a retreat from DIR

[CD_in_Chitown]

we spent about 40 minutes passing stage tanks back and forth,
and it just wasn't an issue.

Cool glad to hear it, maybe I was too hasty to jump on the bandwagon before.

 

[H2Andy]

The response was I would hold my hand in a some other way or that temporary blinding was not an issue.

well, the response was a bit more complete than that

it was basically:

1. you can learn to do it and minimize glare; and

2. even if you get glare, it's not a big issue, since trained divers
aren't going to freak out with a little light in their eyes

in other words, i am not persuaded that this is a significant enough problem
to risk entanglement (a very real problem) by having the chord across my chest.

 

[NineGill]

Why not have both the can and the lighthead on the left side?

* The right hand is free for OOA.
* The computer stays on the right hand so the left hand still adjusts bouyancy and illuminates the computer.
* No cord across the chest.

You could put a small pocket on the right hip to loop the long reg under.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[H2Andy]

Why not have both the can and the lighthead on the left side?

ok, there we go

that's something i hadn't thought of

two questions:

1. would this be considered DIR? and

2. from any DIR divers, what's your take on this idea?

 

[CD_in_Chitown]

Why not have both the can and the lighthead on the left side?

* The right hand is free for OOA.
* The computer stays on the right hand so the left hand still adjusts bouyancy and illuminates the computer.
* No cord across the chest.

You could put a small pocket on the right hip to loop the long reg under.

Any thoughts on this?

Argon and deco gas are on that side, the lighthead is customarily clipped off to the right d-ring hindering deployment of the long hose if can is on the left...introduces some issues anyway.

 

[JeffG]

ok, there we go

that's something i hadn't thought of

two questions:

1. would this be considered DIR? and

2. from any DIR divers, what's your take on this idea?

I guess it would be out of line to call you a troll, right?

 

[ScubaMilo]

Why not have both the can and the lighthead on the left side?

* The right hand is free for OOA.
* The computer stays on the right hand so the left hand still adjusts bouyancy and illuminates the computer.
* No cord across the chest.

You could put a small pocket on the right hip to loop the long reg under.

Any thoughts on this?

Come on lets be reasonable the canister would create a very cluttered and unreasonable mess on the left hip when using stages.:14:

 

[Jasonmh]

I'm not at all sure that I've taken away from this that the changes you have made are better than the way you were taught. You have moved the SPG because you have problems with clipping and unclipping; I don't, so I won't move it -- is your way better? You have problems with a light cord that is long enough to catch on stuff. You have chosen to manage the extra length by wrapping around your arm. You could shorten the cord, or put some kind of loop in it, but this way works for you. Is it better? My cord doesn't have the extra length, so I don't have the problem, so I'm not going to move mine.

If it's important to be DIR, one needs to figure out a way to get things done within their paradigm. If it's not important to be DIR (eg. you have plenty of non-DIR buddies to do all the dives you want with) then you can solve these issues any way you want.

Well said.

Andy-
One other thing that was hinted at in one of the other post are the additional changes that come about from the original change. Such as, moving the light head to the right hand means that (for some people) the lighthead/ballast may block the computer/bottom timer. So you move it to the left wrist, now when you adjust your bouyancy you can no longer see your depth. Probably not a big deal 99.9% of the time, or for people who are better divers than I am, but if I am in really low viz with no visual reference I really like having that depth gauge in front of me at all times. So for me I don't think I would enjoy that change. Sometimes making a change can affect more than the one part you were looking to correct.

There are alot of different perspectives to look at this from. You say that a trained cave diver should be able to handle being temporarily blinded, when another might say that a trained cave diver should not be pointing a light anywhere near their buddies face. Also, a trained cave diver might think that if you are willing to accept my being blinded while OOG, what else is there that you are willing to accept as a risk that I might not?
It is a personal acceptance of risk.. not that DIR or any other method is right or wrong. If you and your buddies are alright with it, then party on. It may mean that some people won't dive with you, but that will always be the case since no one can please everybody (nor should they try - just ask JeffG)

 

[jonnythan]

I guess it would be out of line to call you a troll, right?

No, I don't think it would.

 

[NineGill]

I'm sure I'm the least experienced diver in this thread, and I don't have a stage yet to try this config out with; I'm just throwing out questions so that everyone is clear on the thinking behind each gear configuration choice.

What is the thinking behind stages on the left other than the light is on the right?