The "new" fundamentals course.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by IanDennis

If anybody wants to learn more about GUE then go on the workshops and weekends organised by Garf/Gloc and others or better still talk to Clare/John/Brian/Rich - they are all very approachable.

You raise some important points ..... it really is only a diving course which requires trim and buoyancy skills to establish a platform for doing other things like send up a dSMB or share gas with a buddy or a host of other things that you do, or might need to do, on any normal dive.

There is no beasting so it's a shame the course has that image ....

I have organised a Discover DIR day at Guildenburgh this Saturday so if anyone is interested in actually finding out for themselves what it's all about then that would be a great opportunity to come and find out.

PM me if you are interested in one of the remaining spaces..... there's a few GUE trained divers coming along from Instructor level, Tech, Cave and Fundamentals trained, so a good cross-section of GUE divers.....and you'll find they are really quite normal people .... and yes, they all just love diving

Mal

[Sixsquid]

Originally Posted by Madfish

Sixy

With the best will in the world - YOU are the only one in the entire thread (so far) to have mentioned the word DIR........

The OP was careful to refer to the class, quite correctly as GUE-F.

The arrogance has only been implied by you....

Di

How very interesting, and rather a surprise. My reference was to the arrogance of a name that, by definition, implies 'other' are NOT Doing it Right, but then, if the cap fits ....

I first read about this course a couple of years ago when it was quite clearly referred to as GUE DIR-F. I was so interested I registered with DIR-X and I recall reading this thread with great interest Fundies Trip Report - Part 1 of 2

Sadly just about every write up I've read on the course seems to imply an unnecessary amount of hardship imposed, but perhaps that is in fact some kind of back slapping ritual. I know many threads make Mark's courses appear overly trepidatious ( I think I just made that word up ) but, having got to know the chap and many of his 'students', I'm beginning to believe such tales are a little embroidered.

Either way I didn't percieve my tongue in cheek reference to the arrogance of any group/institution implying they are the only ones that do it correctly while the rest of us are decieved to have such a defensive reaction. Anyone would have thought I'd suggested PADI only want ya money

Originally Posted by MartyC

Every body chill, Six, it is the best training I have done, but not the best training course there is - I haven't done Tech 1 yet gimme that Helium.
Any arrogancy you may have picked up, is more likely to be enthusiasm for the training and the agency, Garf is very passionate about DIR and GUE

Cheers Marty and if any of the reactive posters read my post they might actually recognise I made no aspersions on any individuals, not even an agency. Everyone seems mighty defensive today, luckily I don't feel that way today, despite my current stresses, so I can smile in a friendly manner while ducking the fleets of barbed arrows

As Marty says, "chill"

[Garf]

FFS you people will argue about anything.

I thoroughly recommend the course to any of you strokes who defy the laws of probability and somehow manage to live long enough to fill out the application form



let the games begin.........

[Fiona]

You are forgiven the "good effort" comment

[Sixsquid]

Originally Posted by Garf

FFS you people will argue about anything.

I thoroughly recommend the course to any of you strokes who defy the laws of probability and somehow manage to live long enough to fill out the application form

I know ! and we dive in the sea and everything !!!!

[Garf]

Originally Posted by Sixsquid

I know ! and we dive in the sea and everything !!!!

doesn't you kit get dirty ?

[Kirstie]

Originally Posted by Sixsquid

I know ! and we dive in the sea and everything !!!!

All that would have to stop. All that salt water, waves, tides, currents and all those fish. That's not what diving's about, you silly girl!

[divingniknaks]

.

[Clare Gledhill]

Guys - cool it. To those of you who have made me blush - thanks for your kind words. I'm certainly not the only UK instructor who is passionate about my diving - and it's nice to see the same passion in students too.

I found my own fundamentals course a mental and physical challenge. But before anyone posts that this is confirmation that the courses are too tough or too demanding, I found my PADI OW a challenge too - sometimes learning new things is demanding and we can each take a sense of achievement away with us that we have learned new skills and tested outselves.

Sixy - there is no place for macho bullshit on my courses - of that I assure you. Fundamentals is a basic diving course not a boot camp. DIR as a term may mean something different to me than it means to you - but maybe one day we will have a beer and discuss it

[Sixsquid]

Originally Posted by Garf

doesn't you kit get dirty ?

Yeah, but that's how I like it ......
You don't get blinded by the glare

I'm also rather partial to the taste of salt