[IanDennis]

If your looking to adopt the procedures of GUE or any other technical organisation then you may need to rethink your equipment configuration. Horizontal trim in a BC is actually not that difficult- in something like the buddy explorer then it’s quite easy but it does take practice.

Trying to use a long hose via a hogarthian wrap or find a position for an umbilical torch when using a BC illustrates it problems and shortcomings. It’s not an ideal solution and whilst possible it creates issues that may prevent divers learning the correct technique.

Whilst some technical agencies will have some latitude in the equipment configuration- adopting a “run what your bring” strategy, the instructor has to have the ability to work around these different equipment configurations and help the student develop a configuration that suits their own style yet still ensures that safety is not compromised. The diver essentially must be able to function as a team member and complete the essential basic skills such as mask clearing, reg removal and replacement, long hose use and deployment, trim and buoyancy control,dsmb deployment, valve drills, awareness development and propulsion techniques. Any technical instructor should be able to demonstrate how to use a wing so that you’re not “fighting against it”.

GUE courses seek to develop students towards a standardised equipment configuration. As had been said before fundies will not take your kit apart but it will encourage the diver to look at their configuration and seek to optimise it for their future diving needs. If you go on with further training then the configuration acts as a basic foundation for developing further skills.

I work with students in a variety of equipment, some based upon the GUE principals of equipment configuration and some very much “run what you bring”. On a recent course I taught two people were in wings/backplates and one in a BCD fitted with twins. All successfully completed the course and all the required skills.

As divers progress towards more technical training then the kit configuration inevitably becomes very similar. OW divers have many different styles of equipment, trimix/cave divers tend to have much less diversity.

Whichever course you elect to follow the majority of technical agencies will set out requirements for entry for the course which will include wings, backplates, regulator configuration etc. In this GUE is no different to IANTD or TDI, GUE just sets out to do from fundies level and build skills upon a standard equipment foundation.

If you have the opportunity to try different configurations either via speaking to any technical instructor or attending one of the GUE experience days then this would give you an insight into how the equipment works and how the principals interlock together.

This would be a far better solution then trying to learn equipment configuration over the internet.

Good luck

Ian