GUE Fundamentals, Price - Free, costs only (see below)

The GUE Fundamentals course is the base course for the experienced diver to gain all the fundamental skills and abilities needed to either just be more comfortable in the water or to perhaps progress their diving further down either technical or cave diving routes. As a stand alone course it can also be used by any diver to increase their in water skills and ability beyond that of most of other people.

It can be taken in either a single or twinset rig, and there are some specific equipment requirements (such as a wing or hard bladed fins) to ensure that you get the most from your course without your equipment making things more difficult for you.

It is a hard course which gives immense satisfaction to those that complete it.

The GUE Fundamentals course at Aquanauts is taught by Brian Allen. A GUE Instructor that has been diving since age 8, who qualified with GUE in 2005 and has been diving that way ever since.

Duration:

This class is normally conducted over 4 days, which will typically start at 9am and end approximately 6pm, although if students require additional tuition and practice may sometimes finish later.

Location:

Aquanauts is a unique location to do your GUE course as we have access to a local Inland Quarry dive site, excellent shore diving sites, our own swimming pool, classroom and our own hard boat. We can teach this course in calm environments no matter the weather conditions, making our location in Plymouth one of the most perfect places in the UK for students to gain experience in a wide range of environments. If the weather permits we typically finish the course on one of Plymouth's excellent wrecks such as Scylla or the James Eagan Layne.

Cost:

There are some additional costs to consider and we make these clear upfront.

• Membership of GUE click here to join electronic membership is 39$
• Course enrollment fee currently 95$
• Cost of course staff (video diver and shore marshall) c.£100 per day split by attendees.
  
• 32% Nitrox fills (£7 singles, £14 doubles)
• Last day boat fee £40
• Accommodation if needed
  
• Shore dive sites are free but if there is bad weather quarry use is £25 per day
• The fundamentals of better diving book by Jarrod Jablonski

Total for team of 2 would be c. £325 each + accommodation, team of 3 c. £285 + accom, team of 4 c.£250 + accom

Prerequisites:

Minimum age 16

Certification as at least Open Water or equivalent

Must be able to swim 15m on a breath hold and complete a normal 275m swim in under 14 minutes.

A complete single or double rig including a backplate, one piece harness, regs with hoses of suitable length including a "7 foot" long hose. Wetnotes, a harness mounted knife, SMB, spool and stiff bladed fins, preferably a Jet fin, Turtle fin or equivalent. Those looking for a technical pass must also have a canister light, and 2 harness mounted backups. If unsure if your equipment is suitable please contact the dive centre. A complete list can be found in the GUE Standards

Course content:

The GUE Fundies course focuses on improving a divers capacity in increasingly more task loaded conditions. By focusing on your core ability to hold buoyancy, trim, and position, while performing normally required safe dive skills, we move the your base skills to becoming naturally held so that you no longer need to think about them. Once you naturally keep in trim, positioned well relative your dive buddies and environment and with perfect buoyancy you find that you have an increased ability  to deal with problems, a greater awareness of your surroundings, and that you are free to have fun on dive.

The course level is adjusted to the ability of the diver and we can accommodate most levels. If you attend the course looking for a technical pass we coach you to that level offering advice that can be as detailed as 5 degree change in a fin angle in order to obtain a more effective back kick. If looking for a recreational level pass we will get your buoyancy control to within 1.5m with no worse than 30 degree trim no matter what problem you are dealing with.

Group size:

The typical Fundamentals group size is 3, although we can accommodate 2-4 divers in a group

Video feedback:

All in water dives of courses are recorded using a HD video camera. This allows us to brief divers in full after dives, and enables you to see precisely what you may need to concentrate on in order to achieve the grade you are looking for. We also coach each diver on exactly what they will need to do to be better at each skill and at all points in the course you will be aware of exactly how well you are performing and on what needs to be worked on for the next section.

Available dates:

If you wish to apply please email me using This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it stating your reasons for wanting to do the course, and your current equipment configuration. If you need additional gear please allow me to quote you for it.

Current courses set up:

May:

Friday 11th - Monday 14th

June:

Friday 29th - Monday 2nd

August:

Friday 24th - Monday 27th

October:

Friday 19th - Monday 22nd