DIR(F) Or Rescue Diver

[Rick Huggins]

Ok, here it goes!

I want to do both of the above course as a matter of further training. My initial plan was to progress from PADI AOW, TDI Adv Trox with 65ish dives to Rescue diver with around 100 dives before enrolling for DIR(F), ideally at the begining of next year. This would give me time to hone my skills and ideally meet some of the other GUE trained lads and address any possible problems I might have prior to the course.

Reason being is that IMO I think it's a natural progression for any PADI diver to get to the level of RD as a matter of course for his own safety as well of that of anyone he dives with! These skills would not go a miss whichever agency/buddy you dive with.

100 dives on and I think that your more at one with the U/W environment and start "looking out of the window" more i.e. enjoying the dive!

Only then would I feel confident enough to undergo DIR(F)!

However, with most of my decisions, I am questioning my motive and am curious to what the GUE lads say!

TIA

[And]

Hi

sounds reasonable to me Rick. You can never have enough rescue skills IMO. Winter is the best time to practice for DIRF and then you will be ready for the spring. An o2 admin course is a good idea too at some point.

You don't have to worry about DIRF. Its easy

Andy

[Davey Willo]

Originally Posted by Frogman

Only then would I feel confident enough to undergo DIR(F)!

However, with most of my decisions, I am questioning my motive and am curious to what the GUE lads say!

TIA

Hiya Rick

I've told you before mate, you don't need to feel confidant enough before taking a DIR-F class, it's designed to take students and teach them 'fundamentals'... OK a lot of what GUE teach as fundamental probably are not covered by a lot of other classes, however it's not about going in and impressing anyone, it's about learning, if you knew it all and you could do it all then there would be no need to take it in the first place...

My advice is get on one ASAP....

Do I think that you should take it before RD.... That's a personal choice mate, and I think that you're going to benefit no matter which order you take them, I think I'd base my decision on whichever one becomes available first..

HTH mate

See you soon at Anglesey I hope

[Tim Ingmire]

It's never too soon to learn rescue skills IMHO.

[Rick Huggins]

mmh, decisions decisions

Cheers lads

[Digger]

Got to say RD. Knowing the skills required to get to AOW, you want to get some rescue skills under your belt. What about the skills and drills weekends though? Is there another one going on soon? Could be a good way of not going crazy with the spending, getting some recue skills, leaves the cash for DIRF then once the bank manager likes you again you can do RD. Compromise? You can learn the RD skills without paying for the course or getting the ticket, and it puts you in a much better position than you're in now at least.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by Frogman

Ok, here it goes!
Reason being is that IMO I think it's a natural progression for any PADI diver to get to the level of RD as a matter of course for his own safety as well of that of anyone he dives with! These skills would not go a miss whichever agency/buddy you dive with.
TIA

Rick
I wholeheartedly agree with statement. Do RD as soon as you can.

Jules

[Fraser]

Agree with Andy you should try to get some O2 admin training, and as others have said do some rescue training as soon as you are able.

From my experience with Fundamentals, I was very lucky and hooked up with two top blokes just before DIR-F and had an idea of what to expect. I've yet to meet a GUE trained diver that won't go out of their way to help people out, so search one out and go diving

I wouldn't waste your time honing skills - in fact Mike Kane, the GUE instructor that took my Fundies class, said he prefers people NOT to do that because invariably you are doing it wrong and he then has to make you "unlearn what you have learned" (little Yoda quote there, sorry ).

My advice would be do the Rescue stuff asap, configure your gear DIR and get some dives in with GUE divers, just working on getting flat trim and good buoyancy. When you turn up to the class you will learn (correctly) the relevant skills, if you don't get a full pass so what?? The cert card means nothing anyway... you will get a provisional (unless you are dangerous/a complete muppet ) and you can then practice the correctly learned skills in your own time.

Hope this helps!

Fraser.

[Rick Huggins]

I have pretty much turned my kit around to adopt the DIR configuration anyway but I think my original plan still stands, having looked at your reply's.

Rescue training of some sort; dive with some GUE trained folke's and get onto DIR(F) ASAP

Thanks all for your input

ATB

[Tim Ingmire]

This maybe a daft question but how much rescue training is in the GUE courses?