Is this guy smoking something or is he on to something?

[drydiver]

IMHO DIR is for divers that are nervous and insecure in the water so they enjoy over analyzing and complicating things, that with the team mentality gives them a warm fuzzy feeling making them feel safer (of course there are exceptions). To be honest if that's their thing great, I have nothing against it but don't belittle me because I don't dive with a long hose, have a bungied wing, and enjoy Solo Diving.

I have a hard time understanding is the fact they have a course called Fundamentals the prerequisite is minimal with maybe 25 dives. Yet over a couple of weekends they expect their students to dive like someone who has 300 or 400 dives in a 3 or 4 of years with many courses. and whats with the helicopter kicks and reverse kicks sure a good thing to be able to do but to fail a relatively new diver because he cannot perform them then sending the said diver home dejected, disillusioned, with maybe a probationary pass is pretty sad in my book, but hey they get to boast their grads are the best

Pre-fundamentals, I was not nervous, nor insecure, nor enjoyed overanalyzing/complicating things and the same goes for a several other divers I know. I had been with enough insta-buddies to seriously consider solo diving, but now prefer the warm and fuzzy I get from buddies who appreciate the team diving concept. One characteristic I do feel comfortable generalizing about people interested in the GUE concept is the desire for greater general understanding and awareness about improving their diving technique, equipment and team communication.

Regarding the belittling, do you know how many times I have commented on another divers equipment/technique? 0 Yet, I cannot even count the number of times total strangers and acquaintances commented/questioned negatively on me or a buddies setup. Then those who are genuinely interested ask 3 questions about a 40+ hour course and walk away thinking they got the concept.

There is enough information available both formally on the GUE website/literature as well as informally from prior students, here on SB etc about what is taught and subsequently required for the pass. Disillusion rests on the students who ignore all of the above and expect to pass, imho. I have seen a couple of *ahem* younger new divers barely past 25 dives, with mentoring, pass fundies. Many take the class simply for the education and a provisional which is a great opportunity for those interested in continuing their GUE training to practice and get reevaluated. I was did not feel dejected nor disillusioned but DID take advantage of the opportunity to get re-evaluated.

my 2 cents

 

[Jax]

Generally I have found that the more "elite" an individual or group is, the quieter and more humble they seem to be.

Peace,
Greg

'tis Truth!

 

[Jax]

Wow, AweSox has come out of DNY!!

 

[nielsent]

That is something that has kinda interested me about Fundies and the other levels of DIR style courses. Where is one left if they like the idea of DIR and want to learn more about the systems but are (like myself) unable to afford the cost of admission? Last I checked it cost approximately 700.00 dollars to take Fundies.

 

[Jax]

That is something that has kinda interested me about Fundies and the other levels of DIR style courses. Where is one left if they like the idea of DIR and want to learn more about the systems but are (like myself) unable to afford the cost of admission? Last I checked it cost approximately 700.00 dollars to take Fundies.

I posted my costs in the 'My Venture into GUE - another view' thread.

You'll have registration cost, plus class cost, and if the instructor is not local, the students have to split the instructors' per diem ($465 from each of us six). If you go on a boat, there is that cost, + the air / Nitrox fills.

Not just $700.

 

[Jax]

That is something that has kinda interested me about Fundies and the other levels of DIR style courses. Where is one left if they like the idea of DIR and want to learn more about the systems but are (like myself) unable to afford the cost of admission? Last I checked it cost approximately 700.00 dollars to take Fundies.

Your best bet is to find some DIR divers in your area and see if they are willing to mentor you.

 

[Mayor]

All I can say is spend sometime with a DIR group or instructor and you will find some of the most helpful and accomplished divers in the water. Give the ideas a chance and you just might end up liking a few of the ideas

We all enjoy the underwater world and respect it so let's just dive in and chill.

 

[Mayor]

That is something that has kinda interested me about Fundies and the other levels of DIR style courses. Where is one left if they like the idea of DIR and want to learn more about the systems but are (like myself) unable to afford the cost of admission? Last I checked it cost approximately 700.00 dollars to take Fundies.

Some instructors could focus just on the points that you want to cover. This might lower the cost of the training (2 days vs 5 days). Might not be a card involved but the skill set you desire.

 

[LiteHedded]

I posted my costs in the 'My Venture into GUE - another view' thread.

You'll have registration cost, plus class cost, and if the instructor is not local, the students have to split the instructors' per diem ($465 from each of us six). If you go on a boat, there is that cost, + the air / Nitrox fills.

Not just $700.

not sure how you managed to fly to florida and still pay a non-local instructor a per diem

there are a few local instructors around these parts

 

[Zippsy]

..... And I enjoyed listening to the two men chuckling about the silliness of the entire group of divers on the trip struggling through the weekend in doubles, when all the dives were perfectly appropriate for an adequately-sized single tank.

I know of no one in my acquaintance who will say the way someone else is diving is wrong, so long as it is safe. ......

Aren't those two consecutive sentences sort of contradictory??

Also, in reply to a different person's post, I had to laugh at the choice of words (or choice of insult, if you prefer). It was a well-known DIR instructor who told me that either my wife or I "must be insecure" because we like to hold each other's hand while diving. Actually, with hundreds of dives each, we just still loved each other. We also happened to see a lot more marine life which, after all, was sort of the objective of our dives.