need help with GUE Tec course

[Archimail]

Hello!
I have a question about my next certification level.
I am a certified ANDI 3 TSD about 12 years,and I want to take GUE Tec courses.
I know and I use DIR Configuration.
What level of GUE I can take?
Is the "GUE Fundamentals" necessary for me?
Best regards,
Arthur

 

[BabyDuck]

yes. to continue on the gue path, fundies is necessary. if you already are comfortable & familiar in doubles, drysuit, and can light, you can try for the technical pass needed to keep going in their classes. if you need practice or need to see what you need to be able to do, you can take it aiming for a recreational pass.

i'm sure some actual gue divers will be here soon to expand. have fun & good luck!

 

[nimoh]

A drysuit is not a requirement for Fundamentals (rec or tec), it is only a recommendation.

The fundamentals class is a requirement for taking Tec 1 since there are common procedures (some being fairly GUE specific) taught in this class that all divers are expected to know in other classes. If you are already very good with basic skills (e.g. trim, buoyancy, propulsion), then this class will be fairly easy for you, but for most, it is an eye opening experience.

There are "primer" classes designed to help divers prepare for Fundamentals such as the doubles primer, that you can probably skip if you are familiar with doubles.

Personally, I had less experience than you going into Fundamentals and skipped the primers. However, I ended up with a provisional tec pass on my first try, had my eyes opened to how much better my basic skills could be, and then went back 6 months later for the tec pass.

Best bet is to find an instructor for a fundamentals class and ask about any equipment changes that might be necessary, or additional training that is recommended.

 

[ucfdiver]

yes. to continue on the gue path, fundies is necessary. if you already are comfortable & familiar in doubles, drysuit, and can light, you can try for the technical pass needed to keep going in their classes. if you need practice or need to see what you need to be able to do, you can take it aiming for a recreational pass.

i'm sure some actual gue divers will be here soon to expand. have fun & good luck!

Not so fast

Hello!
I have a question about my next certification level.
I am a certified ANDI 3 TSD about 12 years,and I want to take GUE Tec courses.
I know and I use DIR Configuration.
What level of GUE I can take?
Is the "GUE Fundamentals" necessary for me?
Best regards,
Arthur

Per the GUE standards
http://www.globalunderwaterexplorers.org/files/Standards_and_Procedures/GUE_Standards_v7.pdf

1.7 Waivers

• GUE’s Director of Training has the power to waive course requirements for highly experienced divers.
• GUE Instructor Evaluators have the power to waive the 25-dive prerequisite between GUE courses.
• GUE Instructor Evaluators have the power to waive training obligations and award GUE certification based on previous training and experience.
• GUE HQ has the power to waive minimum age requirements for GUE classes.

​

With that being said, I think it would be more headache than it's worth, logistically and financially. Fundies covers a lot of things which I would assume might be different, at the very least procedurally, then you've encountered before. A local GUE Fundamentals course would likely be cheaper, and considerably less risk.

 

[Archimail]

I use double tank configuration and Drysuit and my buddy certified GUE Tec diver.

 

[PfcAJ]

You need to take fundamentals. There's pretty much no way around that one. I have known of divers to skip tech 1 and go straight to tech 2, however, but its super rare and you've got to know and dive with the right people.

 

[TSandM]

It's actually not a bad idea to take Fundies, if you want to take a GUE class (besides the fact that it's required, that is!). This is because taking Fundies will teach you all the communication protocols and emergency protocols used by GUE divers. When you don't have that background, things can get frustrating. One of the divers in my Cave 2 class had done his Cave 1 over ten years earlier, with an instructor who subsequently left the agency. He was by far and away the most experienced and best diver of the three of us, but he knew none of the protocols, and we had persistent problems with this.

 

[nimoh]

It's actually not a bad idea to take Fundies, if you want to take a GUE class (besides the fact that it's required, that is!). This is because taking Fundies will teach you all the communication protocols and emergency protocols used by GUE divers. When you don't have that background, things can get frustrating. One of the divers in my Cave 2 class had done his Cave 1 over ten years earlier, with an instructor who subsequently left the agency. He was by far and away the most experienced and best diver of the three of us, but he knew none of the protocols, and we had persistent problems with this.

conversely, when I did my Cave 1, I had come straight out of fundamentals, and so had the other guy in my class (about 3 months apart). From the very first dive, we were in sync and I felt as though we had been diving together for years.

 

[BabyDuck]

i knew y'all would come to the rescue! and thanks, james.

 

[Archimail]

Thank you all for answering!