LDS

[Jimmer]

Originally Posted by Joe

Now that we have two, soon to be three, fairly local GUEf instructors we have a choice. Unless they all align themselves with NTD.

Who are the local GUEf instructors?

[Chantelle]

I was gonna ask who the second one was too...

I'm not really sure what Steve can add to the thread. I will let him know about it, but I don't think there is really much he can say about "this side vs. that side."

He has taken courses with just about every agency there is, and has more cards than I knew actually existed. I really do not want to speak for him, but tried, tested, and true, he sticks with GUE.

I am not knocking any other agency. We all came from somewhere, and learn from many different avenues. There are great instructors in any agency. I do believe (please read that this is my opinion only) from what I have seen (please read that this is my opinion only), there is more consistancy with the quality of instructors within GUE. I'll say it again.... yes, there are great instructors with other agencies... GUE just works for me.

I like the fact that I can jump in the water with another GUE diver, from halfway across the planet, and be on the same page with them.

To be honest, I really don't care who trains with who. I like people. I may not make some of the same choices that they do, but it doesn't mean they aren't good people. I might make my own choices about who I may or may not dive with in certain conditions, and I really hope that doesn't sound "stuck up," as it's not meant to be. I just like to know that the person I'm diving with can help to solve problems the way I need them to be, and vice versa... especially when on a technical or overhead dive. You really do have to trust your buddy with your life, and they have to trust you.

Ok... novel over.. can someone please pass me another bowl of popcorn? Back to reading...

[Matthew Mandziuk]

Good reply Warren, very diplomatic and well spoken.

See you in the water,

Matt

[Chantelle]

Originally Posted by Jimmer

Who are the local GUEf instructors?

There is Dan MacKay, based out of Kingston, and I think Joe was alluding to Steve Schultz as the second one, but he is not finished his Instructor training yet. There is Steve Blanchard, who will be doing the ITC this year, based out of Ottawa, and two more that I know of as well (one on the west coast, one on the east coast). It would be really good for GUE to have this many GUE instructors in Canada, and hopefully more for the future!

[Jen]

There is only one canadian GUE instructor, and two interning hopefuls. There are a couple GUE instructors in the US within a 5-8 hour drive. There aren't any GUE instructors local in the Southwestern Ontario area. Having been on both sides of the fence I can honestly say that the training is second to none. DIR is more than having the right kit, it is also diving with the right mind set. This includes not solo diving, being a self sufficient diver but also a compliment to a team, among other things. DIR was developed by a group of divers that took a good long look at diving and diving accidents and thus bacame the foundation of GUE. When it gets said that you've been diving DIR longer than a shop in question has been open its based on a lot of mis interpretations, and is not true based on the true meaning of DIR. To be appreciated one must take a serious look at what the main intention was in the first place. Many of the DIR pioneers take pride in placing the philosophy into the hands of divers who sincerely want to be more competent and comfortable in the water. This appreciation is not fame driven nor is it to become the be all to end all of diving practices.

I like how Warren said that he had a hard time following this thread b/c its on so many different forums. This has been a hot topic in the dive community forever. I am all for supporting the LDS. The thread had nothing to do with that just with a few questions and it got turned into something that it should never have become. Chest beating gets no where and I often leave the conversation shaking my head at this. (I just happened to have time as the farmers discussed resolutions in the other room to respond and I will correct my spelling mistakes that I see when I am off the blackberry.)

Play nice in the sand box boys. I luv you all you know that but it never gets anywhere like this.

[Jimmer]

Originally Posted by Jen

There is only one canadian GUE instructor, and two interning hopefuls.

Ah ok, I only knew of Dan in Ontario, I was curious when someone mentioned 2 or 3.

[Chantelle]

Originally Posted by Jimmer

Ah ok, I only knew of Dan in Ontario, I was curious when someone mentioned 2 or 3.

There are almost 5.

[Jen]

You and Me Chan?.... (kidding for now....but maybe down the road)

[Chantelle]

Originally Posted by Jen

You and Me Chan?.... (kidding for now....but maybe down the road)

Lol... I guess ya never know!

[Steve B]

I'm not sure what words you would like me to add to this thread.
Having said that, I can say that I have done training with pretty much every dive training agency out there. It is my experience that GUE's offers the most solid and safest dive training program out there today.

Many dive boards have threads on agency debates. I will point out one thing I see in common with these threads. Those who state that their agency offers "DIR" training have a false pretense as to what the complete DIR package is or think it is, because he/she have never gone throught the GUE training program and don't know what they don't know. It is mostly instructors from other agencies that have invested alot of time and money to get to where they are, and don't feel they can be shown a different way/approach to this sport we love so much. I was going down this same path before I was asked by a friend to be his dive buddy on a DIRF. I was reluctant to go but DAMN glad I did!

Dive safe

Steve Blanchard