73 replies to this topic

[normblitch]

Thanks man. I've been running this around my head for nearly a week. On the one hand do I sign up for a course that is clearly a reach for me, and get out of it what I can, or do I back down, take the beginner course, and move to this later.

I think I will try the course and if I am too uncomfortable, or my instructor is, we'll back it down. But I think I'll regret not giving myself the opportunity when it's in front of me. If nothing else, I'll get to try doubles, learn about diving with them, and end up with just my basic card. That's the most likely scenario anyway. Even if I do pass the advancved, I won't be doing deco dives for some time yet. Just trying to get a doubles set going and practicing dives with it.

Slight aside.. any of you ever dive steel tanks wet? I mean doubles. I am thinking of trying out a set of 72s or other small set but I am not diving dry. The negative buoyancy should come pretty close if I wear my full wetsuit. I'll be about 3 pounds negative with just half my wetsuit on. which should be easily swimmable.

When do you have to sign up for the Course go-no go decision?

MANY Cavers (the River Cavers, particularly) dive WET, not DRY...SM or BM, the weights are the same, and they are doing dub 95's or MORE!

Norm

[Walter]

I have a set of steel slim 72s I put together back in '89. I've never used a dry suit with them. It doesn't matter if you're wet or dry, what's important is you can swim them up from the deepest point of your dive with no air in your BC. If you can, no problem. If you can't, have a dry suit or a lift bag that can lift them.

[normblitch]

I have a set of steel slim 72s I put together back in '89.  I've never used a dry suit with them.  It doesn't matter if you're wet or dry, what's important is you can swim them up from the deepest point of your dive with no air in your BC.  If you can, no problem.  If you can't, have a dry suit or a lift bag that can lift them.

Walter,

Darn fine point...I'll have to give this a try with my 95 and the Venture Cell...

(NOT a SW Techie)

Is a lift bag ever REALLY a fix for this in deep Ocean stuff?

Norm

[PerroneFord]

When do you have to sign up for the Course go-no go decision?

MANY Cavers (the River Cavers, particularly) dive WET, not DRY...SM or BM, the weights are the same, and they are doing dub 95's or MORE!

Norm

I'll be taking the course regardless. The only question is whether or not I'll be able to pass the eval for Adv. or not. I will start the course next week I believe.

-P

[Walter]

Is a lift bag ever REALLY a fix for this in deep Ocean stuff?

It can be done, but it's far from ideal. I wouldn't recommend it.

[EdmDiver]

Then, they weren't doing it right. Sidemounting wasn't DIR. Was this while George was the WKPP project director?

GI3 on DIR Sidemount

[TraceMalin]

Norm, thanks for the compliments regarding my objectivity. I try to be dispassionate unless it has something to do with a slender blonde.

Perrone, my instructors were Andrew Georgitsis, Michael H. Kane, Bob Sherwood, and Ed Hayes (apprenticeship). Just sip the Kool-Aid, don't drown in it.

Jeff, thanks for posting that sidemount article. I stand corrected. Even strokery can be done right!

Walter and Brian, you guys are still strokes!

Trace

[PerroneFord]

Hmmm.. I don't know (of) Ed Hayes, but I know the others. As I've said before, my formal introduction to DIR/GUE was done by JJ, and I came away with a very different perception than you guys seem to have.

I also am one to take things in small doses. I'll get engrossed in something, but only dig a bit at a time. DIR was that way. I wanted to know what it was all about, so got it in pieces. Gear, attitude, requisite skills, controversy, GI3, FifthD-X, etc. It's been rather a good read!

Well, it's off to Ginnie tomorrow, then Morrison Sunday, then IANTD Nitrox next week. In 2 weeks back to Ginnie for the NACD convention. I am going to have to miss the GUE one which disappoints me, but something had to give.

[Walter]

Of course I'm a stroke. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Diverbrian]

Slight aside.. any of you ever dive steel tanks wet? I mean doubles. I am thinking of trying out a set of 72s or other small set but I am not diving dry. The negative buoyancy should come pretty close if I wear my full wetsuit. I'll be about 3 pounds negative with just half my wetsuit on. which should be easily swimmable.

I don't dive wet anymore, I don't dive my doubles dry. The set of doubles that I buy in a couple of years will be double 20's if you all catch my meaning. That may change things.

Great Lakes and wetsuits for extended diving just don't mix well.

And Trace,

I am what I am. We all have to live with it.

[Dive_Girl]

Gear, attitude, requisite skills, controversy, GI3, FifthD-X, etc.

I am familiar with FifthD in Seattle, what is FifthD-X?

[gcbryan]

Gear, attitude, requisite skills, controversy, GI3, FifthD-X, etc.

I am familiar with FifthD in Seattle, what is FifthD-X?

http://www.5thd-x.com/index2.html

[Dive_Girl]

I've been on the site before, I just was wondering what the difference was and if there is any significance as FifthD-X is so similar in name to FifthD.

[PerroneFord]

I've been on the site before, I just was wondering what the difference was and if there is any significance as FifthD-X is so similar in name to FifthD.

Short version:

Former owner of fifthD was a GUE guy. There were some disagreements. Owner was a friend of Andy G (GUE Training director at the time). Owner sold his interest in the Seattle shop, including the name opened a shop in San Diego with a similar name. The GUE cast offs like Andy G are now aligned with FifthD-X. They produce a scooter which competes with George Irvine's Gavin scooter and that was a point of contention I am sure.

Seems like some serious political stuff which is why I included it among the other controversy. Much has been written about it, even from the major players in question, but that gets long and drawn out. FifthD-X has a forum and the answers are all there if you want to go have a read.

Note that FifthD-X is now offering training similar to GUE's.