GUE Fundamentals: Your Comprehensive Guide to Essential SCUBA Diving Gear
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- #gueheroes #scubadiving #divegue #divegear #DoktorBEN
Discover the 'must-have' SCUBA Diving gear for your GUE Fundamentals class in this comprehensive video. While your tanks, regulators, and suit are obvious essentials - which we've covered in previous videos - there are some additional pieces of equipment that are vital for your GUE Fundamentals training, and indeed, for any SCUBA diving activity. This video delves into the specifics of these extra items, providing you with an all-inclusive guide to ensure you're fully equipped for your underwater adventures. Note: My gear recommendations are based on personal experience and I receive no compensation from any brands mentioned.
00:00 Start
01:30 Mask and Backup Mask
05:02 Fins
06:39 Cutting Device
07:26 Wet Notes
08:15 Compass and Dive Computer
10:44 Gas Analyzer
12:25 SMB and Spool
15:17 Primary and Backup Light
Things I use or recommend:
Mask:
I use the Subframe as primary and backup mask for years now
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I used the Technisub Look before
amzn.to/3iXHeq9
Fins:
I use the JetFins for year now
amzn.to/3kO8V5D
Never used the Apeks RK3 personally, still many people really like these
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Get Spring Straps!
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Cutting Devices:
Awesome Tool!
amzn.to/2G33Siq
Compass:
My GoTo Dive Compass
amzn.to/2RZnu9L
Gas Analyzer:
Budget friendly:
www.faszination-tauchsport.de...
My favourite:
www.faszination-tauchsport.de...
Backup Lights:
The new Heser Short
heser-backup.de/shop/Tauchlam... - Jak na to + styl
I really enjoy the why behind the recommendations. Thanks for the great videos.
The why is very important when teaching! Thank you for your comment!
Excellent 👌
Thanks!
I highly appreciate the video and the practical info. Plastic is bad for the environment, maybe you should recommend using wood pencils even if you have to change them after every dive 🤷♂. Reasons, why I should use a plastic pencil, are encouraged.
Well…I think the majority of plastics in the oceans comes from lost fishing gear. That’s why it’s more effective to stick to a non-seafood (or even better plant based diet) than using wood pencils. That’s like using glass straws just literally a drop in the ocean. Reasons against wood pens is that the most likely survive just a few dives before literally rotting away and that’s most likely even less sustainable
Hi ! Thank you for this new video. Can You give us the references of the O2 analyser please ?
Sorry, I’ll add this to the description!
Hello Ben, thanks for all the great videos! Can I ask not one, but two questions on backup lights? The first one is the simple one... I have two backup lights with a magnetic sliding switch. Would these be acceptable for Fundies, even if twist-activation is preferred, or is twist-activation mandatory?
The second one is perhaps a little less clear-cut. You mentioned in the comments that the discharge characteristic of lithium batteries makes them not the preferred kind for backup lights. But I'm a bit in doubt if I'm understanding that correctly. Assuming a full charge to begin with, a lithium battery (as you know, I guess :) ) would give a decent voltage right until it dies, whereas an alkaline slowly degrades. On one hand, that means an alkaline-powered light will 'warn' you that it's running low by slowly dimming before failing altogether. On the other hand, a lithium-powered light will shine full-blast until it dies. Seems like a point for alkaline. But considering the vastly higher capacities of lithium batteries, I'd figure you're comparing '2 hours of bright light --> dead' to '1 hour of bright light --> one hour of dimming light --> dead' (numbers made up, bring what you need for the dive you're planning, of course). Wouldn't having a strong light for longer outweigh the lack of 'warning' a dimming light gives you?
Or do you mean something else by 'discharge characteristic'? Like the self-discharge of the battery while your backup light is unused for months, after which it fails 2 minutes after it's needed because the battery was already flat to begin with? That would of course require some proper battery management, but nothing that can't be overcome.
Long comment, but I'm only trying to understand the reasoning. I'm trying to ban as many non-rechargeable batteries from my life as possible (so a little biased, that's for sure!), so quite interested in what you think :)
Thank you for your questions. I'm happy to answer them:
No. 1.: Are magnetic-switch-backuplights prohibited? - No. GUE Standards Appendix A, Additional Course-Specific Equipment says:
c.
i. When required, backup lights should be powered by alkaline batteries (not
rechargeable) and stowed on the D-rings at a diver’s chest.
ii. Backup lights should have a minimal amount of protrusions and a single
attachment at the rear.
So in my opinion it says nothing about magnetic switches, meaning there's no offical reason against it. However, I don't like and recommend them, because the switches tend to fail.
When it comes to the batteries, you understood correctly. The standards don't really prohibit rechargeables, but advocate for alkaline batteries. The reason is that alkaline batteries are more failsafe. Sure, the light goes dim - however, inside a cave a good OLED-Display of a dive computer still provides a reasonable amount of light. So a dim light is not really a big problem. Is 2h ---->off better than 1h ----> dim? The problem is that most people don't measure their batteries before the dive. Knowing that, you might end up with 30min --->off instead of 15min --->dim....and that will leave you extremely surprised...
@@DoktorBEN I did some testing comparing a 800 lumen backup light with 18650 rechargeable and it burned for 2 hours before it turned off. Then using the same light I replaced with 2x cr123a non rechargeable it was 10% dimmer when fresh but burned for 5 hours dimly and was brighter at 1 hour than the rechargeable it was an interesting experiment that proved the reason for the standards
That’s good to know
Hi @DoktorBEN what size bolt snaps do you recommend for attaching to primary and backup lights?
I guess 1/2“ are fine. Still it depends on many factors, like gloves you use, hand size and so on.
Hi Doktor Ben, I missed the brand of the backup light you had mentioned - the German manufacturer?
It was "Heser Tauchtechnik". You find it here: www.faszination-tauchsport.de/Heser-Backup-Lampe-Short-II-Edition
i think you miss the link in description for SMB and Spool
You're right. I'll add it! Thank you! You find the SMB I use here: www.faszination-tauchsport.de/Halcyon-Signalboje-klein-geschlossen-Inflator
This is an old video but I still hope for a reply: would you recommend a frameless mask as a backup? I'm not sure if a frame is a weak spot since it could break, or if it makes the mask more solid.
Well…depends on the mask. Thing is, both masks should be of good quality. I use a frameless mask for both currently.
Doesnt the light interfere with the compass on the left ?
Not really... maybe by a few degrees - would have to check that but in my experience there’s no distinct impact.
Hi Dr. Ben, if my wetsuit does not have pockets and I do not wish to buy tech shorts, how many thigh pockets do I need to carry these extra things for the class?
It fills two thigh pockets. You could fit it in one…but it’s not very comfortable
Hey, I only see a comparison of bolt snaps (cheap vs expensive) but not comparison of Dsmb.
It’s not online yet... it’s coming probably next week. Sorry for that. I just didn’t want to re-upload the video next week ;)
@@DoktorBEN I'm looking forward to that video! Thanks as always for your content.
clarkeysam thanks! I’m very happy you like my content. I’m working hard to figure out what kind of content my valued audience like to see. So this kind of feedback is very helpful!
Hi ben,
I'm interested by the scientific project opportunities that GUE divers can participate on. I was wondering how does that work out? Are the divers giving their time to such project paid? Or are the air refills free? I know that some deep sediments can only be taken by experienced tech GUE divers and while tech diving is Expensive, i really don't see why tech divers would do it for free just for the sake of science. I am my self an engineer that does research and devellopement in the domain of marine conservation and i know that there is a lot of money given to conservation organization to help them do preservation (big budgets $$). However i cannot conceive how those organizations won't pay fairly the extremely well trained tech divers from GUE that are specialized in scientific research.
Please clarify this for me because for me, that would be the one of the reasons i would start the GUE training. You can answer me here...or do a video if the answer is too long (i can wait) ;)
Thanks and keep up the great content.
It depends. There are projects where the gases (at least) are covered. For other projects, the divers cover all the costs by themselves. I did it myself more than once and just for science sake. It would be nice to have more funding and I think I will be possible to get a soon as GUE projects are more professionalized when more divers are actual scientific divers. That’s one reason why I am advocating for the Scientific Diver Class GUE offers (and am about to become a scientific diver instructor - Corona just postponed this 🙄)
With backup lights is there any reason not to use a non-rechargeable lithium battery rather than alkaline?
Yes. The discharge-characteristics of non-rechargeable batteries are better for use as energy source for an emergency device since they typically shut off faster when empty.
@@DoktorBEN thank you for response but I think you misunderstood. I was asking if there is any reason not to use a disposable lithium battery, like the higher capacity lithium’s sold for electronics that are not rechargeable rather than an alkaline.
Well... most lithium batteries have highe voltages, habe they? Like 3.6V instead of 1.5 for an AAA Alkaline batterie. That might be a problem using them.
Why don’t you recommend rechargeable lithium batteries for a backup light?
They are not as reliable as alkaline batteries. The discharge characteristics of lithium batteries are not optimal for backup lights as they might stop working suddenly.
Hallo,
super Video. Ich schaue mir grad alles an, damit ich mich für einen GUE Kurs vorbereiten kann. Aktuell tauche ich ein Monowing, bekomme bald meinen Trocki nach Maß mit Extras, Apeks Flossen. Ich bin mir allerdings unsicher, ob all mein Equip auch von euch akzeptiert wird, damit ich den Fundamentals oder Rec 1.2 damit bestehen kann. Z.b. besitze ich als Masken eine Mares X Vision und eine Mares Viper. Die X Vision ist im Vergleich zur Viper sicher größer im Volumen. Ist das so akzeptabel oder muss ich hier nochmals eine Viper kaufen? Sofern ich mit dem Monowing teilnehme bekomme ich maximal das Fundamentals Rec bescheinigt, korrekt? Das kann dann auf Tec aufgewertet werden, wenn Equip und fehlende Übungen nachgeholt werden laut Website.
Tanklampe, zwei Backup Lampen sind vorhanden. Boltsnaps sind kaufbar, daran soll es nicht scheitern.
So ist es korrekt! Wann machst Du den Kurs?
@@DoktorBEN Sobald mein Trocki angekommen ist. Laut Hersteller wohl noch 8 Wochen Lieferzeit. Hatte schon einen Instructor in meiner Nähe per Email kontaktiert.
Was für ein Trocki?
@@DoktorBEN Ich habe mich letzten Endes für ein Komplettpaket von Seaskin entschieden, da ich den zum einen brauchbar anpassen kann, und zum andern Maße angepasst werden können. In diversen Foren wurde die Qualität als wirklich gut angepriesen und der Preis spielt mir sehr in die Karten. Da habe ich noch Spielraum übrig für fehlendes Equip und den Kurs.
Ok cool! Wo machst du den Kurs?