1.4 General Training Limits

The following limits apply to ALL levels of training (course specific limits can be found in the relevant sections).

1.4.1 PO2 Limits

All dives are to maintain a working PO2 of no greater than 1.4 and a resting PO2 of 1.6 +/- .05. Oxygen partial pressures are adjusted downward according to the demands made by diving conditions with an average working PO2 of approximately 1.2. Resting dives are defined as dives during which it is not reasonably expected that a diver will have to expend any unusual amount of energy, for example during decompression.

1.4.2 END Limits

No dives are to exceed an Equivalent Narcotic Depth (END) of 100 feet (+/-30 feet)/30 meters (+/- 9 meters); END is established by the following equation = ((1-FHe)*ATAs)-1) * 33 (10m)))

1.4.3 Parameters for Critical Skills

Drills or skills that involve loss of visibility, loss of lights, simulated out-of-gas scenarios, simulated manifold failures, and rescue techniques involving assisting panicked divers, convulsing divers and unconscious divers, are to be considered critical skills. "Air gunning," a form of simulating manifold failure, is restricted to Technical, Cave, and Rebreather courses. Critical skills must first be conducted in a confined water setting, after which instructors can progressively increase the depth and/or penetration in which these are executed. Mask removal is restricted to confined water; under such training conditions, only the trainees themselves are allowed to remove their masks, at the prompting of their instructor. Mask removal is not permitted in any overhead environment (save decompression). Under no circumstance should critical skills be conducted in delicate cave environments where damage to the environment may occur.

Under no circumstances are GUE instructors allowed to turn off student cylinder valves (right, left, or isolator).

1.4.4 Dual Qualification

Another agency's qualifications may be awarded to a student--as a dual qualification--only if the student has met GUE standards and has been awarded full GUE qualification. The student can then receive both a GUE qualification card and the equivalent qualification of another agency.

1.4.5 Issuing Qualification under Other Agencies

Qualification from another agency may not be issued instead of a GUE qualification. This entails that qualification from another agency may not be issued in the event the student did not complete GUE full qualification, nor can it be issued if the student was given a provisional GUE qualification.

1.4.6 Teaching and Rebreathers

GUE instructors may not teach GUE courses while using any type of rebreather (CCR or SCR). The only exceptions include the training of rebreather instructors during an ITC, or training during rebreather courses after all critical skill testing is complete.

1.4.7 Buoyancy Considerations

Some diving environments (e.g., shallow caves) permit divers with no buoyant lift (e.g., failed buoyancy compensator) to exit along a floor of reasonable depth, other environments, because of their depth, do not. Divers should account for such conditions and seek to ensure that their systems enable them to return safely to the surface in the event of a loss of buoyancy or a low-on-gas situation.

1.4.8 Steel Stage Bottles

No GUE member should use steel stage bottles in the open water. Any legal restrictions in conflict with this stipulation must be discussed with and approved by the Training Director.

1.4.9 Conservation

As part of GUE's commitment to global environmental conservation, Appendix A details recommended areas for simulated zero-visibility drills, required by all GUE Cave programs.

1.5 General Diving Skills

With the exception of DIR Fundamentals, GUE courses must all ensure proficiency in the following diving skills; a final grade of three (3) (satisfactory) or better is required to demonstrate the requisite skill in each. Any other and/or course specific skills, as well as any deviation from a particular diving skill, will be listed under the appropriate section for the specific course. DIR Fundamentals has a more restricted skill set, one outlined in section 2.1.2.9.

1. Demonstrate proficiency in safe diving practices; this would include pre-dive preparation, in-water activity, and post-dive assessment.
   
2. Demonstrate awareness of team member location and a concern for safety, responding quickly to visual cues and dive partner requirements.
   
3. Efficiently and comfortably demonstrate how to donate gas to an out-of-gas diver in multiple gas-sharing episodes, with one or more of these to include a distance of at least 30 feet/9 meters.
   
4. Demonstrate a comfortable demeanor while swimming for at least 100 feet/30 meters, without a mask, while gas-sharing.
   
5. Be able to comfortably demonstrate at least two propulsion techniques that would be appropriate in delicate and/or silty environments.
   
6. Demonstrate knowledge of dive rescue techniques, including effective management of the following situations: assisting a convulsing diver and an unconscious diver.
   
7. Demonstrate a safe and responsible demeanor throughout all training.

All GUE instructors are encouraged to exceed minimum training standards when by doing so they are promoting the best interests of the student. Instructors are actively encouraged to deny qualification to students when students have not met the standards of the certification level they are pursuing to the satisfaction of the instructor.

1.6 General Prerequisites for All GUE Courses

The following are prerequisites for all GUE Courses (any additional and/or course specific course prerequisite, as well as any deviations from the following, will be listed under the appropriate section of the specific course):

1. Must submit a completed registration form, medical history, and liability release to GUE Headquarters.
   
2. Must be physically and mentally fit.
   
3. Must hold DAN Master level insurance or equivalent.
   
4. Must be a nonsmoker.
   
5. Must obtain a physician's prior written authorization for the use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for a prior medical condition that may pose a risk while diving. A partial list of such conditions may be found on GUE's medical history form; if a student answers in the affirmative to any of these, they must obtain a physician's approval to dive and disclose this to their GUE instructor before the onset of training. Physician approval for a specific condition is valid for one year from the date it is given assuming there are no further changes to the student's medical conditions.
   
6. Must be CPR/First Aid trained (except for DIR Fundamentals).

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