99 replies to this topic

[dad+2(.5)]

OK, I'll rephrase--- WHAT does DIR stand for?

Edited by dad+2(.5), 30 August 2006 - 08:18 AM.

[PerroneFord]

http://www.gue.com/E...tion/index.html

[dad+2(.5)]

http://www.gue.com/E...tion/index.html

Thanks PerroneFord, Now that I know what its about,I think it would be helpfull info to have, but I have don't know of any dive shops that offer the training.

[PerroneFord]

GUE is a niche training agency. They are too small to have "shops" that offer the training. You have to seek out indiviual instructors and their classes. It is also likely you will have to travel for it. I highly recommend you take the course in Florida. Namely, in High Springs, Florida. Hotels are cheap, the instructors are good, and you'll be immersed in the environment where DIR came from.

This is not to say there are not other places to take the training, but this is where you should take it if you can.

DIR is far more about a mindset and approach to diving, than anything else. It is certainly NOT for everyone. Many people see it as doing it wrong. Even many of my colleagues, and my other instructors don't care for it. The gear requirements are fairly strict for taking the course, so understand that if you are truly interested in pursing the training. This locks many interested folks out.

I am in the midst of my cave course at the moment, and I can say the DIRF course was instrumental in helping me have the success I am enjoying right now.

Again, DIR is not the only way to dive, but I think it is one of a few good ways to dive.

[VADiver]

Perrone,
Good luck in you Cave class.

Vinny

[PerroneFord]

Cave course over, I didn't finish (no full pass), but made it further than half-way.

Thanks Vinny.



(sorry for the hijaak)

[Cephalopod]

I am not anywhere in your poll.

You don't have a "haven't learned, not interested in learning and wouldn't use it!"

I'm perfectly happy with my PADI training and being a warm water wus of a resort diver!

I'm with AliKat. Recreational diving is what most of us do. Tec diving is a serious challenge. DIR reduces your risk factor, but I don't see the need for it in my watery world. We have our own basic specs.

I dive, and have taught scuba as a fun, relaxing, recreational sport. I have absolutely no interest in wreck penetration, overhead environment diving, tri-mix, deco, or going deeper than 132 feet. Those that do are diving for reasons other than the rest of us. Likewise, I don't base jump, skydive, or swim outside the cage with Great Whites. I simply don't crave that type of excitement, or personal fulfillment. I want to relax and have fun with this sport.

This isn't to "dis" Tec divers. It's your life...spend it, and your money, however you wish, and more power to you. The rest of us will thoroughly enjoy reading about your adventures.

Personally, given a choice of staring at a murky, rusting hulk at 250', or checking out AliKat's frame in a bikini, while holding a watered-down, all inclusive, "Rum-Runner"...Hmmmmm! Yup! She wins.

One man's opinion.

"Ceph"

[Diverbrian]

In defense of DIR, it can work well for the lovers of watching bikini clad women on the dive boat too . It is simply a system of diving. It can be applied to the non overhead/deep realm.

The real differences that make it difficult to apply to warm water divers that are single.

One: It demands a like minded buddy. It is very buddy reliant. But then, I find a single tank rig to be more demanding of having a buddy. In many situations, in a standard warm water dive location, your only safe bail-out on an equipment malfuntion is your buddy. In "technical" diving, I have another post to access (meaning a completely first and second stage). I am not and can not be buddy reliant in that type of diving. The problem is that many warm water divers are forced to dive in a situation of finding an "insta-buddy". That is extremely difficult with true DIR.

Two: A backplate and harness looks "techie" and can cause a few funny looks from people on the boat. Let's not even get into using a 5-7 ft. LP hose for your primary.

There are more, but I can't think of them off of the top of my head. The first one is the largest issue though (IMHO).

Keep in mind this is coming from a non-DIR diver who dives doubles and deco bottles on most any wreck dive below 100 ft. and even though I am maintaining a no deco profile (My theory is that the richer EAN on the way up helps purge my system out better and that every little bit helps ). My normal dive buddy for these no-deco dives is in a Zeagle Ranger BC with a standard second stage and octo set-up. She also dives a wetsuit next to me in a drysuit. I cannot say enough good about my safety when I dive with her. I trust her implicitly in that regard. Hopefully one day we will both be diving CCR . Boat captains look at us with kind of crossed eyes when they figure out that we are dive buddies, but we are like minded underwater and that is what counts at the end of the day.


I won't promote DIR. But, I will say that if you want to reduce your risk, it is a good system to look at. Personally, the full system is not for me (or even many of the divers on this board from what I read). But, it works well for many others, so I won't try to slam it either.

BTW, I love the bikini imagine for a surface interval. But for my diving, give me the wreck .

[PerroneFord]

This DIR stuff is a mountain out of a molehill. I've done DIR dives with people who didn't know the first thing about the system. Everything necessary was covered in the pre-dive briefing, and everything went according to plan.

The REAL danger to DIR are the people who don't know anything about, THINK they do, and start shooting off at the mouth about how it sucks, how they'll never do it, it's for tech diver, or overhead divers etc.

The great proportion of DIR divers have not, and most likely never will be in an overhead environment. A great many DIR divers spend most of their time in single tanks.

Frankly, DIR is about sharing risks. And from I've seen, most divers are too selfish and self absorbed to think about the safety of their dive buddies, thus DIR or any other safety-based, will never work for them.

[Cephalopod]

This DIR stuff is a mountain out of a molehill. I've done DIR dives with people who didn't know the first thing about the system. Everything necessary was covered in the pre-dive briefing, and everything went according to plan.

The REAL danger to DIR are the people who don't know anything about, THINK they do, and start shooting off at the mouth about how it sucks, how they'll never do it, it's for tech diver, or overhead divers etc.

The great proportion of DIR divers have not, and most likely never will be in an overhead environment. A great many DIR divers spend most of their time in single tanks.

Frankly, DIR is about sharing risks. And from I've seen, most divers are too selfish and self absorbed to think about the safety of their dive buddies, thus DIR or any other safety-based, will never work for them.

Hmmm....interesting response, PF. But I must disagree about "most divers". My experience has been just the opposite.

"Ceph"

Edited by Cephalopod, 31 August 2006 - 01:13 PM.

[Latitude Adjustment]

This DIR stuff is a mountain out of a molehill. I've done DIR dives with people who didn't know the first thing about the system. Everything necessary was covered in the pre-dive briefing, and everything went according to plan.

I agree, DIR and rec divers can dive together. Many of my Pa./NJ buddies are DIR although buddy teams tend to be same ocean/same day in this area and I've done some warm water dives with DIR divers.
No matter what you are doing it starts with a buddy check before the dive, know their equipment setup and what they expect.

[PerroneFord]

LA, that is EXACTLY it. There is no great mystery about doing DIR dives in warm open water. Be safe, be there for each other, understand each other's gear, stay close enough so that if something happens it can get dealt with.

And HAVE FUN.

Comparing DIR for 50ft O/W diving, and DIR for 15,000ft cave penetrations is silly.

[PerroneFord]

Hmmm....interesting response, PF. But I must disagree about "most divers". My experience has been just the opposite.

"Ceph"

Well, clearly our experiences have been different. Because most OW divers I've seen can't position their tank, have no idea of gas management, cannot do an air share mid-water, and have almost no situational awareness.

I encourage anyone to try this on their next OW dive with a regular buddy. At some random point, take your regulator out of your mouth and begin to give the OOA sign. Check your watch. See how long it takes your buddy to respond to your problem.

I'll be VERY interested in the response times.

[Cephalopod]

Hmmm....interesting response, PF. But I must disagree about "most divers". My experience has been just the opposite.

"Ceph"

Well, clearly our experiences have been different. Because most OW divers I've seen can't position their tank, have no idea of gas management, cannot do an air share mid-water, and have almost no situational awareness.

I encourage anyone to try this on their next OW dive with a regular buddy. At some random point, take your regulator out of your mouth and begin to give the OOA sign. Check your watch. See how long it takes your buddy to respond to your problem.

I'll be VERY interested in the response times.

Well PF, I wish you safety in your dives, and peace in your life.

As for testing dive buddies on response time...why not initiate a simple buddy-check of gear, and discuss signals prior to a dive? Then tanks will get straightened, unique dive situations will be discussed, and cross check signals on remaining gas, during the dive, can be planned in advance. The best way to manage the problems you mention "most" divers having, is to education them by example.

If such safe practices are not the norm where you dive, then you should do it, even if your buddy already knows it, so that others may watch and learn. The beginners learn most from the example senior divers set.

Now, enough of this. I'm off to have fun with other members.

Regards,
Ceph

[VADiver]

I agree eduaction is the best way for a diver to improve, but trying to educate a diver on the bopat ride out to a site (or even worse during an emergency at 130') is crazy. The beauty of DIR is that everyone is on the same sheet of music, has the same mind set and knows what their limits are. From my experiance there are too many divers on the cattle boats who should not be there in the first place and are pressing the limits of their ability. They may be OK, but in an emergency at depth they are a danger to themselves, their buddy and every other diver on the trip.

Set dive buddies eliminate these issues and the pre dive equipment check and dive review (SADDDDD) will take care of the rest.