Observed an OW class yesterday

[ScubaWithTurk]

You know what, let's just go with sawdust and planks....

I don't think that would be accurate. If you look at all her posts, she is very critical of herself and her diving. As I think any new diver should be as we have a lot to learn and not being honest with yourself could lead to injury or worse. So the sawdust and planks isn't very accurate.

From my perspective, she saw her first OW class that did not involve her LDS and she saw big differences in how they were being trained and how she was trained. She posted about it here where we all post about experiences and comment on them.

It was a very general observation and one that has led to some great discussions on danglies (I can't type that without laughing) and training.

What I took away from the OP is she was shocked to see that and by posting it here she was looking to see if others had seen new divers in a class looking like they had no idea what they were doing. Pretty benign IMO but we all see things differently which is why I love posting here.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I remember myself as a new diver. I was a mess. It took nearly 100 dives for me to get the confidence to mask clear. On my early dives I hated if the instructor stopped to show us something because I was all over the place. Bicycle kicking, corking to the surface. You name it I was probably guilty of it. Things hanging and dragging was the least of my faux pars.

I applaud @Marie13 for speaking up. I happen to know how much effort she has put in to improve herself, how much advice she sought privately both online and to he instructors and mentors to better herself. She knows her issues and will overcome them - it just needs a bit of practice.

I'd be more than happy to dive with Marie - except she has an affinity to liking cold water so is clearly completely mad, but apart from that...

 

[Joneill]

It was a very general observation and one that has led to some great discussions on danglies (I can't type that without laughing) and training.

Agreed, though it seems like some of the danglie discussions got caught in something and yanked off... er... I mean ...out of the thread.

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

Agreed, though it seems like some of the danglie discussions got caught in something and yanked off... er... I mean ...out of the thread.

Well played!!

 

[KevinNM]

1. I compares a GUE Fundamentals class (which was designed to prepare experienced divers for the rigors of cave diving training) with an introductory OW class.

The comparable course to OW is REC 1. It's a (iirc) typically 6 full days with 14 dives course. It's a lot more intense than a PADI/Etc OW course. I have no idea how it works in practice, it's not taught often in the US.

 

[KevinNM]

From everything I've heard about GUE Fundamentals it was originally designed as a gatekeeper course for screening those who want to go into tech and cave later. The low pass rate in that case is a feature not a bug.

Before my time, but I was told that originally it was a suggested course to reduce the high failure rate in the tech classes due to unprepared students. When students kept skipping it and showing up unprepared it became mandatory.

 

[RainPilot]

Before my time, but I was told that originally it was a suggested course to reduce the high failure rate in the tech classes due to unprepared students. When students kept skipping it and showing up unprepared it became mandatory.

That seems about right. I suspect that there are some instructors who may be acting as if it's a gatekeeper course nowadays, from all the course reports I've read on here.

 

[Lorenzoid]

That seems about right. I suspect that there are some instructors who may be acting as if it's a gatekeeper course nowadays, from all the course reports I've read on here.

Keep in mind that most of those reports were written before GUE broke Fundies into Fundies Part 1 and Fundies Part 2.

 

[Bubblesong]

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

"Judge me" I'm begging my friends!
In case I forget my loose ends!
Save me and the sea
From gear that got free
The "Attack" that truly "Defends"

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Keep in mind that most of those reports were written before GUE broke Fundies into Fundies Part 1 and Fundies Part 2.

Part 1 and part 2? Do you mean recreational and technical passes?