Mark
The simple fact is that in order to do 70m + you need to have all your shit in one sock. That can be achieved by doing T2 first and then CCR or by doing an intro level CCR course and then a proper 70m+ CCR course. Just different ways to skin a cat.
Graham
At a glance this would apear to be a rational argument but on closer inspection i dont see it
50m twin set single deco gas on relativly inexpensive 21/35 & 50% would be a good introduction to stage handling decompresion planning and decompresion dive planning so I still feel Twc 1 is a valid course and many will be happy to stop right there
As soon as you hang that second deco tank on the rig its a CCR dive
CCR you need bottom bailout and deco gas. With the GUE system you have bottom gas on your back so with two tanks you have an additional two deco tanks I am asuming 50 & 100%
Now you are pushing deco and there was no point lurning your physical tolerance on OC because the gas profile on CCR is diferent QED diferent tolerance
You learn multi tank handling skills on the one piece of kit where you need multi tanks. A CCRv Dive
No one in theor right mind who is qualified CCR will chose to do a 60m two hour+ dive on OC over CCR. The only possable justification in my mind is the cost of getting your CCR unit to site and that argument falls flat with GUE who allways said cost should not affect the decision to dive in the safest possable way.
The argument with CCR is the build up of knowladge from day one of passing the course. Yo cant ONLY use CCR on extreem dives and expect to stay unit proficient. I swore blind id do X amount of OC a year but in truth I just stick the CCR on for everything except single tank travel diving.
A proper way to progress would be Tec 1 to 50m 30mins deco
CCR for 30mins Deco + 50m+
Theres no need for a Mod 2 for CCR in GUE as youd be diving trimix from day one. Mod 2/3 only exists in CCR via TDI for example as it introduces helium into the dive.
I would like to see 100 hours to 60m max 2 hours max deco then unlimited or 100m unlimited deco thereafter
THERE ARE NO NEW SKILLS to lern for a 100m dive that you didnt lern for a 50m dive
Its just deeper.
ALL GUE CCR skills should anticipate hypoxic gas. I asume GUE dont do non Hypoxic scinarios and Hypoxic scinarios
Standardised trainig for standardsied reactions and all that.
But hay at least they accepted CCR. I was actualy disapointed they went ECCR I thaught it was a step too far. MCCR using needle valve would have been my choice for an electronics shy organistaion like GUE
What i can see now is all the Tec2 qualified divers who are still keen to dive deep doing a CCR course and doing everything past 40m on a CCR
I am not so sure that people will want to do the transitional Tec2 befor CCR so you will loose more active divers. If not it will be a well healed few whoi do Tec 2 then go CCR ASAP after and sod the expence
I know there are divers like me who would cross over to GUE and as i said id be willing to suffer Tec 1 cost but Tec2 is a bridge too far even for me
ATB
Mark