GUE Equipment and Configuration for Scuba Diving

If you’re interested in scuba diving, you might have heard of GUE (Global Underwater Explorers). GUE is a diving organization that focuses on improving diver skills and safety through rigorous training and standardized equipment and configuration. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the GUE equipment and configuration used by GUE divers for scuba diving.

The GUE Configuration

GUE divers use a standardized equipment configuration that includes:

Streamlined and balanced: The equipment should be streamlined and balanced to reduce drag and improve buoyancy control. This means no dangling hoses, loose equipment, or excessive weight.

Redundancy: The equipment should have redundancy to ensure safety in case of equipment failure. This means having two tanks, two regulators, and two sources of light. However, Recreational divers can still choose to dive with a single tank of course.

Accessible: The equipment should be easily accessible and easy to use in an emergency.

Consistent: The equipment configuration should be consistent across all GUE divers to ensure compatibility and ease of communication.

Modular: The equipment should be modular to allow for customization. This means being able to swap out components without having to replace the entire system. This is very essential and time and money-saving when divers move from recreational diving into technical diving.

The GUE Equipment

The GUE base equipment configuration consists of various components that are crucial for scuba diving. These include tanks/cylinders, regulators, a backplate system, a buoyancy compensation device (BC), time/depth measuring devices, a wrist-mounted compass, mask and fins, a backup mask, at least one cutting device, and wetnotes with pencils.

For tanks/cylinders, GUE allows the use of a single tank/cylinder with a single- or dual-outlet valve. Students may also use dual tanks/cylinders connected with a dual-outlet isolator manifold or a dual-outlet, non-isolator manifold for recreational (no decompression) diving as an alternative to a single tank/cylinder.

The regulator setup differs for single and double tanks. In a single-tank setup, the first stage must supply a primary second stage via a 5 to 7 ft/1.5to 2 m hose, while a backup second stage must be necklaced and supplied via a short hose. In contrast, in a double-tank setup, one first stage must supply a primary second stage via a 5 to 7 ft/1.5 to 2 m hose, while the other first stage must supply a necklaced backup second stage via a short hose.

The backplate system is held to the diver by one continuous piece of webbing, which is adjustable and uses a buckle to secure the system at the waist. A crotch strap is attached and looped through the waistband to prevent the system from riding up a diver’s back. The continuous webbing must support five D-rings, and the harness below the diver’s arms has small restrictive bands to allow for the placement of backup lights.

The BC used in GUE diving is back-mounted and minimalist in nature, free of extraneous strings, tabs, or other material. There are no restrictive bands or restrictive elastic affixed to the buoyancy cell, and the wing size and shape are appropriate to the cylinder size(s) employed for training.

GUE requires at least one time/depth measuring device and a wrist-mounted compass for navigation. The mask used is low-volume, and the fins are rigid and non-split. A backup mask, at least one cutting device, and wetnotes with pencils are also required components of the GUE equipment configuration.

Conclusion

GUE equipment and configuration for scuba diving is designed to improve diver skills and safety. By using standardized equipment and configuration, GUE divers can focus on their underwater experiences and exploration while being confident in their equipment and prepared for any situation.

If you’re interested in becoming a GUE diver, consider taking a GUE Fundamentals course here in Toronto to learn more about GUE equipment and configuration. Happy diving!

Alain EID

GUE Instructor

Alain began his diving journey in 2010 and is now a highly qualified instructor, certified by GUE (Global Underwater Explorers) in both Fundamentals and Recreational diving. He has been teaching with GUE since 2018 and is experienced in Cave, CCR, and Technical diving. Alain finds great joy in sharing his knowledge and passion for diving through transformative courses that empower divers to reach their full potential.

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