DIR Fundamentals class

[shellfish]

I got the below answers from MDC's Claudia. My questions are in black. I can't do Rochester. (I wrote to Fifth Dimension and told them that Minneapolis is NOT near Rochester >. You lucked out, Chris! )

I'm very interested in taking the GUE DIR Fundamentals course that's being offered in Minneapolis on May 16-18, 2003. I'm glad to hear of your interest. I just took this course myself in Georgia a couple of weekends ago to see whether I thought this course was worth taking. And it definitely is!

We, (MDC Sports in Rochester, MN) are hosting this DIR Fundamentals course, but are not the instructors. I will be the person to handle payment and answer the logistical questions you have. Sonya from Fifth Dimension, who referred you to me, and Michael Kane are the GUE instructors who will come to teach the couse. They will be able to answer any specific DIR Fundamentals course questions you might have.

...What do you recommend I do to prepare for the course? Based on what I saw in my course, the more comfortable you are in the water, the more you can get out of the course. I would suggest planning as many sessions in the pool over the next few months as possible. If you come to us (MDC Sports) here in Rochester, I could help get you pointed in the right direction as you are brushing up on your skills. My guys down here are trying to get a jump on the DIR training and you are welcome to join them in their practices in the pool on the weekends.

What gear configuration is required? Gear configuration is part of their training and philosophy, but not everything. I was able to take the training in the type of setup they encourage and I was grateful for it. My buddy in the course just rented standard equipment from the dive shop at the quarry for the first day. He had a lot of problems, not all of them equipment related, so for the second day at the quarry, the GUE staff worked it out so he could use the equipment they preferred. He did do better, although still needed a lot of work. I strongly recommend going to a 5' or 7' hose on your primary regulator.

For a better answer on the equipment issue, I urge you to contact Michael Kane. (One of the instructors in the May course.) His email is mhkane@prodigy.net . Also, there is a slight chance we might be able to scrape up some rental equipment for you. but I won't know for sure until April.

Do you know where the dives will take place? This course is not in Minneapolis. MDC Sports is located in Rochester, MN. The lake portion of the course will take place at Lake Wazee by Black River Falls, WI. (Lake Wazee is a great quarry about 2-1/2 hours east of Rochester.) Depending on where the students come from, either our Friday night classroom session will be in Rochester or at a motel near Lake Wazee.

You will be doing two dives on two days. The quarry temperature in mid May last year was 45 degrees. Even though most of the course takes place in 28' of water, a drysuit would be preferrable, otherwise a 6-7mm wetsuit, hood, boots and gloves are necessary.