Global Underwater Explorers
| File:Global Underwater Explorers.png | |
| Founded | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Type | Not-for-profit organization |
| Focus | research, exploration, science and education |
| Location | |
Area served | Worldwide |
Revenue | Membership and donations |
| Website | http://www.gue.com |
Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) is a scuba diving organization that provides education within recreational, technical and cave diving.[1] It is a not-for-profit, membership organization, based in High Springs, Florida, United States.[2][3]
GUE was formed by Jarrod Jablonski and gained early prominence in association with the success of its well known Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP), which now has the status of a non-profit affiliate of GUE.[4] Jarrod Jablonski, President of GUE, promoted the ideas of "Hogarthian" gear configuration and the "Doing It Right" (DIR) system of diving to a global audience.[5][6] Following WKPP's introduction in 1995 of a standardized approach to gear configuration and diving procedures, there was a significant reduction in diving incidents within the Woodville Karst Plain cave system.[4]
The standardized approach is the basis of the diver training program of GUE, marking an important difference from the programs of other diver training organizations.[7][8] GUE also focuses on protecting the maritime environment. The introductory course, GUE Fundamentals, allows any certified diver to learn the basic skills of GUE and DIR.[9] Further courses are offered in recreational, technical and cave diving as well as instructor courses.
Foundation
GUE is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization formed to promote education, exploration and conservation of the aquatic realm. The organization was formed by Jarrod Jablonski and a small group of educators, explorers and diving instructors. The founding members sought to build upon the history of the Cousteau Society by creating a diverse network of satellite organizations. In this way local advocates help GUE establish detailed diver training, vibrant exploration and sustainable conservation initiatives. When GUE was formed it was co-located with Extreme Exposure dive store. However, Extreme Exposure has now changed locations, which has allowed for further growth of the organization.[10]
Mission statement
Global Underwater Explorers emerged out of a shared desire to safely explore and protect the underwater world and to improve the quality of education and research in all things aquatic. In line with the original vision of its founding members, GUE is committed to:
- Developing safe, skilled, and knowledgeable divers
- Undertaking and promoting underwater research
- Pursuing global underwater exploration
- Safeguarding the integrity of the underwater world
- Providing the public with a comprehensive resource on all things aquatic.
Working to redefine the ties binding the average underwater enthusiast to underwater explorers, conservationists and scientific researchers, GUE is committed to the overall goal of promoting the interests of the underwater world and of those who seek to engage it.[11]
Board of directors
The GUE board of directors includes two fellows of The Explorers Club—Jarrod Jablonski and Casey McKinlay—as well as cave diving instructor David Rhea, entrepreneur Robert Carmichael and researcher Todd Kincaid.[12][13][14][15]
Training
Among the diving community GUE is best known for a rigorous style of training that diverges from other diver training organizations and seeks to establish high levels of diver proficiency by extending training time, establishing objective performance criteria and requiring requalification among its instructors and divers.[16] GUE diver training started with technical cave and technical diving classes expanding into recreational training while refining its most popular class known as GUE Fundamentals. GUE also maintains adherence to a standardized equipment and procedural system which it claims enhances diver safety and efficiency by reducing confusion and helping divers act as a team. This latter training component is a controversial aspect of GUE training as it stipulates a fairly strict set of guiding principles. GUE’s founder Jarrod Jablonski was a long time proponent of a standardized system known as Hogarthian diving and also a key architect in the Doing It Right (DIR) system which notably refines and extends the scope of standardized diving equipment and procedures.
Courses
In September 2012, GUE offered 18 courses in four subject areas:[16]
- Recreational Diver Curriculum:
- Technical Diver Curriculum:
- Technical Diver Level 1
- Technical Diver Level 1 "Plus" Upgrade
- Technical Diver Level 2
- Technical Diver Level 2 "Plus" Upgrade
- Technical Diver Level 3
- Cave Diver Curriculum:
- Cave Diver Level 1
- Cave Diver Level 2
- Cave Diver Level 3
- Auxiliary Training Curriculum
- GUE Doubles Primer
- GUE Dry Suit Primer
- GUE Primer
- Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1
- Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 2 / Cave DPV
- Rebreather Diver
WKPP
The most renowned of GUE's satellite organizations is the Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP), which now has the status of a non-profit affiliate of GUE.[4] Numerous GUE members are heavily engaged in the extensive science and exploration projects conducted by the WKPP. This collaboration helped encourage the state of Florida to budget more than 200 million dollars toward the development of enhanced wastewater treatment practices as means to enhance ground water protection and support the conservation of Wakulla Springs State Park.[17] This success is the model under which GUE has launched a global conservation project known as Project Baseline which seeks to document the condition of our global aquatic environments.[18]
Outreach
Some of the organization's notable outreach projects have included:
- GUE and Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP) members made a record 5.6 km (3.5 mi) cave penetration in Wakulla Springs in 1998,[19] followed by new records in 2001 and 2006.[20]
- GUE and the WKPP provided video captured by documentary filmmaker Marc Singer for Hazlett-Kincaid, Inc.'s interactive, multimedia exhibit Awesome Aquifer Adventure which highlighted various aspects of groundwater for the Reading Public Museum. The sixth month exhibit ended March 24, 2002.[21]
- The Ocean Conservancy beach clean-up at Hutchinson Island located in Martin County, Florida in 2003.[19][22]
- The "Underwater Exploration and the DIR system" was held in Italy.[23]
- The "GUE Conference 2005" was held in Gainesville, Florida.[24]
- GUE volunteers supported the scanning and archiving of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society journals with the Rubicon Foundation.[25][26][27]
- The "GUE Conference 2006" was held in Gainesville, Florida.[28]
- The "GUE Conference 2007" was held in Budapest, Hungary.[29]
- In 2008, GUE was a sponsor for the Divers Alert Network Technical Diving Workshop held Durham, North Carolina.[30]
- In 2011, three members of the GUE and Projecto Espeleológico de Tulum dive team, Alex Alvarez, Franco Attolini, and Alberto Nava, explored a section of cave known as Hoyo Negro for their work with the Quintana Roo Speleological Survey.[31] The divers located the remains of a mastodon as well as a human skull that may be the oldest evidence of early man in the area to date.[31]
GUE instructors regularly host "Introduction to DIR" workshops aimed at promoting the Doing It Right approach to diving.[8]
Publications
GUE publishes a number of books and videos related to their philosophy of diving. These are generally available through their website, other online retailers and bookshops.[32][33]
- Jablonski, Jarrod (2001). Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving. Global Underwater Explorers. ISBN 0-9713267-0-3.
- Jablonski, Jarrod (2003). Beyond the Daylight Zone: The Fundamentals of Cave Diving. Global Underwater Explorers.
- Jablonski, Jarrod (2003). Getting Clear on the Basics: The Fundamentals of Technical Diving. Global Underwater Explorers.
- MacKay, Dan. Dress for Success. Global Underwater Explorers.
- Berglund, Jesper. Beginning With the End in Mind - the Fundamentals of Recreational Diving. Global Underwater Explorers.
- GUE (2004). DIR 2004 (DVD). Global Underwater Explorers. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- GUE (2005). Pantelleria 2005 (DVD). Global Underwater Explorers. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- GUE (2006). The Mysterious Malady: Toward an understanding of decompression injuries (DVD). Global Underwater Explorers. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- GUE (2006). The Woodville Karst Plain Project: Chip's Hole Exploration 1996-2005 (DVD). Global Underwater Explorers. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
See alsp
References
- ^ Global Underwater Explorers. "GUE Course Descriptions". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Global Underwater Explorers. "GUE Membership". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Global Underwater Explorers. "Contact GUE". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ a b c "About The WKPP". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Jablonski, Jarrod. "The Hogarthian Gear Configuration". Jeff Bentley. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Strike, David (2002). "An Interview with Jarrod Jablonski". Halcyon Manufacturing Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-13. [dead link]
- ^ Diver (March 2004). "Who cut my line ?". Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ a b O'Brien, B (2007). "DIR is AOK". Diver. DIVERNET: Diver magazine online. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
- ^ Global Underwater Explorers. "GUE Fundamentals". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Gillman, G. "Staying alive while looking good: Local stores lead the way in setting scuba trends". High Springs Herald. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "Global Underwater Explorers: Mission statement". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "Global Underwater Explorers: Board of directors". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "EuroTek Presenter: Jarrod Jablonski". Eurotek Diving Technologies Conference 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "EuroTek Presenter: Casey McKinlay". Eurotek Diving Technologies Conference 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "Hazlett-Kincaid Inc.: About us". H2H Modeling Group. Retrieved 2008-09-22. [dead link]
- ^ a b "General Training Standards, Policies, and Procedures" (PDF). Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
- ^ "GUE's WKPP Recognized by Governor's Cabinet". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2010-07-06.
- ^ "Project Baseline". Global Underwater Explorers. 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
- ^ a b Shah, N (2002-09-22). "Beach Cleanup". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ Tallahassee Democrat (2006-06-18). "Wakulla Springs through the ages". Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "Hazlett-Kincaid Inc.: Awesome Aquifer Adventure". H2H Modeling Group. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Jablobski, C. "Beach clean-up 2002". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ Ligure, MS. "Underwater Exploration and the DIR system". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ GUE. "GUE Conference 2005". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ Staff writer (2005-01-15). "UBR and UHM scans delivered". Rubicon Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ Staff writer (2008-04-22). "How Can the Rubicon Foundation Benefit You?". Dive News Wire. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ DAN News (2008-09-15). "Research Dive Medicine With Greater Ease". Divers Alert Network. Retrieved 2008-09-23.
- ^ GUE. "GUE Conference 2006". Global Underwater Explorers, Inc. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ "GUE Conference 2007". DIR Explorers. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
- ^ DAN News (2008-09-15). "DAN Technical Diving Conference Receives Rave Reviews". Divers Alert Network. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
- ^ a b Amador, Fabio Esteban. "Skull in Underwater Cave May Be Earliest Trace of First Americans". NatGeo News Watch. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
- ^ "Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving (Paperback)". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ "Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving". Barnes and Noble. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
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