GUE Drysuit Primer

Course Outcomes

GUE’s Drysuit Primer course is designed to prepare divers for drysuit diving using proper equipment and techniques.

Prerequisites

Applicants for a Drysuit Primer course must:

1. Submit a completed registration form, a medical history, and a liability release to GUE Headquarters.
2. Be physically and mentally fit.
3. Hold insurance that will cover diving emergencies such as hyperbaric treatment, e.g. DAN Master-level insurance or equivalent.
4. Be a nonsmoker.
5. Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for the use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for any prior medical condition that may pose a risk while diving.
6. Must be a minimum of sixteen years of age.
7. Be a certified GUE Rec 1 diver or be certified as an open water diver from a recognized training agency.

 

Course Content

 

The Drysuit Primer course is normally conducted over one day and includes a minimum of eight hours of instruction, encompassing classroom, land drills, and in-water work. 

Drysuit Primer Specific Training Standards

1. Can be run with one trainee
2. Student-to-instructor ratio is not to exceed 6:1 during land drill or surface exercises; ratios cannot exceed 3:1 during any in-water training
3. Maximum depth 60 feet/18 meters
4. No decompression
5. No overhead environment diving

 

Training Materials

GUE training materials and recommended reading as determined by the course study packet received via online download after GUE course registration.

 

Academic Topics

1. Introduction: GUE organization and course overview (objectives, limits, expectations)
2. Drysuit introduction
3. Developing diver capacity
4. Drysuit selection
5. Undergarment selection
6. Drysuit inflation
7. Cold-water equipment considerations
8. Cold-water dive planning and logistics
9. Buoyancy and trim
10. Drysuit skills overview
11. Pre-dive sequence
12. Situational awareness
13. Drysuit maintenance and field repairs

 

Land Drills

1. Pre-dive sequence
2. Team positioning
3. Communication
4. Equipment fit and function

 

Required Dive Skills and Drills

1. Demonstrate proficiency in safe diving techniques; this would include pre-dive preparations, inwater activity, and post-dive assessment.
2. Demonstrate proficiency with required course equipment and an understanding of the GUE equipment configuration.
3. Demonstrate the ability to connect/disconnect the drysuit inflation hose
4. Demonstrate the ability to manage a drysuit inflation valve that is stuck in the open position by disconnecting the inflation hose and dumping gas.
5. Demonstrate good buoyancy and trim, i.e. approximate reference maximum 30 degrees off horizontal while remaining within 5ft/1.5m of the target depth.
6. Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver.
7. Demonstrate safe ascent and descent procedures.
8. Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training.
9. Demonstrate proficiency in underwater communication.

 

Equipment Requirements

GUE base configuration as outlined in Appendix A, plus:

1. Drysuit

 

Explore GUE Standards

Prior to the commencement of class, students should consult with a GUE representative to verify equipment requirements and appropriateness of any selected equipment.