Dan MacKay once bubbled...
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As for Doppler's course I (and I have to agree with the Tick) applaud his efforts. I know Doppler and while we are not bosom buddies we have shared some thoughts over coffee and the phone upon occasion. As well as I have not seen the content of his course or how it was presented then I really do not have any opinion other than if I ever have the opportunity I am sure that Doppler would have no quams in letting me audit his course and then I might have an opinion.
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Doppler keep up the good work at least one TDI instructor in the world is trying to make a difference.
Safe dives,
Dan
Couple of things might be worth while mentioning here...
First of all, I am on record -- on this board -- endorsing the DIRf course and Dan as an instructor... they are both good items. I'm not sure why that might surprise anyone, but in case it does, let me explain.
Look, Dan and I are competitors. He and I are both going after the same dollar -- and that would be the same even if we both taught for the same agency -- however, he and I share similar attitudes towards that competition... not the only attitude we share by the way. Neither Dan nor I believe in negative marketing or feel that it's necessary to engage in pissing contests to win business. Frankly, I would rather loose business to Dan than to several instructors currently teaching in the Lake Ontario / St. Lawrence corridor because the outcome will be a well-trained diver. I think he feels the same way about me...
For the record, I think the GUE program is extremely well thought out. There are a couple of things from the standpoint of business that trouble me, but this is not the forum to discuss business issues like branding, management structure, corporate philosophy, and logistics.
I have never taken a GUE class, but JJ was my cave instructor and during that time together and several chance meetings afterwards, he impressed me greatly. And of course I am very aware of the DIRf course. It "sounded" like JJ to me. It's a great idea... and was ahead of its time.
Now about my Basic Techniques and Essential Skills course specifically. It is a course about diving... like all other course about diving, it has a beginning, a middle and an end. I didn't invent that... maybe the YMCA did in the late 50s.
Calling it a DIRf knock-off is -- in my opinion -- an insult. Knock-off indicates a cheap, diluted copy. It's not a copy, nothing is diluted and it's not cheap. However, the basic idea is the same and intended outcome is similar. It has to be... it's teaching things that divers need to do. Let's get the facts right here... neither JJ nor GUE invented frog kicks, helicopter turns, trim, buoyancy, streamlined gear configuration, team-based dive planning and execution, on-the-fly decompression planning, gas management, the long hose, a simple webbing harness or video feedback as a training tool.
I've gone about structuring the course and working out its delivery in a way that makes sense to me and make sense for safety, enjoyment, marketing, business, et al. and as such I stand by it as a worthwhile and meaningful addition to the diving community.
Dan, you know you're welcome to audit the class, fieldwork and inwater program of my Basic Techniques and Essential Skills program anytime you want, and I apologize for not posting a link to the course outline, but it did not and still does not seem appropriate to do so here. If anyone wants it, please PM me with an outside email address. It will also be available on my website (just as soon as I get around to putting in the link!)
Steve