Shearwater Perdix AI

[stuartv]

Any experienced tec diver could simply observe you and tell you whether you are performing at the same level that GUE calls a "tech pass." As with much other training, the card is worth nothing.

I have a perception of more value (to ME) in the GUE Tech pass than what you've mentioned.

One is networking. Getting it is an introduction into a community of divers that I don't otherwise have a real connection to. I *think* that the Tech pass could possibly help open some doors for me down the road.

Two is Cave. Cave training is on my To Do list. It's a low priority right now. But looking way down the road, it is entirely possible that when I'm ready to do cave training, I will want to do it with an instructor that is a GUE instructor. At that point, a Tech pass would be a requirement anyway. So, having one would give me complete freedom of choice in choosing a cave instructor.

However, I totally grant what you're saying and recognize that, by the time I feel like I have the time and money to do Fundies, I may have improved enough in my skills, just by diving, practicing, and seeking advice from the more experienced people that I dive with, that I no longer feel inclined to spend that chunk of time and money on Fundies.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Further to this, it occurred to me to look in the GUE standards to see what might be relevant to AI. I can find nothing more relevant than that the reg first stage "must supply a pressure gauge." I can find nothing in the GUE standards that specifies the "pressure gauge." However, I can appreciate there may be principles, such as standardization, minimalism, etc., that have discouraged people from deviating from the, uh, standard, brass-and-glass gauge. If your teammates are configured a certain way, you probably want to be configured that way. Indeed, contrary to popular belief, nothing in the GUE standards says you are not permitted to use a computer, either. You're taught not to rely on it exclusively, and you're taught alternative methods, but that's all. I have not seen a GUE diver who does NOT make use of a computer.

 

[stuartv]

Is there no "standard" that dictates that the SPG will be clipped to the left waist D-ring?

I could understand if that was a standard for them. If a teammate becomes unresponsive and you want to check their gas, (under GUE principles) you should know exactly where to look to get that information, right?

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . . One is networking. Getting it is an introduction into a community of divers that I don't otherwise have a real connection to. I *think* that the Tech pass could possibly help open some doors for me down the road.

True, though if by connecting to a community of divers you mean finding dive buddies, wouldn't they all presumably want to dive the GUE way? Even if you dislike the idea of being a conformist, it is pretty cool that you could dive with any GUE diver anywhere in the world without being acquainted beforehand.

Of course, there are also GUE divers who, regardless of whether you have taken Fundies, would not hesitate to dive with you if they know you are a good diver. It's not unheard of for GUE cave divers to dive with non-GUE cave divers whom they are acquainted with and who don't dive in some way antithetical to what GUE teaches. As I see it, at the tec level, GUE training is pretty much in line with all other tec training. A frog kick is a frog kick, an S-Drill is an S-Drill, every cave diver through every agency does more or less the same sort of pre-dive check, finds lost lines and lost buddies, etc., more or less the same way, as far as I'm aware. I am not trying to discourage you--quite the opposite. Just want to put it in perspective. For rec-level training, however, GUE's way can seem pretty radical.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Is there no "standard" that dictates that the SPG will be clipped to the left waist D-ring?

Keeping in mind I have no authoritative knowledge--I'm just a lowly rec-diving Fundies student--I have not seen anything dictating what kind of SPG or where it is located. The standards do say that the harness needs a left waist D-ring. There are indeed GUE materials stating that the SPG should be clipped to the left waist D-ring, but as far as I can see, it's not part of the published standards or standard operating procedures.

I could understand if that was a standard for them. If a teammate becomes unresponsive and you want to check their gas, (under GUE principles) you should know exactly where to look to get that information, right?

Perhaps that's all there is to it. Perhaps it's a de facto standard, but is not part of the published standards. I don't know.

 

[stuartv]

True, though if by connecting to a community of divers you mean finding dive buddies, wouldn't they all presumably want to dive the GUE way? Even if you dislike the idea of being a conformist, it is pretty cool that you could dive with any GUE diver anywhere in the world without being acquainted beforehand.

Of course, there are also GUE divers who, regardless of whether you have taken Fundies, would not hesitate to dive with you if they know you are a good diver. It's not unheard of for GUE cave divers to dive with non-GUE cave divers whom they are acquainted with and who don't do dive in some way antithetical to what GUE teaches. As I see it, at the tec level, GUE training is pretty much in line with all other tec training. A frog kick is a frog kick, an S-Drill is an S-Drill, every cave diver through every agency does more or less the same sort of pre-dive check, finds lost lines and lost buddies, etc., more or less the same way, as far as I'm aware. I am not trying to discourage you--quite the opposite. Just want to put it in perspective. For rec-level training, however, GUE's way can seem pretty radical.

I only dislike being a conformist in the sense that I don't like to do things in a way that I don't feel is "best" just because others are doing it. I have no problem with "conforming" to GUE standards if I'm asking/hoping to join a GUE buddy or team for a dive that I want to do and that's what it takes.

If I'm diving with a buddy and I get to choose the dive parameters, I'm going to pick Best Mix and computer-based ascent protocols. But, if my buddy wants to use a standard gas for some reason, I'm okay with that (and matching him, of course). And if he wants to use RD (or other non-computer-based) ascents, I'm okay with that, too, and following whoever is most conservative on the way up -pending having him tell me what his plan will be ahead of time, so that I can confirm my gas supply will last through his ascent. As long as he doesn't require ME to come up with my own non-computer-based ascent and doesn't require me to dive with my computers in gauge mode.

I've been in the water with at least one GUE diver already. His performance is a big motivator for me to take Fundies. The way he looks in the water is how I WANT to look some day. The guy that he trained under is accessible to me. I don't expect that instructor to just wave some magic wand over me. But, it's clear that it is possible to get very good results with him, so I'm inclined to give it a try (when time and money permit).

 

[stuartv]

Keeping mind I have no authoritative knowledge--I'm just a lowly rec-diving Fundies student--I have not seen anything dictating what kind of SPG or where it is located. The standards do say that the harness needs a left waist D-ring. There are indeed GUE materials stating that the SPG should be clipped to the left waist D-ring, but as far as I can see, it's not part of the published standards or standard operating procedures.



Perhaps that's all there is to it. Perhaps it's a de facto standard, but is not part of the published standards. I don't know.

Yeah, all I know is that my understanding of the philosophy is that everyone on the team has the same gear, in the same config, so that everyone not only knows where their own SPG/knife/compass/xyz is, but they also know where all those things are on their teammates, too. With that philosophy, I would think that everyone would have an SPG and it be located in the same place. Of course, if everyone on the team wants to use a Perdix with AI, that seems like it would be in keeping with the philosophy. So maybe that's what having an SPG on the left waist ring is not part of the official standards, but is the de facto standard.

 

[Lorenzoid]

FWIW, I'd be glad to dive with ya any day, buddy.

 

[RayfromTX]

I'm pretty sure I can have a drink of the Kool-Aid without becoming addicted. ;-)

Sure you can.

 

[Kevrumbo]

FWIW, I'd be glad to dive with ya any day, buddy.

Why? @stuartv will be constantly staring at the AI trying to sort out a turn pressure . . .and your MGR too @Lorenzoid. . .