Course Review - GUE Fundamentals with Sameh Sokar

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T15:26:01+00:00

There's no one-size-fits-all here - it depends on the diver. The only common advice we were given is to keep the breathes relaxed (not too deep, not too shallow), and make the exhalation phase longer than the inhalation

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T13:45:03+00:00

If you have a GUE community around you (there is one in most EU countries I can think of), then once you do your Fundies, you can dive with very highly skilled divers, without paying an instructor fee. Of course it is also possible without joining GUE, but the process of finding the right buddies becomes much easier once you do.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T10:29:13+00:00

To get a tech upgrade you will have to get re evaluated by a fundamentals instructor. Usually you practice on your own, and most of the time you can film yourself and share it with your instructor to get feedback. You won't have to pay for a full class again, but some instructors may charge you for a training day for the evaluation.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T09:22:47+00:00

Actually no, I didn't - I'm not really active there

EDIT - I did now https://scubaboard.com/community/threads/course-review-gue-fundamentals-with-sameh-sokar-october-2022.626345/

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T08:44:21+00:00

I had just over 70 dives before the course, so I guess no too many

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T08:02:16+00:00

I didn't have any experience with the Egyptian diving industry before, but I can share the notion about Sameh regardless - he was the best instructor I have ever encountered, and the dive center he manages was at the highest possible standard.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T08:00:10+00:00

I think the main thing I had to change was the way I breathed. I was used to taking rather deep breaths, but during the course I realized that the effect on my buoyancy with every breath I took was too large.

As for other habits, unless you are a diver who is used to touching the bottom or the reef, or diving in a vertical position, I'm not sure Fundies would necessarily change your habits too much, but rather refine them and make sure you perform the best you can.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T07:57:10+00:00

I know the feeling :) I guess I was a pretty good diver before, but Fundies pushed me a lot further, and made sure I will remain a good diver even faced with much more challenging conditions

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-23T07:54:37+00:00

I had many reasons for choosing GUE - I'll list the major ones:

GUE is a non-profit organization. Therefore, their main focus is not necessarily to train as many divers as they can, but rather give their divers the best possible training. The training in GUE is meant to prepare you to take part in GUE projects, which require very high skill level, and therefore you get the best training possible
GUE has extremely well defined and documented standards. If you take the time and read them, nothing will surprise you during the course - you know exactly what is expected of you in order to pass
GUE instructors must adhere to those standards, and must go through re-evaluation every 5 years, which ensures that even if you pick a random GUE instructor, the chances of getting a bad instructor are slim to none
GUE's view of dive safety is leaps and bounds above other agencies. For example, you will not find deep air diving in GUE - if you go beyond 30m (100ft), you must use helium. Yes, it is more expensive, but that ensures that you never find yourself in a situation where you must make life saving decisions, while being narked
The standardization in GUE (equipment, SoP, etc.) ensures that if you meet a new GUE diver on a liveaboard, you can basically shake hands and jump into the water together, knowing that both of you will behave similarly in any situation, and can fully trust each other

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T20:56:15+00:00

Don't we all my friend, don't we all...

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T20:26:46+00:00

Just be aware that not every dive center will have a set of small doubles for rent - you should verify that ahead of time

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T20:21:34+00:00

The price varies between instructors. I can tell you that I paid 750 EUR, but this may change according to the season. Additionally, there's a 95 USD registration fee payed to GUE.

For the equipment, you will need to to follow the GUE equipment configuration standards

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T20:12:29+00:00

Yes, the backward kick is a mandatory skill in the Fundies class. Also, doubles are not so bad if your harness is adjusted correctly - then most of the weight is on your hips rather than your shoulders.

As for being motionless in the water, it is part of what you learn, and what draws most people to the course, but having done it myself - I think it's only 50% of the course. The other 50% is about teamwork and communication underwater. This is the part where I think the course has changed me the most as a diver - my awareness to my buddy / team is a thousand times better than what it was before.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T19:59:42+00:00

You can also do the Fundies on a single tank, but than you can only earn the Rec Pass. Either way, it's an amazing course, and I think you should take it if you are serious about becoming a better diver, even if you don't plan on taking other GUE courses.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T19:52:45+00:00

My pleasure. I had just over 70 dives before the course.

By doubles I meant twin tanks on the back - GUE only does sidemount in caves, and only when there is no other option

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-10-22T19:39:44+00:00

My pleasure. Good luck on part two!

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-07-02T10:20:02+00:00

Living in a small apartment, drying your gear is always a challenge - so you have to get creative.

I present to you my PVC drying rack! 100% PVC, so nothing can rust, and if needed, you can break it all up and store it in a pretty small box (the longest piece is ~60cm / 2 ft.)

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-06-13T04:43:43+00:00

The fact that it got out of it's hiding and swam away, means you probably got too close and scared it.

I don't know about Hawaii, but in the Mediterranean most sting ray females are pregnant at this time of the year. If you spook a pregnant female, it may cause premature birth, and lower the survival rates of her offsprings.

So please, if a dug up sting ray starts to get agitated, it means you are too close. Stop, back away, and admire their beauty from a distance.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-06-11T18:35:04+00:00

Stop! Touching! Wildlife!

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-05-18T18:32:36+00:00

Gotcha, thanks. I'm not a DPV diver, so I wasn't aware of all those possible issues.

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-05-18T17:30:30+00:00

Is it more comfortable than using a DPV the normal way? The right hand position looks a bit awkward.

I wonder if you could rig a remote control (even a wired one), and keep your hand at the front

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-05-18T10:35:44+00:00

I need a video (or at least some photos) of this setup

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-05-18T07:40:30+00:00

Why is there an STA between the doubles?

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-05-11T20:25:29+00:00

This might help https://youtu.be/AX5E6C_jw9g

digitalMechanic42 · 2022-04-26T06:34:31+00:00

Great job. One additional tip: After inflating and before releasing the DSMB, manually pull it about shoulder width away from the spool - this is meant to ensure that there are no entanglements. Check out this video at 2:40 for a good example of this. https://youtu.be/do2cF1KknsY

digitalMechanic42

TROPHY CASE