SCHEDULING

I teach for Global Underwater Explorers (GUE). Most GUE courses are scheduled on an as-needed basis. If If you’re interested in taking a class with me and you don’t see something on the schedule, please contact me at Kees@GUE.com. I’m happy to schedule a course based on mutual availability. Please note that most GUE courses require a minimum of two and a maximum of three students.

You can browse GUE classes that are already scheduled by visiting the GUE Class Schedule and selecting “Kees Beemster Leverenz” as the instructor on the right hand side, then clicking Search.

Costs

The cost of quality training is high but it is a worthwhile investment to maximize your enjoyment and safety while diving. As a student, you’re responsible for tuition and a registration fee due to GUE HQ. Tuition and registration fees are listed below:

Recreational Courses

Performance Diver (2 days) - Tuition $650 and Registration $75

Basic Fundamentals (4 days) - Tuition $1,250 and Registration $95

For Technical Fundamentals see below

DPV 1 (3 days) - Tuition $850 and Registration $95

Photogrammetry (4 days) - Tuition $1,350 and Registration $150

OPEN CIRCUIT Technical Courses

Open-Circuit Technical Fundamentals (5 days) - Tuition $1,600 and Registration $95

Open-Circuit Technical Diver 1 (6 days) - Tuition $2,500 and Registration $150

Closed Circuit Technical COurses

Note Open-Circuit Technical Fundamentals is a prerequisite for CCR training.

Closed-Circuit Fundamentals (5 days) - Tuition $2,000 and Registration $95

Primers

Doubles Primer (2 days) - Tuition $600, Registration $45

Deep Primer (2 days) - Tuition $600, Registration $45

Rescue Primer (2 days) - Tuition $600, Registration $45

Navigation Primer (2 days) - Tuition $600, Registration $45

Gas Blender (1 day) - Tuition $300, Registration $45

Please note that tuition and registration fees are subject to change.

EQUIPMENT

You’re responsible for the cost of buying or renting the equipment required for each class. Please contact me before making purchases intended for use in a GUE class.

CONSUMABLES and other expenses

You’re responsible for the cost of your consumables for class. My consumable costs are included in course fees, provided they do not vary substantially from Seattle market prices. Travel costs (for example, boat fees, flights, etc. as required) are the responsibility of the students and will be billed pro-rata depending on how many students are in the class.

Foundational and Recreational

For foundational level classes classes, your consumables are typically two dives worth of 32% nitrox per diving day (two single fills or one double fill).

Open Circuit Technical Classes

All open circuit technical classes begin with skills practice, which is typically conducted in shallow water on 32% nitrox. Assume you will need to pay for a double tank fill of 32% for the first few days of class. I will ensure logistics are in place for these fills to happen.

Open circuit technical classes requires supervised experience dives using trimix. Trimix is typically billed by the dive center based on the actual amount consumed. This means that gas costs are not fixed and will vary depending on our dive profiles, market prices, and your personal consumption rate.

The first trimix fill in a set of doubles is usually expensive (for example, filling a set of double HP100s with 21/35 costs about $175). However, after the first fill, you only pay for the cost of the gas consumed on a dive (somewhere around half the cost of a full fill). An average Technical Diver Level 1 student can expect to pay approximately $500 in gas costs.

Rebreather Classes

CCR classes require a smaller amount of open circuit gas, but will require the use of CO2 absorbent. This is typically one fresh fill per day. The only permitted CO2 absorbent is Sofnolime 797 CO2 Absorbent by Molecular Products, as specified by the rebreather manufacturer.

Sofnolime 797 is typically provided in 20 kg kegs. Occasionally, Sofnolime 797 can be found in other containers, the most common being a smaller 4.5 kg keg. The JJ-CCR requires 2.3 kg of Sofnolime 797 per fill, meaning most courses require one large 20 kg keg or less.

You are responsible for the costs of your open circuit gas as well as your CO2 absorbent.

PERSONAL INSURANCE

Most health insurance does not cover diving accidents. In order to ensure you can be cared for in an emergency, all GUE students are required to carry dive medical insurance at the DAN Master level or equivalent. This is roughly $40 for DAN membership + $46 for DAN insurance per year, for an individual.

SWIM TEST

Many GUE courses require a swim test which is normally conducted in a pool. Students are responsible for the cost of admission to the pool, roughly $5 to $10. When conditions allow, we may be able to avoid this cost by swimming in supervised open-water conditions. We will only use this option when weather and local conditions make it safe and comfortable to do so.