What do GUE/DIR divers look for in a learn to dive class for friends and family?

[mainedvr]

Two of my kids have been certified PADI OW at age 10 one just got his AOW at 12 this past year. I watched some of the local instructors on the dive boats here and made my choice of whom I felt was going to be safe and teach them the basics. I had both of them in the pool months before classes teaching them the basic skills, and even longer than that they were snorkling and what not. I do hope they will want to continue right now they love it and if so definitly going to sign them up for GUE course when they are old enough. My oldest is not using a long hose and we are teaching him to dive the way we do.

If I were to recommend something for friends or family it would be to get certified and spend the extra money on the GUE REC 1 course if money is an issue I would try to talk them into looking at it from a value stand point that the training is more comprehensive and if they like it they will want to do it anyhow. But also tell them that many safe and compentent divers learn in the "normal" OW courses and that is fine too. Just get wet....

 

[Ayisha]

I believe you would be hard pressed to find someone who "didn't like it." The assertion that @compressor challenged was that "every single student mentions the great value of GUE courses."

"Every single student" mentioning the value is a very tall order. Perhaps "most students who pass" or "many students" might be more realistic. Most students who seek out a GUE course probably have an idea of the work and practice that's going to be required, and have probably already assessed whether the course will be of value to them, no matter what the outcome.

 

[LiteHedded]

it's the best dive training in the world. hands down.
but is it a great 'value'? i guess that's in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Compressor]

I respectfully disagree.

Its a nice course. No disputes there. Is it the only "best course" or the "best value" course? Each student has to answer that for themselves. if you think it is, great. When things don't go well, many will have other opinions which need to be respected.

 

[gobuyastick]

Its a nice course. No disputes there. Is it the only "best course" or the "best value" course? Each student has to answer that for themselves. if you think it is, great. When things don't go well, many will have other opinions which need to be respected.

I get what you mean now, thanks for the clarification

 

[Compressor]

I get what you mean now, thanks for the clarification

 

[LordElrond]

My 2 cents of non-diver (well, ex-non-diver) perspective...

I went to a GUE instructor because I was a guy who decided to start diving and had no close friends who were divers. A search around Internet showed that, liked or not, GUE was renowned for quality of training provided by each of its instructors, so (remember that I did not know anyone that could point me to top-rated instructors regardless of agency) I went with them and hoped for the best. I'm aware that they don't have a monopoly on the good instructors, but you have to know them and I did not, so I opted for the "safe brand-name" choice.
Perceived drawbacks of DIR instruction (I'm talking about image here) were expense and flexibility, since it appeared you have to dive their way.
It is expensive, but in my case 400€ more than other courses were background noise after I bought my gear, and gear costs the same (=too much, a set of starting gear is a f***ing blood bath and I bought everything on sale or used) for everyone.
About flexibility, for a new diver every way of diving is the same since we can evaluate them only on paper. If the system works, and it appears it does, stay sure that a noob like me won't be messing with what he was taught.
About C-card recognition, no one gave me trouble, only some funny looks. The strangest comment I received was "I did not know that those American cave divers madmen were running open water courses" =)