Looking for advice for intro to cave/cave 1 equivalent

[PfcAJ]

So GUE is the only way to do it right?

There are no other orgs out there, no other instructors?

Seems a bit strange?

You’ve already identified that you *want* GUE training. But money is the obstacle. You don’t want other training because you disagree with GUE’s methods, you feel their training isn’t thorough, or any other reason. You’re looking for a GUE substitute.

Save up and get what you want.

 

[Bowers]

RAID ticks all the boxes and would be worth looking into for you.

 

[Kitzy]

You’ve already identified that you *want* GUE training. But money is the obstacle. You don’t want other training because you disagree with GUE’s methods, you feel their training isn’t thorough, or any other reason. You’re looking for a GUE substitute.

Save up and get what you want.

If I followed that mentality I'd have a yacht now... A plane... But sometimes sadly that isn't how it works in life, I could save for all my life and never get either.

I'd rather find a good org/instructor I like that charges less but is as good, then use the money I save to go further into cave, get a dpv, etc.

 

[Kitzy]

(Not that I should be giving any advice on cave diving) if you decide to look into ISE, try Florian Symoens
He’s ISE & RAID affiliated, based in Belgium and I hear lots of good things (from other cave divers)

Just my 0.5c
Now back to and reading inputs from more knowledge folk

Thanks, I'll take a look

 

[Kitzy]

Oh, sorry. ESF/FSE might not cut it... Backmount and european caves might not always be a happy marriage.

Sounds like CMAS, founded in France
There are many organizations, PSAI, CMAS, NAUI, IANTD, TDI, ... but you really need to pick a good instructor who actually does cave dives.

Yeah, that is why I mentioned if anyone knew instructors atop of orgs.

 

[Kitzy]

Go to Budapest Molnar cave. Do TDI Intro to cave. On Backmount.
It's that easy. Good luck.

I cannot tell if this is sarcasm xD

If not, why would you recommend this?

 

[Kitzy]

imho

As far as orgs go, there is only "GUE" and "Others", meaning that the name of the org is irrelevant unless its GUE. So if you want to go the way of choosing org that carries weight and then instructor - GUE is the only way that makes sense

Now, the only real advantage of GUE is that you are 99% guaranteed to get a great course regardless of who is your instructor (which is why you pay the premium). If you don’t want to pay extra and instead go with "Others" (which is what I did), its 100% about who is your instructor, and its 100% on you to do your research about the person.

SB is great for choosing US and Mexico instructors simply because there are way more reviews about them here; not so much for EU. There is "French SB" Plongeur.com - Le site de la plongée sous marine and maybe you will find more info there. I don't know how active that forum is, if at all. That said, there are some EU cave divers here and it might be best to dig thru different threads to find them and to reach out directly

Thank you.

Yeah GUE is great for many reasons, that is why I went with fundies, that way I at least have something that carries weight (And fundies is just great, to begin with)

But the younger me that was willing to pay a premium just to go "Look at me, I am cool" has started to wise up to harsh reality, I am not part of the 1% and most likely will never be.

If I can save money and get a thing as good or almost as good, it's worth considering.

 

[Kitzy]

RAID ticks all the boxes and would be worth looking into for you.

I'll have a look, anyone you know from raid instructor wise you can recommend ?

 

[chrisch]

As you already understand the principles of correct diving the choice is whether to stick with GUE for the benefits it gives or take a course with another agency that will give you a certification to dive although not one other GUE divers will treat as equal. The issue therefore is what are you trying to achieve? Do you want the certifaction and training to make basic cave dives or to advance your GUE training into the cave environment?

Much as I respect GUE and pretty much accept their viewpoint it is not the only way to dive. Its training means you can dive with other GUE divers but if you are a buddy pair you have a ready made dive "team".

If you are just looking for a certifiction and a good experience try something like Protec in Sardinia. There are caves and wreck there and it is a good destination with good food and so on.

Protec Sardinia – Cave Diving Experience Sardinia

protecsardinia.com

If you want to dive the French cave system my friend runs courses from Liege and is someone that I have known a long time and is generally great fun. Not very "DIR" but worth a look all the same.

Plongée souterraine et sur épaves | Abyss Plongée

abyss-uwe.com

Both instructors are called Patrick - just to confuse you

Your existing fundies will serve you well whatever you choose.

 

[chrisch]

Oh and Budapest is a great venue. As per the suggestion.

Diving in the Molnár János cave and Kőbánya Mine

Everything you should know about the diving in the best dive sites of the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Prices, conditions, the dive center.

mjcave.hu