Another DIR related question ?

[fins]

I enjoyed reading the thread "the other end of the DIR question" http://www.scubaboard.com/t50838.html

It was very nice to see folks thoughts and opinions come out without a lot of flaming going on.

I have a related question:

How have you or how would you or how have you seen others react to a DIR type joining you on a dive boat?

Thanks

 

[jonnythan]

I've taken my [more or less] Hogarthian rig on exactly one boat. All I got were a few curious stares, and a couple of questions, including "how did you manage to look so streamlined underwater?"

I'm not DIR but will be taking the class as soon as I can afford it..

 

[HammerNoMore]

How have you or how would you or how have you seen others react to a DIR type joining you on a dive boat?

Most of the time they are curious and will ask about the equipment. On my last trip the mate loved my MC system and I wouldn't be surprised if it was his next choice for a BC.

Occational you will find somone who thinks they know everything that will tell you things like "That long hose is going to get you killed" or the like.

James

 

[JPBECK]

I dont really have a problem with people looking at me funny---because I'm / we are in the water as soon as the gates open. I hate tripping on them as they are walking across the deck with their fins on, or looking all around the boat for thier mask (when its sitting on their forehead). When they ask me about the long hose I tell them its for them----I want them as far away from me as I can get them if they freak out and panic!

But its really not an issue because all my buddies dive smart---All my students dive smart---They dont have to dive DIR like me but they have to be smart! We usaully watch others on the boat to show them what not to do...

Just my 1 1/2 cents... :laghost:

Its only a flame if you walk across the deck with your fins on!

 

[chickdiver]

I have experienced a range of reactions from curiosity to outright hostility on boats and other dive sites all over the US. I generally ignore the rude ones, answer questions nicely, and do my own thing. I once went out on a charter owned by a friend in S. Carolina. There was a hard core New England wreck diver on the boat as well. This guy was military, and he was DM for my friend's shop. At the beginning of the trip he wouldn't talk to me and stayed as far away as possible. By the end of the day he was asking questions. He ended up taking some overhead training from me, and is now a DIR guy and a good friend. I once asked him why he wouldn't talk to me at the beginning of class- he told me he didn't want to listen to the lectures about how wrong he was, once he realized I wasn't going to lecture he was curious. Bottom line- confrontational isn't my style, I try to lead (and convert) by example and conduct myself professionally at all times.

 

[Don Burke]

How have you or how would you or how have you seen others react to a DIR type joining you on a dive boat?

I'm fairly close to DIR equipped and getting closer.

There has been a conspiracy between the job and other events keeping me from taking of DIRf, but I haven't given up yet. The latest job change will help.

What I've seen at dive sites (boat and shore) are people expecting me to turn into Charles Manson on them. Once they actually talk to me, all of that goes away.

 

[SDAnderson]

I don't consider myself to be a DIR diver but the distinction is largely theoretical. Like chickdiver, I've experienced a wide range of reactions on the back end of dive boats, involving the DIR stuff that get discussed most on this board: the backplate, the long hose, the spring straps, the funny prone position, the bouyancy control, etc. Lots folks are mildly curious and only a very few have been openly disdainful. Oh, well. For the most part, life gives as it gets. Being friendly and polite usually smooth any situation, right? I don't proselytize, but unless it's time to get in the water, I'll usually answer questions.

Appearances can be deceiving both ways - sometimes the guy that looks like a total CF turns out to be more on the ball than anyone might suspect. I met a guy last year on a boat in North Carolina who was diving with a horse-collar over a beavertail wetsuit with an old Voit metal regulator and doubled steel 72's. There were a number of folks on the boat that thought he was a walking anachronism but I remember diving with that gear myself many years ago and we got to walking down memory lane together. It turns out that, despite his age, he was one of the best divers on the boat, of course. He was also one of the first people to dive the Doria when it went down and developed the original pony bottle because he wanted a bailout since they were still diving J-valves with no SPGs back then. Way cool, and I'm glad that his museum gear didn't keep me from talking to him.

 

[GDI]

I have been on a boat with DIR divers and other than a good old fashion ribbing back and forth the diver friendship attitude comes through. I have both defended and questioned DIR divers as to why they do things a certain way. If you ask a sincere intelligent question you will get a quality response. Debate can be healthy. I have also seen bad attitudes from both sides of the fence that are uncalled for. I take the diver for their actual observed abilities. I will dive with any diver DIR or not - NEVER STOP LEARNING

I hope you are not trolling

 

[JPBECK]

that's a cool story... I have met guys like that too--- but they dont usaully open up like that-- I get along with the old times pritty good since our equipment is about the same---Simple is better---Aside from the long hose, SPG, and Drysuit DIR divers out here are not that far away from the divers who learned in the 60's and 70's.

 

[String]

If its "A" DIR type id be suprised. They (i) dont solo dive and according to the extremely vocal minority wont dive with a non DIR "stroke". That causes obvious problems with just who/how theyre going to dive at all.

If 2 turned up as a buddy pair then no problems, let them dive their own way and thats it. Again im assuming unlike the vocal minority they wont tell everyone else on board they're dangerous and going to die.

If somehow they needed a non DIR buddy on the boat obviously it would depend on the buddy but on the boat theyd need to agree (i) not to criticise each others kit selection or techniques and (ii) agree procedures for acts on the dive to make sure they both knew what was going on. They key word here is "agree" not "dictate".

Incidentally the above can also apply to non-dir divers who insist on telling everyone nearby how superior their kit/methods/config is over everyone elses. Yes, they do exist.

Provided they are to accept that other people do things different ways and dont start preaching/criticising i cant see any problem at all.