321]

Actually, I'm familiar with Tom Mount, I'm not at all familiar with DIR. Hence the question in the first place.

Ok, let me rephrase the question. Anyone taken an Essentials class with IANTD? That can tell me what to expect?


edit*
"he's far from DIR"...
Hmm, I like him better already.

What are you trying to accomplish here?

 

[ucfdiver]

My point was this...
Would the class make me a better diver. Would it teach me better trim, better buoyancy, better gear configuration. If you don't know anything about the class, or don't know anyone who has taken the class, then it's really simple. Shut up.

I did about 100 dives in the past year, 75 the year before. I wont guess the number I have before that, I lost the logs, but I was cert 1999. That being said, if I have 5% of the dives you do, you have at least 3500 dives.

I doubt you'd get much from it.

Fundies might work well for you. You could meet some friends and wouldn't have to dive solo at Little River only (as per your cdf post).

 

[LiteHedded]

I have taken a lot of iantd classes (not this one specifically) and have taken gue fundamentals
I'm telling you it's not going to be as good.

 

[Superlyte27]

I did about 100 dives in the past year, 75 the year before. I wont guess the number I have before that, I lost the logs, but I was cert 1999. That being said, if I have 5% of the dives you do, you have at least 3500 dives.

I doubt you'd get much from it.

Fundies might work well for you. You could meet some friends and wouldn't have to dive solo at Little River only (as per your cdf post).

My commercial log book (and only my commercial log book) shows 4520hours underwater. NOT DIVES but HOURS!

I've been cave diving since 1997. I've been a boat captain and DM in the keys for summers were my counts were 30+ dives a month.

But, all that said, the Fundies class i saw had 5 divers swimming that looked like a squadron of fighter jets. I want that. Would the Essentials class get me there.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I have a hard time getting through IANTD manuals because I don't give a **** about "whooooo-saaaaa" junk.

 

[rjack321]

How many people have died on OC
How many people have died on Tri-Mix
How many people have died with a buddy?

LOL...
I'm not here to argue, and quite honestly I questioned whether to write the question on SB or a "better" forum. But I thought I would have access to the most (in number) of responses here. But I got a 22 year old with 5 percent of the dives I have questioning a class he's never seen or knows about, and bashing a man who's taken SCUBA from the stone ages into Nitrox, Tri-Mix and RB. And honestly, I could care less about any of that.

Honestly, I don't know the the montra of DIR. And seriously, in my camp, no one here wants to. My circle of diving comrads (and it's a large one) can't stand DIR people. It started with George I (yes, I know his lack of affiliation) And, it probably doesn't help that I'm a Dive-Rite dealer and Halcyon is our competition.

All that being said... after watching a class of Fundies I, a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to improve my skills. I don't care if that comes with an IANTD stamp or GUE stamp. My circle of friends said take the Essentials class. And of course they would. They've hated DIR people for more than a decade.

My point was this...
Would the class make me a better diver. Would it teach me better trim, better buoyancy, better gear configuration. If you don't know anything about the class, or don't know anyone who has taken the class, then it's really simple. Shut up.

Since its not on the IANTD website I'm assuming its a new course. IANTD has added ALOT of new courses over the past ~4 or 5 years.

I would suggest getting out of your circle of friends for 1 course. Decide for yourself if their opinions about "DIR" are justified by taking GUE-F. In another thread you seemed to admire their skills, why not enroll in that course instead of looking for something "similar" under a different name just to be different? Good skills are good skills.

 

[Superlyte27]

I have taken a lot of iantd classes (not this one specifically) and have taken gue fundamentals
I'm telling you it's not going to be as good.

I believe you. Thanks.



*edit
It was a brutal road to get here. But here's where I am.
I saw what I wanted one day at Blue Grotto. If you saw my previous thread, it was some finely tuned divers with trim and buoyancy control like I had never seen.
I would hate to spend $1000 dollars on an a course, and be short changed on those skills. Maybe there is no difference between Ford or Chevy, but I saw a really cool Ford and I guess I'll stick with it. (for you slow guys, Ford would be GUE, and Chevy would be IANTD)

Thanks for the insight.

 

[ucfdiver]

I've been cave diving since 1997.

Odd that you would choose LR as the only place to solo dive then.

But, all that said, the Fundies class i saw had 5 divers swimming that looked like a squadron of fighter jets. I want that. Would the Essentials class get me there.

Bickering aside, GUE instructors have the advantage of teaching students in a very specific gear configuration. They don't have to figure out how to adjust a transpac one week, oxycheq comfort harness the next, poodle jacket, etc. They're all diving nearly identical gear. This makes getting past the gear issues very fast, and they can focus on skills.

There's also the instructor intern portion. I was talking with a friend at his place while leak testing my drysuit last night who was an instructor candidate (fundies). He basically dropped it due to the length of commitment required. With other agencies, you can easily "crossover", but not GUE. Look at current cave instructors, they teach for 1 agency, and within 6 months teach for 10. What happens if that one agency lets someone slip? Now all agencies do.

As for Tom Mount's accomplishments, I won't knock them. I said myself he did great things. I simply think we have different levels of risk which we're willing to accept for a recreational activity. Because of this, no, I would not take a course from him. Not sure why that offends everyone?