GUE training

GUE is a leader in scuba education, having developed numerous industry-first training protocols and utilizing an elite cast of diving educators.



Our wide range of training programs was meticulously developed by leading explorers whose mission was to build communities of passionate scuba divers with globally coordinated diving activities.



These curricula provide training for all levels and interests, from new divers and recreational divers to cave and technical divers, all in an effort to elevate the quality of training within the dive industry.



The earliest GUE courses were developed to support global exploration projects and have been refined to incorporate recreational divers. This “begin with the end in mind” approach produces uniquely competent divers and enables a smooth transition from recreational to technical diving and beyond. 

GUE educational programs enable divers to comfortably explore a wide range of possibilities, but the value of GUE training becomes even more pronounced when joining any of our far-reaching GUE communities or GUE projects. These activities offer many opportunities for social engagement and mutual support.

A variety of specialized programs range from drysuit and diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) use, to rescue, photogrammetry and our immensely popular GUE Fundamentals course, which is one of the most emulated programs in the industry. GUE also maintains an unprecedented quality governance system which includes regular requalification for instructors, quality control feedback from every GUE diver, and certification renewal requirements, among many other industry-first initiatives.

In support of the general diving industry, as well as our own programs, GUE produces a wide range of educational and support materials, including books, live presentations, diving and skills videos, and course presentation materials. GUE publishes a quarterly journal, Quest¸ which includes diverse articles on ecology, equipment and training, exploration, dive-related travel, and more.

Recreational Diver Curriculum Daily Rate Min. Duration
Recreational Diver Level 1 295 USD 5 days
Recreational Diver Level 2 295 USD 5 days
Recreational Diver Level 3 295 USD 5 days

 

Foundational Diver Curriculum Daily Rate Min. Duration
Fundamentals 295 USD 4 days
Rescue Primer 295 USD 2 days
Navigation Primer 295 USD 2 days
Triox Primer 295 USD 2 days
Doubles Primer 295 USD 1 day
Drysuit Primer 295 USD 1 day
DPV 1 295 USD

3 days

Gas Blender 200 USD

1 day

 

Technical Diver Curriculum Daily Rate Min. Duration
Technical Diver 1 450 USD 5 day

  

Cave Diver Curriculum Daily Rate Min. Duration
Cave Diver Level 1 450 USD 5 days
Cave Diver Level 2 450 USD 5 days

 

 

 

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The GUE base equipment configuration is comprised of:

  1. Tanks/cylinders: students may use a single tank/cylinder with a K-, H-, or Y-valve. Students may also use dual tanks/cylinders connected with a dual-outlet isolator manifold, which allows for the use of two first-stages. Consult course-specific standards and your instructor to verify size requirements.
  2. Regulators:
    -Single tank: one second-stage regulator must supply a 5 to 7 foot/1.5 to 2 meter hose (2 meter long hose is required for all cave classes). The first stage must supply a pressure gauge, inflation for the buoyancy compensator (BC), and a means to inflate a drysuit where applicable.
    -Double tank: one of two required first stages must supply a pressure gauge and provide inflation for a drysuit where applicable. The other second stage must supply a 5 to 7 foot/1.5 to 2 meter hose and an inflation source for the BC.
  3. Backplate system:
    -Should be held to the diver by one continuous piece of webbing. This webbing should be adjustable and should use a buckle to secure the system at the waist.
    -A crotch strap is attached and looped through the waistband so as to prevent the system from riding up a diver’s back.
    -The continuous webbing should support five d-rings;
      -The first placed at the left hip
      -The second placed in line with a diver’s right collarbone
      -The third placed in line with the diver’s left collarbone
      -The fourth and fifth are placed on the front and back of the crotch strap where divers plan to use advanced equipment like DPVs.
    -The harness below the diver’s arms has small restrictive bands to allow for the placement of reserve lights. The webbing and system retain a minimalist approach.
  4. Buoyancy compensation device (BC):
    -A diver’s BC is back-mounted and minimalist in nature.
    -It is free of extraneous strings, tabs, or other material.
    -There are no restrictive bands or restrictive elastic affixed to the buoyancy cell.
    -Wing size and shape are appropriate to the cylinder size(s) employed for training.
  5. At least one time/depth measuring device.
  6. Wrist-mounted compass.
  7. Mask and fins: Mask must be low-volume; fins are rigid, non-split
  8. At least one cutting device.
  9. Wet Notes.
  10. At least one surface marker buoy (SMB) with spool per diver.
  11. Exposure suit appropriate for the duration of exposure.

Additional Course-Specific Equipment

  1. Where required, bottom gas, decompression, or stage cylinders are marked in accord with GUE standards and configured in line with GUE protocol. They should be as close to neutral as possible with a relatively small swing from negative to positive during the use of the cylinder.
  2. Where argon bottles are applicable, they should be sized appropriately for the environment; small tanks are placed on the backplate with larger supplies affixed to the diver’s left back gas tank.
  3. Surface marker buoy: where required, the SMB should be appropriate for environmental conditions and deployed using a spool with at least 100 feet/30 meters of line.
  4. One reserve mask is required for some classes.
  5. Underwater lights:
    - Where required, back-up lights should be powered by alkaline batteries (not rechargeable) and stowed on the d-rings at a diver’s chest.
    - Reserve lights should have a minimal amount of protrusions and a single attachment at its rear.
    - The primary light should consist of a rechargeable battery pack and be fitted with a Goodman-style light handle.
    - Where burn time requirements create the need for an external battery pack, it should reside in a canister mounted to the diver’s right hip.
  6. Guideline devices, as required during cave diving activities:
    - A primary reel is required for all cave diving and provides a minimalist form factor with a handle designed to support a Goodman or "hands free" handle operation.
    - The primary reel should contain at least 150 feet/45 meters.
    - A safety spool is required for each diver while cave diving and should contain at least 150 feet/45 meters of line wrapped on a simple spool.
    - A jump or gap spool is required during Cave 2 dives and should contain at least 75 feet/23 meters of line wrapped on a simple spool.

Please note:
Included in our rates are transport, training fees, tanks, nitrox (back gas deco gases), and cenote entrances.

Not included in our daily rates are boat charters, DPVs and Helium based gases.

Program registration fees are payable to GUE, and are inclusive of downloadable manuals and certification fees (if earned):

$45 USD for Primers and Gas Blender
$95 USD for Fundamentals, Recreational Diver 1, 2 & 3
$150 USD for Cave and Tech Programs