Why NOT DIR?

[RiverRat]

To me a balanced rig means also that when removed, the rig, and by extension the diver, are both reasonably close to neutral. Achievement of this goal requires (in most cases) the use of a weightbelt.

Good point. So then I guess the term "balanced" rig is open for interpretation? As far as the rig itself, as long as the wing can float it you're good. But then if you're in a wetsuit and have to ditch it, without a belt, you'll become a scud missile. I suppose the only scenario I see myself doing that would be entangled in a wreck. If I ditch I then need to make sure I keep a hold of my rig while I get myself free or I'm screwed. I personally use a little lead on a belt as I'm not diving doubles yet or doing caves. Something to think about.

 

[Nemrod]

I am not DIR because I don't feel it is compatible with my diving. While I find certain concepts of team work, planning, and standardization useful I don't agree with the one size fits all. I don't think a doubles set is optimal. I don't need a can light for every dive. The overly equipment intense and buddy dependent format just does not suit my underwaer explorations. I am a minimalist, DIR is equipment intense, I often dive solo, I may not even have a BC at all, I don't need a dry suit for most of my diving, I don't feel the 7 foot hose is optiaml for air sharing in open water environments. I like to draw ideas from whatever source including DIR that I find useful but I don't like being forced or prodded, I dive MY way as it suits me at the moment. My way is not equipment intense, it is not buddy dependent (solo or not), I do not rely upon equipment to back me up and I don't think normally "fun" diving requires all of the backup gear. There are rules however to diving, I applaud the DIR focus on developing a strategy to deal with deep diving, to explore beyond the light, I follow the Rule of Thirds. No, I don't apply it with Draconian measure but it is a rule of thunb and there are others I use. I dive a double hose regulator, I share air via an octapus. I do use a wing/BP Hog style rig sometimes but other times I may not. In the end, I find a cave diving system (DIR) overly restrictive and non optimal for my diving. I am not anti-DIR, it is just not for me. I do not like the term DIR brought to the table--stroke.


Note to JeffG, do you ever let that machine gun cool off?
Second note, Force Fins are the best but I do admit, when I know I am going for the gusto, it is the Super Jets I reach for complete with unreliable and broken Halycon spring straps. Rubber straps = GOOD, Halycon spring straps = BAD.

N

 

[JeffG]

I don't think a doubles set is optimal.

I don't need a can light for every dive.

I don't need a dry suit for most of my diving

None of these things have anything to do with DIR.

 

[matts1w]

I do not consider DIR as it appears to me that spearfishing and DIR are not compatible.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

This is an opportunity for them to discuss things they are opposed to in the DIR style and open up the discussion for the reasons why.

In my case, it's fairly simple: My LDS won't let me. I'm in their DiveCon program and we are required to wear the 'uniform', i.e. the stuff the store sells, even if that means wearing and promoting equipment that IMHO is ill-designed and downright unsafe. For example, the new Scubapro BC: To ditch the weights, you have to first fumble around to find the buckle, then unclip the buckle, while at the same time pulling the handle to remove the weight pocket.

Of course I realize that from the LDS perspective, this requirement makes sense.

Not sure how long I'm gonna put up with that....

 

[RoyN]

So basically anybody can be DIR or is there equipment restrictions? How about the rules of diving? Is there more rules beyond what the rules are for PADI, NAUI, or SSI and etc? I know that there is such thing as being a dork diver and a DIR diver because their rules on safety.

Royston

no, no, no and no

Nothing like learning on the internet.

Jeff, I can basically just keep my equipment, slap a DIR sticker and say I'm DIR-ready? :confused2

Just to elaborate a bit on Jeff's answers:

1. Only for tech dives.
2. No, but Jet fins and similar are best for frog kicking and other alternative kicks. DIR divers don't use split fins or fins with soft blades like force fins.
3. You stow your backup (octo) under the chin with a bungee necklace. You route your 7ft primary hose across the chest and behind the neck, but not around it.
4. Drysuit is preferred for backup buoyancy when necessary, but wetsuits are fine too as long as you can still swim your rig up provided that your wing fails.

Hi Floater, thanks for helping me. So those equipment are "just" recommendations only so that mean I can keep using 1. Single tank, 2. Use a split although some DIRs would frown on it, 3. use an inflator-octo (Scubapro AIR2) 4. don't have to have drysuits?

 

[JeffG]

Jeff, I can basically just keep my equipment, slap a DIR sticker and say I'm DIR-ready? :confused2

Knock yourself out.

 

[Hank49]

I have a question regarding the commitment to DIR. If you consider yourself DIR totally, and you were assigned for two years to work on a Diego Garcia type island but totally remote, with unreal coral wall drop offs, fish everywhere, just beautiful ocean, clear and 80 F, BUT..you were the only diver there and you only had air to dive with, would you dive? Or say "no thanks, I don't have my team here".

 

[Footslogger]

Jeff, I can basically just keep my equipment, slap a DIR sticker and say I'm DIR-ready? :confused2


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There's such a thing as a DIR sticker ??

 

[Blackwood]

equipment restrictions?

DIR Equipment Configuration

How about the rules of diving? Is there more rules beyond what the rules are for PADI, NAUI, or SSI and etc?

If anything, I'd venture to guess that GUE publishes fewer rules for recreational diving than PADI et. all. I could be wrong, though.

Some guidelines are the same, others are different. For example, while PADI suggests that divers should return to the surface with 500PSI in the tank, GUE simply mandates that dives carry adequate gas for the planned dive and begin to surface with sufficient reserves (of which there are various methods of determining).