GUE Basic Fundamentals

GUE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?

The GUE Fundamentals course is by far GUE’s most popular program. The Basic Fundamentals course is designed for divers who seek to enhance their foundational diving skills, which are required for sound diving practices. 

Some divers use the GUE Fundamentals program as a way to improve on the less-than-optimal training they have received during traditional fast-track entry-level courses. Others see the course as a ticket to participate in GUE projects and activities. Everybody will benefit, regardless of their current level of certification or experience. Graduating this course with a pass is something to be proud of, as the quality of a GUE Fundamentals diver is recognized all over the diving world.

For many non-GUE divers, the Fundamentals program is an “aha!” moment where everything falls into place. The standardized equipment configuration and standardized procedures are only a small part of the big picture. Realizing how a team-oriented approach can free up resources and increase situational awareness that can be used to maximize safety, efficiency, and fun is often a life-changing moment for Fundamentals students, and they walk away from the course with a completely new approach to diving.

WHO IS IT FOR?

The GUE Basic Fundamentals course provides all divers with an opportunity to advance their basic diving skills. It provides the non-GUE trained diver (divers who are already certified with another recognized diving agency) with a gateway into GUE training.

It is also a gateway for other recreational GUE courses, such as the Navigation, Rescue, and Deep Primers, Scientific Diver, DPV 1, and more.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Course outcomes include, but are not limited to: GUE equipment configuration and use, trim and buoyancy, propulsion techniques including backwards kick, valve management (the course can be done using a single tank or with a double tank configuration), gas sharing, and SMB deployment. If you wish to do the course with double tank configuration, you will have to have either 15 dives on double tanks or have completed the GUE doubles primer before the course.

You will receive access to GUE’s online learning platform, which you can utilize before the in-person portion of the course. This online learning system will adapt to you, ensuring it focuses on teaching you what you don't already know. You can learn at your own pace, so all students will reach a level of mastery of the material. Your time with the instructor can then be spent covering the practical elements of diving. You will be introduced to the benefits of having a standardized equipment configuration, standardized procedures, and how a team-oriented approach to diving can be used to maximize safety, efficiency, and fun. You will build a solid diving platform, based on balance, trim, buoyancy and propulsion techniques. 

This course will supplement training that you may have already received and will give you more confidence in your basic skills even if you do not desire to go on for more advanced training. The course also includes the theory and use of nitrox.

Applicants for a GUE Fundamentals program must:

  • Be a minimum of 14 years of age.
  • Be physically and mentally fit.
  • Be a non-smoker.
  • Be able to swim.
  • Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving.
  • Be certified, at a minimum, as an autonomous entry-level scuba diver (or equivalent) from a recognized training agency.
  • If using doubles during the course, have conducted at least 15 non-training dives in the GUE double tank configuration or hold a GUE Doubles Primer certification.
  • If using a drysuit during the course, have conducted at least 15 non-training dives in a drysuit or hold a GUE Drysuit Primer certification.
  • For a full list of course prerequisites, click here.
The GUE Basic Fundamentals course is normally conducted over three days. It requires a minimum of six dives and at least twenty-four hours of in-person instruction, encompassing land drills and in-water work. Additional time is required for theory (conducted online and/or in-person).

At the instructor’s discretion, GUE Performance Divers may have a portion of their training counted toward GUE Basic Fundamentals qualification.

Diving DIR with GUE standards has made me feel that I have never really dived or enjoyed a dive before. Everything became simpler and easier, even though it took me a while to get a good grasp of things. Although I have a very long way to go, I am up for it and for the challenges ahead and wouldn’t have it any other way now. I have been speaking to GUE instructors all over, and the lengths that each and everyone of them is willing to go just to help someone they don’t know is AMAZING!!! That truly is what differentiates GUE from any other organization.

Ahmad A., Fundamentals

GUE changed my whole philosophy of diving. I went from someone who thought I was a great diver, but maybe a little extra skill wouldn't hurt me, to being someone who's taking Tech 1, and might go much farther. Post-class, the instructors are all available all the time, for all kinds of silly questions -- they're really living the ideal of helping us become better divers, all the time. The local GUE community is an amazing group of people; it's an honor to dive with this crowd of dedicated and passionate folks.

Dan M., Fundamentals

I have been diving for about 6 years, including several years of being Divemaster, but I felt I have some gaps in my training looking at cave and tech divers. The focus on basic skills every GUE diver must master changed my dives dramatically for the better. It uncovered gaps in my knowledge and showed me what I really need to focus on, and every step I'm able to reach really makes noticeable difference in comfort, effortlessness, and I'm able to enjoy diving even more. Newly developed appreciation for teamwork and new dive friends with a similar approach to diving not only makes it safer, but more enjoyable as well.

Yury V., Fundamentals

I had always wanted to take the fundamentals class with GUE, but was also anxious about the military like style of training, or so I heard from others in the diving community. I found most of what I heard from non GUE divers to be completely false. The class itself completely changed my diving. I improved vastly over the course of the class and managed a recreational pass, which after only 1 year of diving I thought was still an excellent achievement. However, it was after taking these skills I had learned, practicing them out on my dives and putting them to use, that I have really improved and changed my diving the most.

Scott W., Fundamentals

As I abandoned diving 2 years ago, I decided to get back into it with a more comfortable and conscious way to dive. I found in GUE a great instructor and the best procedures to allow me to have fun and enjoy the sea life.

Leo S., Fundamentals

Every aspect of the training was packed with knowledge. My instructor was invested in making all students the best divers they could be. The course gave me skills to refine and goals to hit. The community could not be more supportive.

Ryan C., Fundamentals

Before the course we already knew GUE training methods. The course allowed us to improve our basic skills and safety procedures, even if we were already skilled divers (>1000 dives). The course was fun but quite tough at the same time; of course our way of diving has been positively impacted.

Barbara P., Fundamentals

I found the materials very complete, and even though the course was tough, it really gave me a good opportunity to work on my weaknesses, and I gained new methodologies that were easier to apprehend! The teacher was great, with a good pedagogy, and knowledgeable. A course I will highly recommend for divers seeking improvements!

Nicolas D., Fundamentals

Passing the GUE Basic Fundamentals class opens up many paths for a certified diver. It allows you to enroll in GUE advanced recreational classes and primers to enhance your fundamental skills, from ascent control and rescue skills to managing additional dive gear and tasks.

More training will increase your experience, confidence, and capacity, including progression to a GUE Technical Fundamentals certification and on to GUE technical, cave, or CCR programs. 

WHAT IF I'M NOT READY TO COMMIT TO A FULL CLASS?

While we're confident the GUE Basic Fundamentals course will benefit divers of all levels, a full 4-5 day course may not be the best fit for everyone's schedule, resources, or even training goals. If you find yourself in this scenario, consider the GUE Performance Diver course, a 2-3 day course that that introduces GUE's equipment configuration and team approach to diving and focuses on building a solid diving platform based on buoyancy, trim, stability, and propulsion techniques, all with the goal of maximizing safety, efficiency, and fun!

ADVANCED RECREATIONAL COURSES PATH

There is so much of the underwater world for you to explore. There are thousands of wrecks and reefs hidden at depths that you may not yet be able to reach without further training and experience.

You can add more adventure to your dives and head deeper into the aquatic world by advancing your diving skills with GUE's Advanced Open Water Diver and Master Diver courses.

ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER

You can add more adventure to your dives and head deeper into the aquatic world by advancing your diving skills with the GUE Advanced Open Water Diver course. This course is structured to prepare divers for deeper recreational diving up to 100 ft/30 m. It teaches divers to navigate underwater and how to help a team member in distress while using efficient diving skills and advanced breathing mixtures, such as triox.

GUE TECHNICAL FUNDAMENTALS

If GUE cave, technical, or CCR training is your goal and you are already certified to 30 m/100 ft, the GUE Technical Fundamentals class is the next step in your pursuit. This course will supplement training that divers may have already received and will give them more confidence in their basic skills, even if they do not desire to go on for more advanced training.
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