After spending many hours with the "philosopher" of GUE and DIR, and discussing said organization, "enlightenment" in understanding GUE and their direction has been attained (instead of personal opinion). The path to understanding GUE has been difficult, with many hours spent around instructors, members, and heads of the organization.
You guys from the PNW have made some valid points that are backed by GUE. You all don't have anyone else that is doing any form of deeper stuff in your viscinity (safely) that gets publicity. The training is earth-shattering compared to how you guys were taught, which explains a lot of why you are such fervert practicioners and advocates for DIR. This was not clear to me while diving there as I was based in Florida overhead diving practices. While discussing Alaska (and other PNW) diving with one of the top guys, he informed me why the PNW was such a great target and Georgitsis was developing a following in the area. The other key areas to target are mostly hotspots for wreck diving (and Europe).
What it boils down to is making people feel they are part of something bigger and giving them someone to follow. Most people need someone to guide them, and GUE is doing a great job of capitalizing by giving the gung ho divers some gung ho figures to sit around and discuss any time they can't get to the water and act like they were doing the dives the other figures are doing regularly.
GUE is also training the next set of "support" divers, volunteers who will give their time and money to allow a few people to accomplish their dreams. This is a win-win situation because the support guys get to provide assistance to the "big guys" and be a part of a team that breaks world records. The "big guys" get elevated to supreme status due to this following, and they deserve every bit of it.
GUE and DIR is Platonic in basis. There are 3 classes of people: leaders, followers, and guardians. Students make up the followers, the Guardians are the instructors, and the leaders offer tidbits of wisdom and do big "fun" stuff. The wise followers may be elevated to Guardian status with hard work and diligence. The Guardian may be elevated to leader through wisdom. For the good of the organization, the followers can be taught, but their learning must be limited so they don't rise out of ranks and overthrow the leaders.
I am so happy that I finally understand the philosophy of an organization that does such wonderful stuff. I enjoyed what I have learned from the GUE guys, but it is very limited in it's nature.
Cheers,
DIR on request, but only on request.
You guys from the PNW have made some valid points that are backed by GUE. You all don't have anyone else that is doing any form of deeper stuff in your viscinity (safely) that gets publicity. The training is earth-shattering compared to how you guys were taught, which explains a lot of why you are such fervert practicioners and advocates for DIR. This was not clear to me while diving there as I was based in Florida overhead diving practices. While discussing Alaska (and other PNW) diving with one of the top guys, he informed me why the PNW was such a great target and Georgitsis was developing a following in the area. The other key areas to target are mostly hotspots for wreck diving (and Europe).
What it boils down to is making people feel they are part of something bigger and giving them someone to follow. Most people need someone to guide them, and GUE is doing a great job of capitalizing by giving the gung ho divers some gung ho figures to sit around and discuss any time they can't get to the water and act like they were doing the dives the other figures are doing regularly.
GUE is also training the next set of "support" divers, volunteers who will give their time and money to allow a few people to accomplish their dreams. This is a win-win situation because the support guys get to provide assistance to the "big guys" and be a part of a team that breaks world records. The "big guys" get elevated to supreme status due to this following, and they deserve every bit of it.
GUE and DIR is Platonic in basis. There are 3 classes of people: leaders, followers, and guardians. Students make up the followers, the Guardians are the instructors, and the leaders offer tidbits of wisdom and do big "fun" stuff. The wise followers may be elevated to Guardian status with hard work and diligence. The Guardian may be elevated to leader through wisdom. For the good of the organization, the followers can be taught, but their learning must be limited so they don't rise out of ranks and overthrow the leaders.
I am so happy that I finally understand the philosophy of an organization that does such wonderful stuff. I enjoyed what I have learned from the GUE guys, but it is very limited in it's nature.
Cheers,
DIR on request, but only on request.