An observation about divers

[vladimir]

You are very right that it is quite possible to have a lot of fun diving without being able to maintain a motionless hover, two inches off the bottom or anywhere else. All we're trying to say is that you have MORE fun when you can do these things, and they aren't that hard to learn.

I find interesting the similarities between this debate and the broader debate recently provoked by Amy Chua, the "tiger mom," in her Wall Street Journal essay, where she made a similar assertion:

What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it.

 

[seaducer]

I don't actually see many (any?) DIR divers saying you cannot dive this way, or that way. They just say "you cannot dive that way with me". It's not a kit issue - it's a team issue.

I think this has a lot to do with the angst that is often directed at the team diving concept. So many people do not have the self confidence needed to blow off that type of "rejection", most will feel anger towards it.

I think another cause is the military style and look to team diving. I think it intimidates those same people. While there are some people who are loud and obnoxious, on both sides, I really think the problem is more one of perception and self confidence. On both sides.

I have found myself on both sides of this argument over the years. Now for the most part I fail to see the point behind the debate. I have found value everywhere I have looked for it. Beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder.

 

[randytay]

Hah. I'm a vegetarian 10 years+ and I find his stance far more honest. At least he takes ownership of his actions. Go stand in the slaughterhouse for a while and see how those "innocents" are killed. It doesn't make you any less culpable just because someone else does the killing for you.

And for the record, I don't care if anyone else is a vegetarian but me. To each their own I say.

There is a difference between hunting for food and hunting for sport/hobby/recreation/joy. My stance has nothing to do with diet. Kudos to you for being a vegetarian, but choosing to abstain from meat will not stop the meat industry. Choosing not to hunt for the sake of fun and recreation is quite another thing altogether. Hey, Hitler was being honest too

 

[randytay]

I wasn't dissing DIR specifically, but rather the extremists on both sides of the topic who are constantly hammering away that their way is the only "right" or "safe" way. The knife cuts both ways.

I don't think anyone has so far claimed that one way or another is the only way. I chose to be trained in DIR, but I am also doing "mainstream" concurrently. Those who advocate DIR on this thread has not been "hammering away that their way is the only "right" or "safe" way", as far as my limited experience can tell. All I can see is why they felt it is "safe-er" because of the extra-mile they put into the team thingy.

On another note, those who did try DIR has experience in both and they kinda stuck with DIR, while those who are defensive about "not being safe" has only, for a lack of a better word, seen or read about DIR and never wanted to even try it and yet form a strong opinion about it. Surely there must be something about DIR worth trying is what I thought to myself and I based my decisions on that logic. And my post is also simply revolving on the attitudes of these divers, both DIR and non-DIR.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

.

Randy,

Out of curiosity what problem is it that you think DIR diving will help you solve?

 

[randytay]

Randy,

Out of curiosity what problem is it that you think DIR diving will help you solve?

The quick answer is that I do not know, and that is why I opted to join the course and find out. It makes sense to pay that few hundred bucks to learn the lesson in a controlled environment than save those money to learn about it in an uncontrolled one.

 

[TSandM]

Do you have to have a "problem" to think that you might enjoy organizing your diving a bit differently?

 

[Guba]

I think I'll bow out of this discussion, not because it's not informative and interesting. It is, and I thank each and every one of the respondants for their civility and candor. However, I'm out because it simply does not apply to me. Before one responds with the shocked query, "Don't you have an interest in being a "better" diver?", let me add...
1. Seeking DIR training isn't really possible for me. As far as I know (I've looked) there isn't a DIR, GUE or UTA program within a four hours drive from my home. Considering the distance I would have to travel, the length of time I'd have to stay there, the cost of the course, and the expense of quite a bit of new gear, it's simply outside the realm of practicality.
2. I have absolutely NO plans to move past my current formal training (Tech, cave, or penetration diving, etc...)
3. None of my diving friends are so trained. As far as I know, I've never even been on the boat with another DIR diver, so my chances of being "insta-buddied" with one seem fairly remote. Since the attraction for the training seems to be a bonding between similarly trained brethren, being a "team of one" would be a bit silly.

And, before anyone asks...as a matter of fact I CAN hover motionless inches from the bottom. I spent three hour-plus dives doing just that in 10-15 feet of water photographing and videoing crayfish and pupfish and the like two weeks ago. I'm sure the training, were it available, would teach much more than that, of course. As I pointed out already, though...it's irrelevant since it isn't practical.

However, I do thank everyone for the great information and the quality of the discussion. Proud of y'all!

 

[randytay]

Do you have to have a "problem" to think that you might enjoy organizing your diving a bit differently?

More like learning about problems so I can avoid them or deal with them in a manner to still enjoy diving

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Ah so you have a solution in search of a problem.