Applicants for a GUE Fundamentals course must:

• Be physically and mentally fit.
• Be a nonsmoker.
• 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.
• Be a minimum of 16 years of age.
• Have a minimum of 75 logged dives.
• Have passed the GUE Fundamentals at the “Recreational” level.
• Submit a completed registration form, a medical history, and a liability release to GUE Headquarters.

An approved DPV is one that is tow-behind style with adjustable speed and clutch mechanism. The DPV must include an attached cord at the back with a bolt snap to be clipped on the front crotch-strap D-ring. The DPV should also have a leash attached to the front to be used for towing.

Combining lectures, land drills and training sessions the course aims to develop basic diving skills in for the use of a DPV with with special emphasis on the following areas:

• dive planning;
• team and communication strategies;
• underwater navigation;
• components and maintenance;
• standard procedures;
• emergency procedures

Training limits:

• Student-to-instructor cannot exceed 3:1
• Critical skills may only be performed up to a maximum depth of 9 meters
• Maximum depth during training cannot exceed 30 meters
• No overhead diving
• Minimum decompression

The GUE DPV 1 course is normally conducted over three days, and includes five dives and a minimum 24 hours of instruction, encompassing classroom, land drills and in-water work.