GUE Fundamental course

[rjack321]

Drysuit.

I don't maintain a consistent weight very well and might be anywhere between 165 and 180 during the dive year. It takes time for me to rebalance the rig overall and feel comfortable when I have a big fluctuation.

ok well you have redundant buoyancy right there. You dont need 3 sources of buoyancy.

Your weight has noting to do with whether your rig is or isn't "balanced", but Mer can work with you on that.

 

[lowviz]

Your weight has noting to do with whether your rig is or isn't "balanced",

??? Bone, muscle, and bioprene don't ebb and flow in a constant ratio...

 

[rjack321]

??? Bone, muscle, and bioprene don't ebb and flow in a constant ratio...

Balance rig is all about being able to swim up or otherwise exit with your gear (from the bottom, with maximum - if any suit compression) in the event of a buoyancy failure. Getting a little chunkier in the winter by 15lbs isnt really relevant.

 

[lowviz]

As this is in 'Advanced' (not GUE) I feel OK with responding. It has been well established over the years that I'm "DIR Friendly". I like almost everything that you guys and gals do, just short of that damn buddy thing that you all have wrapped around your axles. 15# of bioprene IS relevant, IMHO.

Please, post GUE's formal definition of a "Balanced Rig". I've heard many descriptions of the same thing over the years.

Neutral at 500? Able to easily drop weight and swim up your rig if you splash with a full tank and can't get breathing gas? Able to ditch your rig and do a controlled ascent?

This post is not in the least bit baiting, but very curious...

EDIT:

I don't blind-side anyone, this is what I currently have in mind:

(X-Ray Mag)

"HP: How did the Hogarthian equipment configuration come about?

BM: John Zumrick invented the term "Hogarthian". It really started as a joke. I have always been stuck with that middle name, and then Gavin started using the term. We started minimalising—stripping out anything that we did not need. Every time I saw something good—as long as it meshed with the system—I would adopt it. I was one of the first to use the Goodman handle, putting the backup lights under the arms—lots of little things, most of them invented by other people.

HP: What do people fail to understand about diving “Hogarthian” and how does it differ from what people would consider to be a DIR (Doing It Right) equipment configuration?

BM: It is mainly being streamlined—if you don’t need it, don’t take it. I was glad that they changed the name to DIR because there are some differences that I still don’t agree with, like having the wing inflate on the right post. I always have mine on the left, so that if the post rolls off, I'd know, because the inflate stops working. Speed is a big part of the equation for me. I have to limit my dives. I can’t stay in the water for 10 to 15 hours in a wetsuit. Also, sometimes “Chicken Little” comes calling and says, “The sky is falling down,” and you just got to get out of the cave quickly.

 

[rjack321]

Its covered in Fundamentals (and should be in other Intro to Tech courses but I'm guessing it isnt). TS&M has the most concise definition - and its not unique to GUE.

Properly Weighted Vs. Balanced Rig

 

[1atm]

Please, post GUE's formal definition of a "Balanced Rig". I've heard many descriptions of the same thing over the years.

Not sure this is the textbook definition, but I recall two things:

• Be able to swim it up from depth without ditching weights with full tanks (= beginning of the dive) in the case of a failed wing (=BC)
• Be able to comfortably hold a stop with near empty tanks (= end of the dive) at 3m/10ft

 

[1atm]

Did a search but everything is pretty old. I'm looking for some recent experience with the GUE Fundamentals course. I am a PADI Rescue, EAN, etc. but really would like to hear about this class to improve my diving and learn a lot.
What exactly is the course like? How is the best way to choose and instructor/location? Any help is appreciated and I'm looking to take it next summer.
Thanks for the help.

Bringing this a bit more back OT ... you’ll find lots of reports in the “Technical” forum and in its “DIR” sub-forum. To be able to access the latter, you need to go to your profile and check the box “DIR practitioner” (or something like that). Some links for you:

Signed up for Fundamentals

The road to a GUE Fundamentals Tec Pass

Fundamentals – Back to Basics - [My UK course report]

GUE Fundamentals Class

DIR- Generic - Completed GUE Fundies Provisional

DIR Class Reports - A Consolidated Inventory?

 

[lowviz]

@1atm, I'm not a DIR Practitioner and won't pass myself off as one. So I won't be rooting around in your attic. But thanks, others may find your links most useful...

@rjack321, I half-remembered that Lynne cleared that up but couldn't come up with the keywords for a decent search into yesteryear. Sincere thanks!

 

[Esprise Me]

Be able to swim it up from depth without ditching weights

Wait, really? I thought if you could swim it up after ditching your ditchable weight you were good; if you couldn't, you needed to reconfigure until enough of your weight was ditchable. So maybe a steel backplate, weighted STA, and steel tank would be OK (I still need 4 lbs. of lead on top of all that), but in switching to doubles you might need to rethink the backplate material or consider aluminum tanks. Am I mistaken?

 

[lowviz]

Wait, really? I thought if you could swim it up after ditching your ditchable weight you were good; if you couldn't, you needed to reconfigure until enough of your weight was ditchable.

Am I mistaken?

Any of the dive Gods could swim up an anvil. Me? Not so much.

So the tired, worn, scuba answer remains: It depends. (Do what works for you IRL and under stress.)