SoCal potential GUE fundies people this year!

[diverrex]

It really is too bad that DIR/GUE/UTD seems to be shunned by a lot of people. I think if most people saw divers with amazing control, superb buddy skills and situational awareness, and how a cohesive team and dive can be achieved, they would be interested....it's too bad that people seem to think that DIR implies that everyone else is doing everything wrong when there is so much one can gain from it, even on purely recreational dives.

FWIW, I think "going over to the dark side" and "enjoying diving" are not at all on opposite ends of the spectrum....in fact, for me, it's quite the opposite. Moving toward the DIR philosophy has done nothing but increase my diving enjoyment.

I think it's great whenever divers try to keep learning and impoving their skills whether its DIR/GUE/UTD or other paths. The problem I see (probably much more so in the tropics with vacation divers) is people who have dove enough that they have become completely comfortable breathing underwater but their basic skills are still not good and the way they're diving they're probably not going to improve. I try to to stay away from those people.

 

[Clammy]

I'm completely okay with helping out newer divers or anyone that wants to improve. I think I don't like it when people think they don't need to improve either. I hope I never get to that point. Everyone should try to get better all the time, through whatever means.

I happen to like calling it the dark side. Call it the geek in me!

 

[ligersandtions]

I think it's great whenever divers try to keep learning and impoving their skills whether its DIR/GUE/UTD or other paths. The problem I see (probably much more so in the tropics with vacation divers) is people who have dove enough that they have become completely comfortable breathing underwater but their basic skills are still not good and the way they're diving they're probably not going to improve. I try to to stay away from those people.

I did a dive with vacation divers for the first time ever a couple weeks ago. I was absolutely appalled....I watched a guy in board shorts (no shirt, exposure suit, anything else to protect one's body) lawn dart onto coral. It must have hurt him, but he didn't seem to care....everyone was mowing over the coral beating it, and anything else in their way, to crap.

I've been extremely spoiled diving in socal. Almost all the divers I've been out with want to keep learning and growing....skills not becoming stagnant and not looking like what I saw....DIR and non-DIR alike. Sure, I've seen some people crawling on the reef around here, but not a lot.

I have no problem with new divers, but I do take issue with those who don't care, don't feel that there's room to improve, or are generally sucky buddies.

 

[drbill]

Hey, I like you Brian... and I like Karim... but getting involved in anything that sounds like "sticky..." no thanks! I'll continue in my DIW ways.

 

[Clammy]

Hey, I like you Brian... and I like Karim... but getting involved in anything that sounds like "sticky..." no thanks! I'll continue in my DIW ways.

I'll still follow you around as your buddy whenever you need Doc Bill!

 

[jenth]

Hi Brian! Relatively new diver here. I have about 25 dives under my belt. Anyways, started out diving DIR style (husband's a GUE Tech diver). I'm planning on either taking GUE Fundies or UTD Rec 2 towards the end of this year...still undecided. Perhaps we'll be classmates.

I've been diving a few times with ligersandtions...and like her, I try to do a weekly night dive (usually Vets) and a few weekend dives. I'm always up for practicing/drill dives...I'd love to get out and dive with you if we ever get the chance!

 

[leabre]

I was considering a GUE-F class for a while, but I'll be taking a UTD Essentials with MacieK in September (hopefully if it pans out) and then soon as I can a Rec 2 and Ratio Deco afterwards. I wasn't able to get into Andy's August class.

@Jenth: I'm always up for practice/drill drives, too. I dive with a lot of tec people and newer recs all the time. I must dive 3x weekly minimum. Let me know if you're up for a "practice/drill" dive (or leisure, for that matter). Do you use doubles? I only have a handful of dub dives but mostly dive with a single 120'. On occasion I dive Vets but usually if I've prearranged a dive buddy but I know all the usuals over there.

I live in South Orange County so I travel to LA when I know I'll have a dive bud.

 

[Clammy]

Great! let's all dive sometimes!

Maciej said he was going to instruct august too if there are enough students. Ligersandtions is in that class.

 

[leabre]

Maciej said he was going to instruct august too if there are enough students. Ligersandtions is in that class.

Clammy, unless Maciek is doing two classes I think his August has become a potential September. There seems to be difficulty getting all of our schedules harmonized. I should probly ask him, but is there potentially 2 classes from Maciek? I know Andy is doing a class in August (was previously July); I attempted to sign up for that one when it was too late.

I know who the other person in the Sept. class that Maciek is planning but I didn't think ligersandtions is in it, by looking at the email chain. So far, there is only me and one other in Maciek's class that I'm aware of in all the scheduling requests. So there might be availability if others contact him to sign up.

Anyway... all that said, if you're up to, perhaps we can dive also?

 

[Clammy]

Well I dunno what happened with the scheduling, I had heard due to scheduling that the July class with Andy turned into an Aug class. Maciek had told me in June that he was doing a class too w/ or at the same time as Andy but that was back when it was supposed to be in July. I guess things have changed.

I guess it's hard to get people for these classes. Karim isn't running his July class I think because no one signed up and he cancelled his Aug class since he's going somewhere.

Yes, all of us should dive together!!