Paul,

You are absolutely right, a good instructor is a good instructor but you are
missing an important point here I think. Let me try to explain the way I
look at it.

The course an instructor teaches should be according to the standards of the
agency he teaches for. The agency provides an outline and the instructor
follows it. The agency provides course materials and that is what the
student reads and learns from.

Now, being an instructor myself I have some experience with teaching for an
agency that provides you with contradictory materials and standards. In
fact, this is the very reason that GUE is formed.

So let's take two good instructors. Give one a crappy course outline, low
standards and a "cross out this section" book.
The other instructor has the highest standards in the world with the most
demanding outline for his course. On top of that you provide him with a
manual written by an active world record holding  explorer... (as opposed to
former-deep-air-world-record-holder-and-never-been)

Now which course would you rather take?

Another thing you have to realize Paul, is that your idea of a "good
instructor" will change over the years and with the amount of experience you
gain. I know a bunch of instructors I thought of as real good, I am
certified more times then most people have dives. However, the more I found
out what the real scoop is in the diving world, the more I learned about how
wrong I was, and adjusted my beliefs accordingly...

What I am trying to say here is that you all have a big advantage over
divers like myself and a lot of others, you have GUE. Here is the first NON
PROFIT organization in the dive industry that brings you the most
challenging materials and courses exactly the way you want them.
It teaches you the stuff you read about on the various lists and more.
You get trimix right away, without having to do all the useless steps that
are just money grabbers. You have the unique opportunity to make a change in
the dive world together with a group of dedicated professionals. Instead of
supporting Bret or Tom you are now supporting a growing organization that is
truly concerned with bringing the world the best diving has to offer.

So to get back to what you were saying:

"Doesn't really matter, a good instructor is a good
instructor, no matter what agency he works under."

Seems a little shortsighted if you would ask my opinion. Yes a good
instructor is a good instructor but we are talking courses here and a good
course is a good instructor combined with the best available materials and
agency.

I would rather say:

"I does matter, a good course is a good instructor combined with a good
agency"

But I might be very different then you in these kind of things, I do realize
that Paul.

Best Regards,

THOMAS


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Braunbehrens [mailto:Bakalite@ba*.co*]
> Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2000 11:05 AM
> To: Thomas Tukker; Mcinnis, Don; RDecker388@ao*.co*; scottk@hc*.co*;
> techdiver@aquanaut.com
> Subject: RE: clarification was: An the beat goes on and on
>
>
> I'm a member of GUE, abut it isn't really widespread in Norhtern
> California.  Doesn't really matter, a good instructor is a good
> instructor, no matter what agency he works under.
>
> Thomas Tukker wrote:
> ~
> >Paul,
> >
> >Ever noticed an agency called GUE? Tech1 takes you into mix right away,
> >although I like to think this is not the biggest reason to
> choose for this
> >agency.
> >
> >THOMAS
> >
> >>  -----Original Message-----
> >>  From: Paul Braunbehrens [mailto:Bakalite@ba*.co*]
> >>  Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 11:41 AM
> >>  To: Mcinnis, Don; 'RDecker388@ao*.co*'; scottk@hc*.co*;
> >>  techdiver@aquanaut.com
> >>  Subject: RE: clarification was: An the beat goes on and on
> >>
> >>
> >>  No kidding!  I'm doing it right now, adv. nitrox, stage deco and
> >>  trimix just because I want to use He.  It's actually ironic that you
> >>  have to do a deco class to use trimix.  It seems to me they are
> >>  separate subjects.  You won't get a fill without it though.
> >>
> >>
> >>  Mcinnis, Don wrote:
> >>  ~
> >>  >Bob,
> >>  >
> >>  >What's the prerequisite in shingles needed to get into it?
> >>  Usually needed is
> >>  >the advanced nitrox, decompression techniques, and then the
> "entry level
> >>  >trimix" course at least. All this for being able to dive with a
> >>  clear head
> >>  >between 70 and 150'. Scott's point all along is there needs
> to be a "rec"
> >>  >HOTx course with something like a nitrox C-card pre-req to
> open up He to
> >>  >more people without having to go through 4 extra courses
> (not to mention
> >>  >about $2000 or more) just to dive HOTx which is by
> definition relatively
> >>  >shallow (less logistics) diving.
> >>  --
> >>  Paul Braunbehrens mailto:Bakalite@ba*.co*
> >>  http://www.daw-mac.com Mailing list for digital audio on the mac
> >>  --
> >>  Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to
> `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
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> >>
>
> --
> Paul Braunbehrens mailto:Bakalite@ba*.co*
> http://www.daw-mac.com Mailing list for digital audio on the mac
> --
> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
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