You are really quite funny, we all remember that you are associated with a shop that has had a couple of fatalities one just recently and here you are cutting down other courses!
Actually Mr. "eagleray", I'm the one associated with Kanata Diving Supply and the recent tragedy has nothing to do with the launch of the DIR-F course at Kanata. The fact that you even brought this up shows that you probably have an ax of some sort to grind. One thing you may have noted about my posts is that I log on and sign off with my full name. If you aren't willing to put your name on the bottom, don't put it on the board.
For those of you who do not know me, I am one of the equipment technicians and a divemaster at KDS. I am also a dedicated DIR diver who has recently graduated from the Tech II course under Andrew Georgitsis, GUE's training director and I dive and train with the teams at Northern Tech Diver.
I share Dan's interest in improving the quality of divers and training overall and this is the reason we are running this course. I just wish I could devote the time and effort he does to actually producing the quality divers I am fortunate enough to team up with when I dive in Kingston with GLUE.
This course has been in the production for the last two years, ever since we discussed it on the return trip from my Cave I course. It has nothing to do with any accident. Obviously since I work for Kanata, I'm not going to plan a course to run out of Sharkeys (no offence meant here Mike). Another point the shortsighted out there may have missed is that most of the other shops in Ottawa have already chosen to affiliate themselves with one of the mainstream technical agencies. It's easier to develop quality divers from specimens who are not already tainted by the propoganda and poor quality skills these agencies are pushing.
At the end of the day, I do agree that it is the instructor that makes the difference in any training situation. I learned this fisthand in the military and the lesson repeats itself often in the dive community. Fortunately, GUE is able to weed out those without the dedication or skill to instruct properly through the most rigerous set of skill requirements that the dive industry has yet seen. By keeping their instructor cadre small (37 worldwide), they are able to control what is taught and make sure everyone is teaching the real DIR, not some close enough version.
I'd encourage all divers to improve their skill set, however, as "The Tick" mentioned, you get what you pay for.
If you boys want to flame me for this, line up, but make sure you're willing to put your name on it so we can all play on the same field, otherwise don't waste my time.
Kevin Ripley