Video debriefs - What's your excuse

[Blackwood]

Any pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.

GUE class schedule | Global Underwater Explorers

Out of curiosity, on what basis are you determining which instructors are worth the investment? Word of mouth?

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

And what are the 'bastages' supposed to do against the nationwide conspiracy to raise more laughing stock for all you cool and experienced divers? Seriously, AFAIK GUE does not offer any courses below Fundies in my neck of the woods (Boston) and even if you wanted to spend $600/day for a 1 one 1 you cannot get a hold of the few instructors that are worth this investment.

Any pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.

GUE Instructors | Global Underwater Explorers

Checking the GUE instructor list, it looks like Bob Sherwood is in NY and there are a few instructors in Connecticut Ed Hayes, and George Bouloukos who all teach the GUE Open Water Course Rec 1 as well as GUE Primer/Doubles/Drysuit courses. They're only a state away from you...

 

[HenrikBP]

It's kinda tricky: being a rank newbie I don't have stories that would interest Brian or Dan - or most other veteran DIR divers.

We have a growing group of divers locally who have gone through Fundies despite the mocking (mostly in jest ... mostly ...) from LDS and dive buddies. And you are correct, our experience in DIR diving really is limited. So threads like this one - while no doubt agonizingly boring to some - is something we can contribute to, read, laugh at while recognizing our own blundering and excuses.

Btw. I've read most of the Fundies threads and don't remember any particular whining about "how hard it is". On the contrary, I think most are a recognition that Fundies was a big leap from what we were originally used to and that we all came away with a new appreciation for what diving can be.

Rather than raggin' on us for doing so (really sucks getting it from both sides ...), how about contributing to *my* growth within the system with some basic pointers. I know it's been done to death and you're no doubt sick and tired of it, and a search would provide enough answers for weeks of reading. But things are evolving within the system, and current hands-on knowledge as well as "historical" background would be interesting and helpful to us newbies.

I can't instantly rise to your level of knowledge and skills and contribute with threads you would find new and interesting. So unless you're willing to stoop to my level ... <shrug>

And quite frankly, in this thread, which is so clearly tongue-in-cheek and just for grins, the best approach would be to just relax and laugh.

Henrik

 

[HenrikBP]

AFAIK GUE does not offer any courses below Fundies in my neck of the woods (Boston) and even if you wanted to spend $600/day for a 1 one 1 you cannot get a hold of the few instructors that are worth this investment.

A few of my dive buddies have done the GUE Primer course with Bob Sherwood, and feedback has been very positive. It deals specifically with trim, buoyancy and propulsion techniques, and some have used it as a pre-course to Fundies.

Henrik

 

[danvolker]

And what are the 'bastages' supposed to do against the nationwide conspiracy to raise more laughing stock for all you cool and experienced divers? Seriously, AFAIK GUE does not offer any courses below Fundies in my neck of the woods (Boston) and even if you wanted to spend $600/day for a 1 one 1 you cannot get a hold of the few instructors that are worth this investment.

Any pointers in the right direction would be appreciated.

A fair response...
One of the original ideas of DIR was to have DIR divers show/mentor non-dir divers...while not equivalent to real GUE instruction, this could be a good way to deal with your issue....many of us DIR divers live and dive in places which would be viable for you and others with similar interests....I don't know if you looked up the DIR divers in your area postings...that would be a start....if you can't get to a real dir diver, there is a huge amount of material on buoyancy , trim , and all things dir....I am sure someone here could come up with a good compendium of topics and sources....

Meanwhile, I dive almost every Sunday off palm beach, fl...I am always happy to dive witH non-dir divers who are wanting to learn why we think dir has a better way than the "norm".
Regards,
DanV

 

[Lobzilla]

GUE class schedule | Global Underwater Explorers

Exactly, click the link and see for yourself. Fundies and up.

Out of curiosity, on what basis are you determining which instructors are worth the investment? Word of mouth?

Primarily by making and educated guess after reading reports of people who have attended their classes.

I was fortunate to get a spot in Ed Hayes' teaser worshop 2 weekends ago but have not gotten a reply yet about other offerings.

It's like trying to find a good plumber; except that soldering copper pipes together yourself is easier than learning an effective back kick
I am honestly considering to find a local pool, stick a video camera to the wall, and see what I can figure out myself.

After getting OW 6 weeks ago I figured out proper weighing, bouyancy control and trim during lobster hunting. (Can't catch bugs with your fins on the bottom ).
The irony is that we started in a pool with a 'ledge' at 4 feet where we could have practiced hovering side by side with the instructor in the deeper section.

 

[UCFKnightDiver]

Exactly, click the link and see for yourself. Fundies and up.



Primarily by making and educated guess after reading reports of people who have attended their classes.

I was fortunate to get a spot in Ed Hayes' teaser worshop 2 weekends ago but have not gotten a reply yet about other offerings.

It's like trying to find a good plumber; except that soldering copper pipes together yourself is easier than learning an effective back kick
I am honestly considering to find a local pool, stick a video camera to the wall, and see what I can figure out myself.

After getting OW 6 weeks ago I figured out proper weighing, bouyancy control and trim during lobster hunting. (Can't catch bugs with your fins on the bottom ).
The irony is that we started in a pool with a 'ledge' at 4 feet where we could have practiced hovering side by side with the instructor in the deeper section.

If you contact the instructors you can often create/schedule a class. Me and a friend did this with our Fundies class.

 

[Rainer]

You seem to misunderstand how GUE courses work. You don't just jump on their website and find a class (unfortunately). Rather, you have to help put one together (and only then does it appear on their website).

Ring (don't e-mail) Ed. He'll chat with you about your current diving and your diving goals, at which point he'll make recommendations for continuing dive education. If you can find a few local divers interested in a class, he might even be willing to travel to Boston; that said, his quarry in CT is about the best possible place to do this type of training.

Give Ed a call.

Exactly, click the link and see for yourself. Fundies and up.



Primarily by making and educated guess after reading reports of people who have attended their classes.

I was fortunate to get a spot in Ed Hayes' teaser worshop 2 weekends ago but have not gotten a reply yet about other offerings.

It's like trying to find a good plumber; except that soldering copper pipes together yourself is easier than learning an effective back kick
I am honestly considering to find a local pool, stick a video camera to the wall, and see what I can figure out myself.

After getting OW 6 weeks ago I figured out proper weighing, bouyancy control and trim during lobster hunting. (Can't catch bugs with your fins on the bottom ).
The irony is that we started in a pool with a 'ledge' at 4 feet where we could have practiced hovering side by side with the instructor in the deeper section.

 

[Blackwood]

Exactly, click the link and see for yourself. Fundies and up.

Up until fairly recently, Fundies was the lowest level class they offered. They now also have Rec 1 (which from my understanding of the standards is at the same level as Fundies).

BTW, why are you looking for something "lower" than Fundies? At your level of training, it's probably right up your alley.

I was fortunate to get a spot in Ed Hayes' teaser worshop 2 weekends ago but have not gotten a reply yet about other offerings.

Cool. My uneducated D) guess would be that his workshop is kinda like the GUE primer (which isn't really a "class").

 

[Lobzilla]

Thanks to everyone for your valuable suggestions.

Who wudda thunk, that learning how to dive includes an education in detective work and event organizing.

"When the student is ready, the master appears" - Buddhist Proverb