For those thinking about doing GUE Fundamentals

[adam]

Hi all,

There has been a lot of information on this forum and others about the GUE DIRF course. As is often the case, some is good, some bad. I have copied a list of ideas that Mike Kane (one of the designers of DIRF and GUE instructor) put out to address some of the misinformation and to help people prepare for the course. It may help address some of the concerns and questions that people have before they embark on it.

All the best

Adam


I’ve been meaning for the longest time to carve out some time to provide some helpful hints for students getting ready for a DIR-F class, consider this an ad hoc Baker’s dozen.  Winter is almost behind us and our summer schedule is filing up and I’m noticing that since last summer, [i.e.; when we went to a formalized pass/fail approach] I’m frequently getting asked the same questions.  I therefore thought it might be useful to offer some hints, tips and suggestions.



1)      Do NOT spend a whole bunch of time stressing out, worrying and “practicing” to pass this FUNDAMENTAL class.  I’ve noticed over the years that many of our students have developed, in one form or another, some bad habits.  Our goal in this class is to help you break the “bad habits” and build new and more efficient diving protocols.  By “practicing” for the DIR-F class the student more clearly ingrains something they may later wish to change, hence the reason for signing up for the class.



2)      Come to class with an open mind, free of pre-conceived notions, and by all means check your ego at the door.  For better or worse the various scuba forums have been a gateway to advancing the growth of DIR, however more often then not the information posted to various scuba boards is ill-advised, inaccurate, misleading or flat out wrong.



3)      Come to class prepared.  Read “Doing It Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving” by Jarrod Jablonski.  Register on-line at www.gue.com before the instructors arrive and print a copy of the completed registration form that will need to be signed in the presence of the instructor.  We are NOT allowed to let anyone take this class that hasn’t completed this, and we can’t make any exceptions.  This is especially critical if your class is in a remote location without Internet access, as you will not get a refund for the class.



4)      In order to maximize your time with the instructors try to organize dive locations that provide minimal drive time between classroom and dive site.  Air fill’s become a critical issue.  The class provides for 2 dives on Saturday and 2 dives on Sunday, presuming a weekend format.  If at all possible have 2 tanks available and arrangements made for airfill's to be done overnight.  We like to begin early morning Sunday so take that into consideration.



5)      Get in shape prior to class for the swim test.  All students must complete a 300-yard swim, without resting, in less than 14 minutes along with a 50’ breath hold swim.



6)      Do NOT fixate on “passing” the class.  I’ve noticed a disturbing trend since last July when GUE moved from a workshop based format to a more formalized structure.  Students are now more worried about “passing” the class then they are taking away as much information as possible from the content and value of the class.  Stay focused and remember what is important and why this class became so popular in the first place, it wasn’t adding another c-card to your collection it was the value of what is being taught.



7)      Realize that the instructors invite questions and welcome students to compare and contrast the DIR method to various other styles in diving.  However, also realize that the instructor isn’t there to fight with you.  We respect everyone’s right to dive in any fashion they see fit, but our feeling is that if you are in the class that it’s self-evident that you’ve come to learn about the DIR ideology.  Accordingly, we presume that you are interested in what we have to offer, not a debate about alternative styles of diving.



8)      Bring ample supplies to take copious notes.  Many of our former students have eluded to the fact that there is so much information being provided in such a short amount of time that it is difficult to absorb it all, so take plenty of notes and recognize that you are free to contact your instructor post class to follow up.  In fact, I welcome it when my former students ask follow up questions.



9)      Saturday morning session, again presuming a weekend format, is by-in-large centered around gear configuration and practicing various skills on the land.  This results in crawling around on the ground, being in and out of your thermal protection for extended periods of time so depending upon the climate it’s suggested to dress accordingly and bring some type of protective tarp.  We also suggest bringing ample hydration sources, snacks and lunch if possible.  You want to maximize the amount of time you have with the instructors and depending upon the location you don’t want to waste precious time commuting for drinks, lunch and/or air fills.



10)  If you are purchasing gear prior to class please spend the time to discuss your purchases with your instructor.  There is no sense spending money on ill-advised gear purchases, when in doubt drop your instructor an e-mail and they’ll be happy to provide guidance.



11)  Show up for class well rested, free of work or other outside pressures.  The class is a very intense 2 ½ days with plenty of long hours.  We have found that students that are well rested handle the longer hours better than those that hope to play “catch-up” over the weekend.  Generally speaking the class begins Friday evening around 7:00pm and ends around 11:00pm.  Saturday is usually 8:00am until 11:00pm and Sunday is 8:00am until around 4:00pm. These times are approximate, but nonetheless fairly representative of a weekend format.



12)   If something isn’t clear to you ask.  Nothing frustrates us more then a student that pretends to understand something.  We teach in a very Socratic style and utilize the demonstrate-illustrate approach.  The instructor will first demonstrate it, and then allow the student to do it while we videotape the skill.  We later spend a lot of time rewinding, explaining and critiquing the student.  While at first many students are fearful or reluctant to see themselves on camera.  Ultimately, the feedback we receive from our students has consistently indicated that this is one of the more valuable elements of the class.



13)  Lastly, remember diving is all about having FUN; this class is designed to help our students maximize their fun quotient