12 replies to this topic

[TraceMalin]

Somehow, a friend of mine who was a Marine Force Recon sniper asked me to be his buddy for GUE Tech 1 with Bob Sherwood, and I accepted. Craig had taken the PDIC Instructor course from me and I thought I'd further show my appreciation by joining him since he wanted to have a shot at passing the course and didn't want to be buddied with people he didn't know, but rather, with someone he thought would work well with him. Strangely enough, Bob Sherwood decided to take a freediving class from me just prior to Tech 1 along with Craig and he is now addicted to the sport. Both reached 100 feet during training. A day later we found ourselves in Cape Vincent, NY for Bob's course. As soon as our heads dropped underwater we were greeted with the diving equivalent of the first 24 minutes of Saving Private Ryan. This treatment lasted the entire week until the experience dives. It was the hardest thing I have ever done and it was the hardest thing Craig has ever done too. (Did I mention he was a Force Recon sniper?) That pretty much puts things into perspective. In the end, not only did we pass, but Bob was very proud of us and gave us high scores. I earned a 5 for trim and our teamwork was consistent at 4's and 5's. Scoring from 1 being unsafe to 5 being exceptional. We had to triage teamwork, buoyancy, trim, and everything else has we experienced valve failures and equipment sabotage during descent and ascent drills. For example, Bob removed my second stage diaphragm from my deco bottle regulator during a dive. Evil! To reward our hard work Bob treated us to go-kart races. Craig was too wiped out to race so Bob and I did a mile of racing. Now, we can use GUE's standard helium gases of 30/30, 21/35, 18/45 with 50% and 100% deco. Even worse, I think I'm starting my GUE instructor internship on the 24th ... who would have thought that would ever happen!

[annasea]

Quite the accomplishment! Congratulations, Trace!

[diverdeb]

Way to go Trace! That is very impressive indeed.

Only problem is, now that you're GUE, you'll never dive with me.

[Elena]

Congratulations!

I always liked my Sherwood BCD and regulator... Must be well tested in harsh conditions!

Dive safely

Elena

[Capn Jack]

Way to go Trace! That is very impressive indeed.

Only problem is, now that you're GUE, you'll never dive with me.

What she said. Good job - or should we say "Hooah"?

[ScubaDadMiami]

There goes the neighborhood! Just kidding. Congratulations.

[Cold_H2O]

Congrats on continuing your dive education.

GUE 1 is a tough course. Nice to learn that both you and your buddy did great.

Can't wait to hear details on you GUE Instructor Internship.

[VADiver]

Congrats on the course...I'm still in the process of finishing mine up.

So, are you back in the DIR fold yet?

[Dive_Girl]

Trace, Congrats!

[TraceMalin]

Congrats on the course...I'm still in the process of finishing mine up.

So, are you back in the DIR fold yet?

Ah, my friend, who said, "There are no DIR divers just DIR dives?" I think that one of the largest hinderances to GUE was the cult-like following. It may have been necessary in the beginning and the DIR conflicts only served as free advertising for GUE much the same way as GI3's posts stirred interest and attention. However, what has been overlooked is GUE's efforts toward research. I believe this aspect of GUE will only grow once skilled and experience divers can become involved with the organization yet still do their own diving the way they want outside of GUE organized dives for pleasure or research. While diving with other GUE divers then a diver needs to be a team player and the mindset must be that you exist for your team as a lifeguard and that the cohesion and safety of the team overrides individuality. Some divers would be excellent DIR buddies yet desire to enjoy other pursuits underwater as well which have nothing to do with "the fold". For example, there should be no reason why I can't do solo sidemount cave diving one day then be a DIR team member the next. I was doing solo dives for Dutch Springs to help with maintenance just two days prior to the Tech 1 course, yet in Tech 1 I was all about my buddy. In fact, I was only there to help him pass and managed to pass myself as well. Our team dynamic proved that a diver who loves to dive solo can also be a team player. So, I'm all about the fold when diving with the fold.

Thanks all! Craig also hiked the Appalachian from Maine to Georgia alone and this course was kicking his butt in comparison. Bob said he is probably one of the most aggressive instructors at GUE. I don't want to give away details for Bob's next batch of victims, but with Bob Sherwood you sure earn your stripes.

Edited by TraceMalin, 26 August 2008 - 04:50 PM.

[TraceMalin]

Way to go Trace! That is very impressive indeed.

Only problem is, now that you're GUE, you'll never dive with me.

I think we could find other things to do instead.

[diverb0b]

congrats Trace ,glad to see your advancing ,wish I was alot younger to do all this stuff but the old body is starting to tell me to take it slow

[Yohanson]

Congrats!