Global Underwater Explorers

Global Underwater Explorers, Inc.

Type	Not-for-profit organization
Founded	1998
Headquarters	High Springs, Florida, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Focus	research, exploration, science and education
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 a number of people involved in the Woodville Karst Plain Project (WKPP), which now has the status of a non-profit affiliate of GUE.^[4] When GUE was formed it was co-located with Extreme Exposure dive store. However, Extreme Exposure has now changed locations allowing for further growth of the organization.^[5]

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.^[6][7] 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] Along with a focus on protecting the maritime environment, this is the basis of the diver training program of GUE, marking an important difference from the programs of other diver training organizations.^[8][9] The introductory course, GUE Fundamentals, allows any certified diver to learn the basic skills of GUE and DIR.^[10] Further courses are offered in recreational, technical and cave diving as well as instructor courses.

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]}

Courses

In August 2009, GUE offered 17 courses, in three subject areas:^[1]

• Recreational:
  • GUE Primer
  • Recreational Diver Level 1 - Nitrox diver
  • Doubles Course
  • Drysuit Course
  • Fundamentals
  • Recreational Diver Level 2 - TriOx diver
  • Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1
  • Recreational Diver Instructor
• Technical:
  • Tech 1
  • Tech 2
  • Tech 3
  • Rebreather
  • Technical Diver Instructor
• Cave:
  • Cave 1
  • Cave 2
  • Cave 3
  • Cave Diver Instructor

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,^[16] followed by new records in 2001 and 2006.^[17]
• 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.^[18]
• The Ocean Conservancy beach clean-up at Hutchinson Island located in Martin County, Florida in 2003.^[16][19]
• The "Underwater Exploration and the DIR system" was held in Italy.^[20]
• The "GUE Conference 2005" was held in Gainesville, Florida.^[21]
• GUE volunteers supported the scanning and archiving of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society journals with the Rubicon Foundation.^[22][23][24]
• The "GUE Conference 2006" was held in Gainesville, Florida.^[25]
• The "GUE Conference 2007" was held in Budapest, Hungary.^[26]
• In 2008, GUE was a sponsor for the Divers Alert Network Technical Diving Workshop held Durham, North Carolina.^[27]

GUE instructors regularly host "Introduction to DIR" workshops aimed at promoting the Doing It Right approach to diving.^[9]

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.^[28][29]

• Jablonski, J (2001). Doing it Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving. Global Underwater Explorers. ISBN 0971326703. 
• Jablonski, J (2003). Beyond the Daylight Zone: The Fundamentals of Cave Diving. Global Underwater Explorers. 
• Jablonski, J (2003). Getting Clear on the Basics: The Fundamentals of Technical Diving. Global Underwater Explorers. 
• GUE. (2004). DIR 2004. [DVD]. Global Underwater Explorers. http://www.gue.com/?q=en/node/195. Retrieved 2008-09-22. 
• GUE. (2005). Pantelleria 2005. [DVD]. Global Underwater Explorers. http://www.gue.com/?q=en/node/194. Retrieved 2008-09-22. 
• GUE. (2006). The Mysterious Malady: Toward an understanding of decompression injuries. [DVD]. Global Underwater Explorers. http://www.gue.com/?q=en/node/193. Retrieved 2008-09-22. 
• GUE. (2006). The Woodville Karst Plain Project: Chip's Hole Exploration 1996-2005. [DVD]. Global Underwater Explorers. http://www.gue.com/?q=en/node/191. Retrieved 2008-09-22. 

References

External links

• Official site
• GUE Facebook page