Noob questions and comments about GUE Fundamentals class

[kathydee]

Hi there,

Welcome to the DIR forum! I'm pretty new to this path too. It's challenging to know where to start.

I have found what others have already said true, having a local mentor and connecting with the instructor will make everything MUCH easier. Posting questions to this forum or doing advance searches on topics in this forum will also provide a wealth of information.

I took UTD Essentials as a primer for Fundies (which was a very gentle entry onto the path) but I'd guess a GUE Primer, mentoring or just jumping right into Fundies (and going back for the check out if necessary) will probably serve a similar purpose.

It's taken 4 months to schedule my Fundies class, which is often the case. So one strategy would be to sign up for Fundies now and start diving with your local DIR divers which will help prep you for class while you wait. The local divers can also coach you through the gear selection process.

I'm lucky - my local DIR diving community has been incredibly helpful and friendly!

Good luck!

I looked at the link quoted above because I am interested in reading more about fundies.

Hi Jax!

Good to see you here :cool2:!

 

[ScubaInChicago]

Just another comment to throw into the mix....When you look at the cost of the class, DO NOT look at it in the perspective of a for profit agency. GUE is a non-profit organization and the class fee goes to the instructors to cover time and travels....Some of the instructors (not all) are financially secure enough that the time it takes to teach the class can equal a net loss for the time they spend teaching you. When you register for classes, most of the material is made available free of charge, and the recommended reading is something that most people bought long before the class. GUE does charge a small registration fee but you can go to gue.com to see where that money goes.......

Not that any of the above would sway you to/from taking the class....It's just another side of GUE that I personally have a lot of respect for.

 

[Gombessa]

Some of the instructors (not all) are financially secure enough that the time it takes to teach the class can equal a net loss for the time they spend teaching you.

Another interesting exercise is breaking down the instructor fee into an hourly wage. I recall our Fundamentals class was 5 full days, each day lasting about 12 hours. That translated to something like $8/hour, which for us as students was a ridiculous bargain in terms of bang for the buck instruction, and for the instructor a pittance compared to their day job. Most instructors teach Fundies because they enjoy teaching and believe in the system, not as a way to support themselves.

Taking Fundamentals was the best money I've ever spent on a scuba class.

 

[Scott L]

Another interesting exercise is breaking down the instructor fee into an hourly wage. I recall our Fundamentals class was 5 full days, each day lasting about 12 hours. That translated to something like $8/hour, which for us as students was a ridiculous bargain in terms of bang for the buck instruction, and for the instructor a pittance compared to their day job. Most instructors teach Fundies because they enjoy teaching and believe in the system, not as a way to support themselves.

Taking Fundamentals was the best money I've ever spent on a scuba class.

Assuming just a two person class and a $500 course fee I am calculating $12 per hour. No tip?

 

[TSandM]

Taking Fundamentals was the best money I've ever spent on a scuba class.

In terms of overall impact on my diving, I'd wholeheartedly agree. (The money I spent on my cave class was well spent, too )

 

[ScubaSam]

Another interesting exercise is breaking down the instructor fee into an hourly wage. I recall our Fundamentals class was 5 full days, each day lasting about 12 hours. That translated to something like $8/hour, which for us as students was a ridiculous bargain in terms of bang for the buck instruction, and for the instructor a pittance compared to their day job. Most instructors teach Fundies because they enjoy teaching and believe in the system, not as a way to support themselves.

Taking Fundamentals was the best money I've ever spent on a scuba class.

To echo both TS&M and Gombessa's sentiments, Fundamentals was the best money I've ever spent on a scuba class. Our GUE instructor, Bob Sherwood was with us for 5 full days for 12 - 14 hours a day, so definitely got him on the cheap. Bob's love of teaching and his belief in the system was apparent.

To the OP, I've posted this on another Fundamental threads but if you're going into your Fundamentals class to impress the instructor, it's not going to work. If you're going into the class to learn, learn and learn, then you will learn. Be prepared to eat humble pie, every student in my class, myself included, got a healthy serving of humble pie on more than one occasion/dive. Regardless of whether you pass or fail, you will definitely come out of the class a more precise diver than when you first walked into class. Do not focus on the evaluation dive, the instructor will get you there if you are wiling to put in the effort.

I'm am so excited for the path you're about to embark on and the adventure that awaits you. Good luck!!

 

[ptyx]

Rec 3 is available (at least in some locations) and only requires a rec pass in Fundies.

Do you have more info on who teaches it (and where)?
In the GUE instructor list, nobody is listed as Rec3 (or Rec2 for that matter).
I can't find a course description either.

Or is that UTD Rec3? (I need to look at their classes!)

Thanks,

 

[rhlee]

Rec2 and Rec3 (along with all GUE classes) are described in the GUE standards: http://www.gue.com/files/Standards_and_Procedures/GUE_Standards_Version_51.pdf

Not sure where in CA you are, but Beto Nava in Monterey can teach them:

Class details | Global Underwater Explorers
Class details | Global Underwater Explorers

hope that helps,
-Rob

Do you have more info on who teaches it (and where)?
In the GUE instructor list, nobody is listed as Rec3 (or Rec2 for that matter).
I can't find a course description either.

 

[Gombessa]

Assuming just a two person class and a $500 course fee I am calculating $12 per hour. No tip?

I was calculating based on a 3-student class (max student to instructor ratio), sorry for not being more explicit.

No tip, but we were lucky to have no travel or (real) lodging costs, so we thought it would be nice to pay for the instructor's meals - splitting lunch/dinner four ways isn't that much different over splitting three ways

 

[Scott L]

I was calculating based on a 3-student class (max student to instructor ratio), sorry for not being more explicit.

No tip, but we were lucky to have no travel or (real) lodging costs, so we thought it would be nice to pay for the instructor's meals - splitting lunch/dinner four ways isn't that much different over splitting three ways

Your point was a good one in that the instructors are teaching for love of sport for the most part...