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Here's JJ's second post that he asked me to forward to the list. I'd only add that questions about GUE can also be sent to info@gu*.co* if you need a quick response. I'll post the URL for the longer statement after I have received it to mark up and put on gue.com. anthony rue true@gu*.co* ........................................... The DIR Information Network: www.gue.com * www.dirquest.com www.halcyon.net * www.extreme-exposure.com www.browniedive.com * www.tankfill.com --------------------------------------------------------------- From: <Jarrod Jablonski> jj@gu*.co* Subject: GUE standards and goals I understand that Mike Bruic's decision to require Global Underwater Explorers' c-cards or memberships at Madison Blue has generated some controversy on the cavers list. I also understand that the exchanges have spilled over into a debate over GUE in general and our goals and standards specifically. Given all the discussion and guessing going around, I think it is important for me to make myself as available as possible. Unfortunately I am in Europe conducting training and I don't have time or access to formulate individual detailed responses at the moment. I will be happy to entertain more questions as time allows and when I return next week. Questions must be addressed to me at jj@gu*.co* as I am not subscribed to this list. Until then, here are a few comments in response to the notes that I have been able to read from the archive. First, I understand all too well the frustration that Mike is experiencing and appreciate his dedication and motivation. I too have had a realization that one can either contribute to the problem or be part of the solution. The quality of dive instruction in general seems to be in a constant state of decline and I think that concern is highly warranted. However, I would like to make it clear that Mike, Dan, George, or the others who have voiced an opinion in this forum are speaking for themselves out of their own frustrations and observations. They do not speak for GUE. I had no knowledge of Mike's plans until the day I was leaving for Germany. While I appreciate his position, I want to be very clear that he is doing this of his own volition and is not acting in response to any GUE encouragement. If you are not interested in supporting GUE then I would recommend you not join our organization. If you are interested in what we are trying to accomplish then we would be happy to count you among our members. GUE has a large base of members and advocates who are zealous in their desire to see GUE excel and we are grateful for their dedication. These people have been friends and supporters but they do not speak in any official capacity for GUE-- nor have I seen any indication that they are pretending they do. If anyone wants GUE's position on a particular issue, please let me know. I am happy to entertain these issues but have not been able to take the time to filter most of the messages on this list. Time pressure may delay my response but I WILL respond. I was initially very resistant to starting a training organization. I always recognized it as a huge obligation filled with risk and great difficulties. The formation of GUE had nothing to do with money-- I actually chuckle when people comment about that. GUE is a nonprofit organization and has drained a significant amount of my personal and company resources. If all I wanted money, I would take my 100+ hour work weeks to a company that pays the bucks for them. There are much more important things than money to me. The sole reason for starting GUE was to offer like-minded individuals an opportunity for something better. The reward from starting GUE comes as much from fostering a stewardship of the environment and the development of (and adherence to) more stringent and responsible training. I wish to make a difference in the diving community well into the future. Cousteau, the father of technical diving, started a great organization that dedicated itself to research, exploration, and conservation. His efforts would endear diving and the underwater world to millions of people. I'm sure that he sparked the imagination and was responsible for planting the desire to explore the depths in a great many of the people reading this note. While nobody can surpass Cousteau's achievements, we would like to see GUE build upon and extend his efforts while remaining a voice for uncompromising standards in the diving industry. As an industry, diving has to become more responsible about diver training. Shorter, easier courses are simply not an acceptable solution to the decline in scuba diver interest. In my opinion the industry is in a decline precisely because divers are no longer able to gain the comfort once found in robust diver training. Furthermore, the ease with which some unqualified individuals become instructors and instructor trainers geometrically increases the impact of loosened diving standards. All of us involved in GUE's formation know that nothing will happen if someone does not take the first step. Criticism of the way the diver training is evolving is distinctly unpopular but it is necessary to recognize where we have and are making mistakes. GUE members support our organization for a variety of reasons. Some view membership as a route to continuing education. They want direct access to the people who help them understand technical diving better. Many members are instructors for other agencies who don't necessarily want to become GUE instructors but who are tired of watching standards slip. All seem to share one common idea: the better informed you are about all aspects of diving, the better your diving becomes. GUE was not formed to take over the diving industry. Personally I do not care if we keep 50 instructors worldwide. Certifications numbers are meaningless to me. I am far more interested in setting a higher standard for diver training that is centered around quality. GUE will be uncompromising in this effort while establishing the proliferation of research, exploration, and conservation. Certainly GUE's efforts will not be for everyone. However, it is my hope that the dissemination of this information will assist individuals around the world regardless of their agency affiliation. Dive safe, DJ Jarrod Jablonski President- Global Underwater Explorers www.gue.com CEO Extreme Exposure www.extreme-exposure.com VP Halcyon Manufacturing www.halcyon.net, www.browniedive.com, www.tankfill.com Global Underwater Explorers www.gue.com GUE is a non-profit educational, research, and exploratory organization with hundreds of dedicated members around the world. Extreme Exposure www.extreme-exposure.com Extreme Exposure and Halcyon manufacturing produce some of the scuba industries most novel and robust diving equipment designed by many of diving's most active explorers.
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