Gue Fundies Vs Rec-1

[chadmeister]

Hello Y'all!

I was looking into doing a Fundies course to get my diving up to par since it seems everyone everywhere has the same opinion: it is a kick-ass course that helps in many ways. I contacted both the dive instructors available in my country and it seems they both have the same opinion, they prefer I get my # of dives up (which I agree with, but I was with the mentality that I prefer to know more when I do hehe). Since I do not have "normal" weekends, I do not fit both their schedules either. So I guess I'm back to the waiting game for now.

While I wait...

One of them made the suggestion of doing a Rec-1 course instead of the Fundies. That way he can work with me 1on1 and I get more "water/dive" time than a Fundies course. BUT the price is higher (around 200$ more) AND the # of days needed are longer (2 extra days)...

So, here's my question: what would you do?

Some reference: I desperately need help with my bouyancy, kicks, breathing to start. I know for a novice I shouldn't worry too much and enjoy under water time, but due to a bad last dive (blew through my air extremely fast in cold water, my first time in: cold water, nitrox, and a semi drysuit in a wavey ocean...) I really need to work on those issues...

Thanks!

p.s. if ever you decide to learn how to dive in the UAE, please send me a private msg first and I'll tell you who NOT to go with... It's partly why I am in this mess of trying to get my posture underwater fixed...

 

[tbone1004]

could you ask the GUE instructors to give you a 1-on-1 mentor type thing. do a day or two here and there to get your fundamentals up to the point that you would be comfortable doing fundies?

 

[chadmeister]

I haven't asked that of them yet... Mostly since our schedules are quite different. Due to my profession (retail) I have quite the hectic and unstable schedule.

 

[tbone1004]

may be the best way to do it, just get them for single day intense training sessions. Most of the technical instructors here charge $200/day and since you only need to be in a pool, it shouldn't be that hard to get a day at a time until you are ready for fundies.

 

[elgoog]

I desperately need help with my bouyancy, kicks, breathing to start. I know for a novice I shouldn't worry too much and enjoy under water time, but due to a bad last dive (blew through my air extremely fast in cold water, my first time in: cold water, nitrox, and a semi drysuit in a wavey ocean...) I really need to work on those issues...

I'd recommend Fundies 1 (used to be called Primer) - my wife and I did it with about 25 dives each and it was great. It focuses on exactly the stuff you mentioned you need help with and keeps task loading to a minimum. It's a couple of days shorter than the regular Fundies class, cheaper and once you have more experience dives, you can move forward with part 2 where they cover the skills that require good buoyancy control (SMB shoot, air share ascent, etc).
If you do Rec 1 now and want to proceed in the GUE course ladder, you'll have to do Fundies anyway.

 

[rivers]

I'd recommend Fundies 1 (used to be called Primer) - my wife and I did it with about 25 dives each and it was great. It focuses on exactly the stuff you mentioned you need help with and keeps task loading to a minimum. It's a couple of days shorter than the regular Fundies class, cheaper and once you have more experience dives, you can move forward with part 2 where they cover the skills that require good buoyancy control (SMB shoot, air share ascent, etc).
If you do Rec 1 now and want to proceed in the GUE course ladder, you'll have to do Fundies anyway.

I think if you do the entire rec program (1,2,3), you can get a tech pass endorsement from rec 3. There are more skills introduced on rec 3 than is included in fundies (plus all of the skills from fundies), so if you do those at tech pass standard, I don't see why you wouldn't get a tech endorsement.

 

[KevinNM]

I'm not sure about how a rec1 graduate is treated formally, but I know of GUE instructors who are willing to take a Rec1 grad and work with them on a tech upgrade if their skills are good enough to meet the standards.

 

[PfcAJ]

Take fundamentals.

 

[Lorenzoid]

As I understand it, Rec 1 assumes the student has no prior knowledge of diving. You are already certified, though it seems your instruction may have been lax. But you know the rudiments of scuba diving--you don't need to sit through that again. Fundies is exactly what you need. And as @elgoog points out, Fundies 1 is the first step. "Buoyancy, kicks, ..." are what Fundies focuses on. Sign up for the course. In the meantime, maybe do a few more dives that aren't too challenging. I liked tbone's suggestion of hiring an instructor for a one-on-one session, but now that I think about it, I don't believe that should be necessary.

 

[chadmeister]

Thank you all for the advice Now it's all about making our schedules meet!

And yes @Lorenzoid i think doing a few more diving would be a good idea. It just seems Murphy is keep me away from that hehe every time I'm off, the sea is angry lol