DIRF class in Indy May 2-4

[jbr1026]

I just wanted to let all of you know that we will be holding another DIR fundamentals course in Indianapolis, IN. May 2-4. This class will be taught by Mike Kane and Andrew Georgitsis. Andrew is the Training Director for GUE and Mike has traveled around the country teaching DIRF classes and doing DIR demos. If you would like more imformation on this class please feel free to e-mail me.

jayroney@hotmail.com

Jay

[diveski01]

DIRF class Indianapolis May 2-4, 2003
We have just gotten the DIRF class booked and we are set for May 2-4, 2003. Instructors will be Michael Kane (MHK) and Andrew Georgitsis and possibly also Sonya Tittle. There are currently 3 places remaining in this class.

If you have any questions or to register for this class, please e-mail Jay Roney at:

jayroney@hotmail.com

Classroom lectures and post-dive debriefings will be held on the northeast side of Indianapolis (tbd) and all dives will be conducted at Blue Springs Park near Waldron, IN (about 45 min. drive from NE Indy).

The class will cost $330.00 per person. This does not include "The
Fundamentals of Diving" book, entry fees to Blue Springs, or any gear that you need.

A deposit of $200 is due immediately to reserve your place in this class.

If you need the book Jay Roney can order them for you or you can go to www.gue.com and order your own. The book costs $24 on the website and is required reading.

The class will consist of classroom lectures, land drills, 4 open
water dives, maybe 1 pool session, and video debriefs of all dives.
* Friday we will start at 4 pm SHARP to around 11 pm.
* Saturday will be from 8 am to 11 pm.
* Sunday will be from 8 am to 5 pm.
(Don't worry we will stop to eat lunch and dinner!)

Equipment requirements are listed below:
· Single or double cylinders (dual cylinders must have a dual outlet isolator manifold with two first stages).
· 2 secondary Regulators one of which must be on a 5 foot-7 foot
hose.
. One hose must supply a SPG and another a dry suit (if wearing one).
· Backplate and harness or BCD (note a back plate and harness is
recommended and will make your learning experience more enjoyable.)
· Depth gauge (wrist mounted is recommended. Try to avoid having or using a console type gauge cluster)
· Wet notes (a water proof note book to write down rock bottoms and tank factors...you'll learn these terms later.)
· Spool with at least 100 ft of line

If you need any gear I may be able to make rental arrangements for you. Again if you do not have any of these items DO NOT RUN OUT AND BUY THEM - you may not know what to look for yet (especially if you are looking for a back plate and harness).

I recommend that you do not make ANY other plans that weekend. Missing any part of the class will make it difficult for you to catch up and may negatively affect the experience for the others in the class.

This class is fast pace because they want to give you a lot of tools in a short period of time. Regardless of your current level of experience, much can be gained from this course.

[MikeFerrara]

Haven't I seen that post somewhere before?

[jbr1026]

We have decided to hold this DIRF class at Gilboa. To make it possible for others around the area to join in. Take care


Jay

[wb416]

Anyone have a list of the DIR-F classes taking place in the Midwest this year? Seems to me there were four last year (Gilboa-3; Indy -1), but they've exponentiated a bit.

[MikeFerrara]

cwb once bubbled...
Anyone have a list of the DIR-F classes taking place in the Midwest this year? Seems to me there were four last year (Gilboa-3; Indy -1), but they've exponentiated a bit.

We're doing three if we can fill them.

[wb416]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...


We're doing three if we can fill them.

Care to (re)supply details like lecture/dive location, dates, instructor(s)?

If you can fill them? Some of the other's I've seen seem to have a large measure of local recruitment (non-internet dive buddies, etc), and then stragglers like myself round out the group.

[MikeFerrara]

cwb once bubbled...


Care to (re)supply details like lecture/dive location, dates, instructor(s)?

If you can fill them? Some of the other's I've seen seem to have a large measure of local recruitment (non-internet dive buddies, etc), and then stragglers like myself round out the group.

Details can be found Here (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=21497&highlight=Mikes+DIRF+schedule) And of course you cam PM me with other questions.

I'm not having much luck selling the class to the locals.

[wb416]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...


Details can be found Here (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=21497&highlight=Mikes+DIRF+schedule) And of course you cam PM me with other questions.

I'm not having much luck selling the class to the locals.

Maybe you should "require" your DM's and instructor's to take it. :D

Did you decide on which quarry? and are the lectures going to be in the same location?

[MikeFerrara]

cwb once bubbled...


Maybe you should "require" your DM's and instructor's to take it. :D

Did you decide on which quarry? and are the lectures going to be in the same location?

We'll do the classes at Gilboa UNLESS we should get a bunch of students that are closer to Haigh or something. We'll do the lecture at Gilboa also.

There are a couple problems with requireing my DM's to take the class. First it's hard to get DM (good ones) at all. All my DM's are cave and trimix trained and aren't exactly slouches in the water. Of course we can all get better and I would like them to take it. I'm just not sure I can require it especially with what I pay them. I of course plan to participate in one or more of the classes.

[jbr1026]

Mike,

You mentioned that you had 3 fundamentals classes booked and are having a hard time filling them up. 3 booked classes in a short period of time is rather aggressive. If I can offer my opinion what worked well for us down here in Indy was to get six spots filled. We were very lucky because those filled quickly and the class grew from 6 to 12. We ended up having three instructors teach it. I would try to get one of your classes full then those people that take the class will talk about how much the learned and other divers will see them in the water and begin to ask questions. You will then be able to fill later fundamental classes up quickly. Is there a market for that many in a short period of time? If you can get your DMs in the class after your students see them in the water they will want to emulate them. I know they are all accomplished divers from the sounds of it, but once you see yourself on video there can always be improvement. Again this is just my opinion.

Jay

[Dan Gibson]

I would just highly recommend they take it. It really doesn't matter how good the diver is (or thinks they are), they will get something out of the class. Most people I know say it's the best $300 they ever spent in diving.

When I first took the class, the sponsor was a Cave 2 diver. He is now doing support dives for the WKPP. He definately got something out of the class and was no slouch at the time. Two others in that class were at the Fundamentals ITC/IE in January. It was impressive to see how far they came in one year. Just listening to these instructors is very beneficial.

Jay has implemented much of what is taught here into his OW classes while still meeting PADI requirments. I would think that you will definately walk away with some good ideas. I know it has helped in recent classes.

We actually had a lady who was certified sit in and watch her husband get certified. She was floored by what she saw. It didn't look like anything she had gone through. After the second night in the pool, she insisted that they were far better divers than what she experienced in her class. There was nothing special about these guys, they just didn't learn bad habits from the start.

Another of Jay's student went on a trip recently for his referral dives. He had all DIR gear setup. He was warned that he may encounter some resistance. Nothing could be futher from the truth when he did the dives. No one believed that these were his checkout dives. He absolutley blew these guys away.

The best part is that when all your help look good in the water in front of students, sales go up.

Dan




MikeFerrara once bubbled...

There are a couple problems with requireing my DM's to take the class. First it's hard to get DM (good ones) at all. All my DM's are cave and trimix trained and aren't exactly slouches in the water. Of course we can all get better and I would like them to take it. I'm just not sure I can require it especially with what I pay them. I of course plan to participate in one or more of the classes.

[diveski01]

cwb once bubbled...
Anyone have a list of the DIR-F classes taking place in the Midwest this year? Seems to me there were four last year (Gilboa-3; Indy -1), but they've exponentiated a bit.

So far I'm counting between 10-13 classes in our region between now and end of July!:wacko:

Here's what I've compiled from the various sources:

Date location fifthd gue instructor(s)
25-Apr brighton, mi yes yes KANE
02-May gilboa, oh no yes GEORGITSIS, KANE, TITTLE
09-May atlanta, ga no yes KANE, TITTLE
09-May cincinatti, oh no no MACKAY
16-May minneapolis, mn yes yes KANE, TITTLE
30-May grand rapids, mi yes yes GEORGITSIS, KANE
02-Jun rutherford co., tn yes yes KANE, TITTLE
06-Jun milwaukee, wi yes yes KANE
13-Jun lagrange, ky yes no KANE
25-Jul kankakee, il yes yes KANE

There are 3 additional classes being scheduled by Mike Ferrara, but I don't have that info. He posted a link previously in this thread.

(Sorry, this thing doesn't like to keep any of my attempts at properly aligning the columns.)