DIR- GUE Is it worth taking Fundamentals this late in the game?

[kierentec]

With all that being said, back to my original question: is it worth taking Fundamentals this late in the game? Has anyone been down a similar path? I know it's an investment of time and money, but the tradeoff could very well be worth it. Would love to hear some thoughts!

My answer will probably seem biased since I’m a GUE instructor, but in short, yes.

This is just a quick bit about my path as an instructor, but I think the same points hold true for the diver level as well. You’ll be a better, safer diver surrounded by like-minded teammates and in the end will enjoy your diving more.

Why I Became a GUE Instructor

Jon Kieren had been an experienced tech diver and instructor for years when, curious, he took a Global Underwater Explorers’ Fundamentals class, a prerequisite to GUE’s technical and cave training. Soon, he didn’t just want to be a GUE diver. He wanted to be a GUE instructor. Kieren writes about...

gue.com

 

[JoeTPhilly]

As a little background on myself, I've been diving for 11+ years (originally certified through PADI). About 5 years ago, I went down the non-GUE tech path through TDI and IANTD and did Intro to Tech > AN/DP > Trimix > Intro/Full Cave. When I started down this path, I really had no idea what GUE was outside of a few snide remarks from my instructor.

Regardless, I've done all my training in BM and to this day dive pretty exclusively in BM (outside of a few instances where the cave dictates SM). I'm a very curious person naturally, and so during this period, I talked to quite a few people about DIR, read a lot about DIR (mainly online resources and the Fundamentals of Better Diving by JJ), and was lucky enough to become good friends with someone I would consider a mentor who is a GUE diver and cave diving buddy. So, needless to say, over the years, I've adopted DIR principals and methodology even though I was never "formally" trained in it by a DIR-affiliated agency like GUE.

While that's all and good, the thought of taking GUE training has been growing in my mind recently, even though I feel like I would be going backwards from where I am today. I do really like the organization's training practices and standards (after seeing some less than optimal training through other agencies) and my thought process is, I know I can learn more and continue to hone my skills (which at the end of the day is the most important part to me). I also would love to get involved in GUE projects and/or other affiliated organizations like WKPP (which isn't exclusive to GUE but it obviously has significant overlap).

With all that being said, back to my original question: is it worth taking Fundamentals this late in the game? Has anyone been down a similar path? I know it's an investment of time and money, but the tradeoff could very well be worth it. Would love to hear some thoughts!

Hi,

Maybe take a look at this recent article from Jon Kieren:

Why I Became a GUE Instructor

Jon Kieren had been an experienced tech diver and instructor for years when, curious, he took a Global Underwater Explorers’ Fundamentals class, a prerequisite to GUE’s technical and cave training. Soon, he didn’t just want to be a GUE diver. He wanted to be a GUE instructor. Kieren writes about...

gue.com

edit: sorry. It looks like I posted at the same time.

 

[DavidFL]

I had been diving for over 50 years when I took fundies; had been an OWSI Instructor for 45+ and was TDI AN/DP at the time. I'm not a cave diver; my tech diving is ocean/wrecks/backmounted doubles.

I ended up taking fundies in two parts, about two years apart, with a pandemic in between.

Well worth the time, money, and logistics for me.

 

[PEDiver]

Really appreciate all the feedback so far, a lot of good info and points. I definitely agree with those saying there really aren’t many downsides to taking fundies - and that is what kind of started me down this path in the first place.

It might not be groundbreaking, but I agree with the sentiment that even having another set of eyes from a different viewpoint is helpful. And if I walk away a better diver, then that’s all I can ask for.

I think my primary goals taking fundies would be:
1. Improve skills and close any gaps in previous training
2. Meet other likeminded divers and have a larger community to dive with

I’m not too far from cave country so I think I will talk to some local GUE instructors. That’s a great article @kierentec and reading that was helpful especially coming from someone who went down this route already.

 

[The Chairman]

is it worth taking Fundamentals this late in the game?

Sure. Why not. I mean, if you want to, go for it. Did you need the name of an instructor?

 

[rddvet]

Prior to fundies I had been diving since I was a teenager so had 25 years of regular diving, had been a cave diver for 12 years with about 350 cave dives, cave dpv, cave ccr, and other stuff. I still learned stuff and became a bettter diver for it.

 

[Twiny]

Hi, You are a TDI Trimix diver & IANTD intro cave diver with over 10 years experience in Tec diving.
I am pretty sure that the GUE fundies in itself won't help you in anyway. In case you might be willing to finetune something, you can anyway train it by yourself with good tips found on the web or from your GUE friends/buddies.
However, passing the GUE fundies (Tec version i.e with twinset & canister light) is a must if you want to enroll in GUE more advanced tec courses. In your situation I would only consider GUE fundies provided you want to go further.
Maybe (not sure about it), you would not have the same issue with the 2 other DIR-minded training organisations (ISE & UTD) : showing proof of an excellent TEC level, might be sufficient to go further with them ?

 

[AnotherDiverHere]

I don't know how much value I can add to your decision. I have around 7 years diving, mostly recreational, started down the tech path earlier this year. TDI and RAID courses.

I recently took a fundamentals class, around a month ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that I plan to continue down the GUE path.

 

[crofrog]

Hi, You are a TDI Trimix diver & IANTD intro cave diver with over 10 years experience in Tec diving.
I am pretty sure that the GUE fundies in itself won't help you in anyway. In case you might be willing to finetune something, you can anyway train it by yourself with good tips found on the web or from your GUE friends/buddies.

Have you taken fundies?

 

[PEDiver]

Did you need the name of an instructor?

I’d be open to any instructor recommendations in FL (ideally near cave country).