March 13 & 14, 2026
Vancouver Island, BC
What is Leading Edge?
The annual Leading Edge workshop is an opportunity to work with GUE instructors from around the world, learn from industry experts and explorers, and spend time hanging out with some awesome fellow GUE divers!
This two day workshop will be held March 13 & 14, 2026 in Maple Bay, British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. During the day you will be paired with a GUE instructor and a group of similarly trained teammates. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss what your training goals are and work on specific skills as a team. In the evenings we’ll be treated to talks by industry leaders as well as a banquet style dinner.
After the workshop attendees are encouraged to stay for a social dive on Sunday the 15th at one of our amazing Vancouver Island dive sites.
Come join us for some beautiful cold water diving and find out what the legendary Vancouver Island has to offer!
Thank-you to our generous sponsors!
Dive Coaching
Over two days you will be working with your assigned instructor and teammates in the water. You will decide as a team what your learning objectives are and how best to accomplish these goals! This will be a truly team oriented program as you move towards cementing the skills, procedures, and attitude that makes GUE diving what it is!
Please note that this is not a class environment so training must be limited to highest level of your certification and the teaching credentials of your instructor.
Evening social dinner & presentations
Each evening we will have a Buffett style dinner followed by compelling presentations from industry leaders, educators, and explorers.
This year we will hear from professional archeologist Ewan Anderson and cave explorer Emőke Wagner.
Ewan Anderson, RPCA
Ewan is a profesional archeologist and technical diver. He will be sharing his experiences from a recent deep wreck documentation project of the HMCS Canada, sponsored by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and The Explorers Club.
Emőke Wagner
Emőke Wagner is a Hungarian cave diving instructor and explorer from Sopron who holds a 2013 human-kinesiology degree from Semmelweis University. After several years in healthcare, she turned professional diver, teaching in the Maldives (2014-17) before moving to Mexico to pursue caves full-time.
A GUE instructor since 2016, she teaches Cave, DPV, Tech, and Recreational courses in English, German, Spanish, and Hungarian.
She has logged 4,200 dives—over 1,200 in caves, 500 decompression, 300 wreck, 700 DPV—and has mapped more than 55 km/34 mi of new passage with a record penetration of 6.37 km/3.96 mi. Her exploration spans Mexico, Florida, France, and Hungary with roles in MCEP (2018-20), BEL (2020-23), Cocom (2024-25), and, as project leader, PURE (2025). Major exploration zones include Chuup Ich, Akalche, Yax Chen, La Concha, Abejas, and Cocom. Blending academic rigor with field skill, she promotes safe technique and conservation while mentoring the next generation of cave divers.
Sunday, March 15 FUN DIVE
On Sunday, March 15 we will plan to go somewhere in the area for a fun dive. Anyone who is able to stick around is welcome to join us while we explore one of the many amazing dive sites that Vancouver Island has to offer!
The group will be conducting a recreational dive, but if others would like to go do a tech dive they can absolutely plan for that.
❊ FAQs
You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers
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Leading Edge 6 will take place on March 13 & 14, 2026.
The diving and dinner/social will take place at the Maple Bay Rowing Club located at 6735 Beaumont Ave, Duncan, BC V9L 5X4, Canada
We will meet in the parking lot outside the rowing club each morning at 8:00am.
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The cost is $450 CAD. This includes casual BBQ lunch, Buffett dinner, and your two days of diving with a GUE instructor. A PaylPal request for this amount will be sent to you within 48hrs of registering. Upon receipt of payment your spot will be secured.
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Each day will begin at 8:00am in the parking lot of the Rowing Club.
You will assemble with your team and instructor. You’ll have the day to dive and work on whatever you decide as a group are your educational priorities!
BBQ lunch will be served around noon. We’ll have burgers, hot dogs, veggie options, and various sides.
Dinner will be buffet style and served inside the rowing club around 6pm.
After dinner will be presentations by various diving professionals.
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Maple Bay is located just a few minutes east of Duncan, British Columbia. All of this is located on Vancouver Island. (Not to be confused with Vancouver the city.)
There are two ways to get to Vancouver Island. Either by ferry or by air.
If travelling by air, the closest airports are Victoria International Airport (YYJ) and Nanaimo Airport (YCD).
If traveling by vehicle, you can either take the BC Ferry which has two terminal options (both are close to Maple Bay) or the Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles, WA.
Please note that public transit in the Maple Bay/Duncan area is very limited. If you’re flying in you will likely want to organize a rental vehicle. Sharing with a group of friends is even better!
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When signing up you will provide your various certifications. We will aim to pair you with other students of a similar level.
Your instructor will be chosen to appropriately challenge your skill level. We cannot accommodate requests for specific instructors. If this presents a problem please reach out to us directly so we can understand your situation.
While it is not always possible, we aspire to pair you with an instructor you haven’t worked with before. Getting a new perspective is always a plus!
Please note that the logistics of pairing teammates with instructors is very challenging and may be subject to last minute changes. You will likely find out who your team and instructor are in the days preceding the workshop. However, you may not know until the morning of.
Due to last minute travel changes, cancellations, etc, we cannot guarantee a particular instructor/team pairing. We thank-you for your understanding and flexibility in this matter.
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We recommend using a service like Airbnb to find a place as close to the Maple Bay Rowing Club as you would like.
There are many rental options in the area, and there are more typical hotels available in nearby Duncan about 15 minutes down the road.
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If you are driving we ask that you please bring tanks filled with Nitrox 32 for the weekend. Two sets of doubles or four single tanks would be perfect as this reduces work load on our volunteers.
Loaner tanks and fills after day one are all courtesy of our community volunteers so please only avail yourself of this service if you absolutely must. (Ex, you’re flying in.)
If you are flying please let us know in your registration so we can organize tanks, fills, and weights for you.
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Maple Bay is a very protected area with just about no current, a gentle drop off, and easy line-of-sight from shore.
Onsite there is an AED, emergency oxygen, and many people with first aid training.
Maple Bay Fire Rescue is two minutes up the road and the site has excellent cell service to call if needed.
Several volunteers will be on shore all day keeping an eye on the water and able to lend a hand if needed.
Maple Bay is an active boating area. On the first morning we will discuss procedures to deconflict with boat traffic.
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Typical weather for the area in mid-March is about 10-15°C. We’re just as likely to have clear skies as we are a bit of rain. Prepare for either!
Water temperature hovers right around 9°C all year long in the Pacific North West. That means thick undergarments, thick hoods, and dry gloves. (Or wet gloves if you’re crazy…)
If you’re unsure about what undergarment to use, we recommend something like a Santi BZ400 or other cold-water alternative.
❊ Testimonials
What attendees have to say.
My experience at Leading Edge has been one of new learning and new friends! Getting the chance to learn from GUE instructors and divers from all over the world in such a beautiful location while leaving space for quality social networking time is such a rare experience and one I highly recommend!
— Britt G., Attendee
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Leading Edge provides a diverse group of instructors, experts, students, divers, and explorers the opportunity to meet on mutual footing and common ground, while having truly enjoyable dialogue, conversation, and discussion.
Combine that with some good food, stress-free coaching and diving, and the opportunity to connect with new friends, while getting to give some old ones a hug and a handshake, and you have an event that is unique to any diving community, and well-worth your time.
— Ron F., Instructor
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Attending Leading Edge has been one of the biggest contributors to my diving journey, and has helped me meet friends in the local and global GUE community.
I have thoroughly enjoyed each year. Whether I was struggling to pass Fundamentals, preparing for Tech 1, or just trying to maintain my skills, the feedback from excellent instructors in a low stress environment is fantastic.
Don’t hesitate - it’s totally worth it.
— Adrian B., Attendee
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Explore beautiful Maple Bay, BC and come dive with us!