An observation about divers

[TSandM]

I think DIR for this would be hiding in the tree and jumping on the animal below as it passes....

Only if you did it in pairs . . .

It does make me sad when people suggest that DIR sucks all the joy out of diving . . . joy and freedom were what I found in it.

 

[Hepcat62]

It does make me sad when people suggest that DIR sucks all the joy out of diving . . . joy and freedom were what I found in it.

I couldn't agree more. It took me a bit longer than I'd originally hoped (I really need to write that report ), but when I got my rec pass a couple of weekends ago, I found that a lot of things had finally "clicked". To me, the fantastic feeling of being able to honestly comfortably hold a 10' stop wasn't at all about adhering to an ascent schedule I'm supposed to follow (although I both agree with and follow it). It was really about experiencing the feeling of CONTROL, and realizing how much more comfortable and in-control my time on the bottom had become while working on that 10' stop.

That's an especially amazing feeling when you consider that I never felt out of control before - it's only upon attaining some real control that I was able to realize what I was missing before.

 

[Kingpatzer]

Only if you did it in pairs . . .

It does make me sad when people suggest that DIR sucks all the joy out of diving . . . joy and freedom were what I found in it.

Those of us in PADI are made sad when we're repeatedly told we're killing divers because we're not hard core enough.

The DIR folks needs more ambassadors such as yourself, and quite a few less of the folks who decide to live down to the reputation.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Those of us in PADI are made sad when we're repeatedly told we're killing divers because we're not hard core enough.

The DIR folks needs more ambassadors such as yourself, and quite a few less of the folks who decide to live down to the reputation.

... but, at least on ScubaBoard, the majority of the folks who rail against PADI are not DIR. They are old-school divers who grew up in a different era and long for the present to be more like the past. Many are as anti-DIR as you are ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[randytay]

This tired argument seems to go on and on-with different headings of course.

Yup and the band plays on. Analites on both sides will continue trying to suck all the life out of divers potential enjoyment of the sport.

And of course when there is a band playing, there will be joyful cheerleaders who enjoyed the sport so much that they find time to chime in on a topic they pretend not to care about but still has to do it which generally results in an off-base comment. If there are folks who are not mature to handle a discussion about an observation so much so that it suck the joy of diving out of them, they should just go dive more and leave the discussion to the adults who can handle them.

Another hobby of mine is hunting and you have the recurve vs compound vs crossbow arguments all the time. Some people just don't get that there is more than one way to do something.

Indeed. I get my meat by going to the supermarket or butcher. I have yet to find the joy of taking the lives of an innocent using whatever method as a hobby, sport, recreation or a bragging right to inflate some ego. But if you like all of those, more power to you.

 

[DaleC]

Indeed. I get my meat by going to the supermarket or butcher. I have yet to find the joy of taking the lives of an innocent using whatever method as a hobby, sport, recreation or a bragging right to inflate some ego. But if you like all of those, more power to you.

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.

 

[Guba]

...time to chime in on a topic they pretend not to care about but still has to do it which generally results in an off-base comment...
followed by:
Indeed. I get my meat by going to the supermarket or butcher. I have yet to find the joy of taking the lives of an innocent using whatever method as a hobby, sport, recreation or a bragging right to inflate some ego. But if you like all of those, more power to you.

I see your point.

 

[kanonfodr]

Indeed. I get my meat by going to the supermarket or butcher. I have yet to find the joy of taking the lives of an innocent using whatever method as a hobby, sport, recreation or a bragging right to inflate some ego. But if you like all of those, more power to you.

I'm lazy, simple as that. If I can get good enough stuff from the supermarket or butcher: great! If it comes down to having to go out and kill my dinner I'm gonna do it in the simplest way possible: a medium-caliber semi-automatic rifle. Something like this:

If I can get the training that allows me to dive in the laziest possible style while still being proficient (and GUE/UTD/DIR training is the ultimate lazy-man's diving system) then I'm gonna take it. Ya it takes a bit of work in the beginning but once you have the skills then diving becomes SO much easier. Add in a DIR buddy and all the hard work is over with, you just chat a bit about the dive then jump in the water and go. No worries because we're similarly trained, similarly equipped, and react similarly to the same problems.

Peace,
Greg

 

[TCDiver1]

It does make me sad when people suggest that DIR sucks all the joy out of diving . . . joy and freedom were what I found in it.

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 for one am amazed that some people think being able to hover endlessly, 2 inches off the bottom, is a requirement for one to enjoy diving. While it's a great level of skill to strive for and to master, it isn't a requirement IMO as long as one has their buoyancy under reasonable control.

I think many new and potential divers come away from discussions like this thinking the 2" hover thing is a base requirement to safe, enjoyable diving and i find that unfortunate.

 

[TSandM]

I for one am amazed that some people think being able to hover endlessly, 2 inches off the bottom, is a requirement for one to enjoy diving. While it's a great level of skill to strive for and to master, it isn't a requirement IMO as long as one has their buoyancy under reasonable control.

It really depends on the kind of diving you do, and what you like to do WHILE diving. If you want to watch a Giant Pacific Octopus underneath a wrecked sailboat, you are going to have to hover just off the bottom for a while -- if you settle down ON the bottom, you aren't going to be able to see the octopus. If you want to get just the right shot of a blenny sticking his head up out of a hole, you may have to hover very quietly for a while, until he gets over his initial fright and pops up to see if the coast is clear.

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.