Yes yes I know this is quite the topic to start my SB career off with
And I do realize this has been asked before, but I haven't found a topic that answers a couple very specific questions I have.
I am interested in taking a Fundies course sometime this year and have read the supplementary materials I found online. The reason I want to take the GUE course is to sharpen my skills and overall become a much safer and more structured diver. I am familiar with the DIR philosophy, and I love its holistic approach. Perhaps it is because I am currently in USAF pilot training, but I find myself seeking more and more a structured and stringent approach to how I dive and how I live to dive. Also, equipment is not a problem. Anybody who is familiar with the military might know that single lieutenants stuck on a training base all week have a need for ways to spend their money! If anything, altering my existing gear with the necessary equipment to meet the course requirements will provide me with spares to loan to dive buddies.
That, however, brings me to my first concern. I know that a Fundies course can benefit anyone, whether they stay with GUE or choose not to adopt the DIR philosophy. Let's ignore that for a second though and assume that I drink the koolaid
Being in the Air Force, I have to take what I can get as far as opportunities to dive goes. Should I be concerned about taking a DIR based course when I will rarely be diving with DIR divers?
Here is my second main concern. While I hope to have more opportunities to dive once I graduate pilot training, the occasions will still be sporadic at best, perhaps every one or two months. I worry that I will take this great course and become a much better diver for it, but then those skills will rust away due to my inability to dive at the pace I was able to last summer (3 to 5 times per week). Also, I heard in a video that there is a requirement to show proof of continuing maintenance of these skills. Is this true?
Thanks for your patience, everyone! I hope some of you diving gurus can offer me some advice.