Attitudes Toward DIR Divers

[jborg]

I feel like a lot of the Tech / DIR / GUE stuff is gatekeeping.

It's a matter of "are you good enough to dive with us"

Are we talking about "DIR divers" though or "DIR divers who refuse to dive with non-DIR divers"? I consider myself the former, but have yet to meet any of the latter kind.

When diving in a "team" or buddy pair, I will absolutely make a determination if the person I'm diving with seems to be a safe person to dive with. I hope everyone does that, DIR or not. That determination is situational -- I don't mind diving with newly minted PADI OW divers at the local shallow dive spot, I think it's fun to show new people around. Not much DIR involved, and still perfectly safe. However there are other deeper, more complicated dive spots where I know that there are certain people I would not dive with and quite a few I would -- again, not a lot of those are DIR per se, but they're certainly good and dependable divers and that's really all it boils down to. The more complicated the dive, the more I think it's nice to share a set of routines, equipment, etc to make things run smoothly. Is this gatekeeping? Sure.

 

[Lorenzoid]

When diving in a "team" or buddy pair, I will absolutely make a determination if the person I'm diving with seems to be a safe person to dive with. I hope everyone does that, DIR or not.

This^

Maybe more extensive training—again DIR or not—opens one’s eyes to more safety-related criteria. There was a time when I would have dived with anyone because I didn’t know much about safety beyond don’t hold your breath and don’t run out of air.

 

[rddvet]

I feel like a lot of the Tech / DIR / GUE stuff is gatekeeping.

I think if you feel that way it’s because you don’t understand what diving with a unified team is like.

Side note: I also dive solo caves so I understand both sides of the coin. But if you are trained to handle an emergency a certain way as are other people on your team, it can be life-threatening if you add another person on the team that doesn’t understand the reasoning or process behind your emergency procedures. I know very few gue divers who are so arrogant they won’t dive with anyone that’s not gue trained. Usually there is just a discussion prior to the dive to discuss how things should be handled. It’s not gatekeeping or skill superiority. I

 

[Allen-1]

I don’t know or care about my post being telling, or if there are any controversial rules or not.
All I know is that this thread is up to seven hundred and forty six, and I want to see if I can blow it up to a thousand.

Let me see if I can help you achieve that goal.

In keeping with the health aspects, (fitness/non-smoking), are most DIR divers Vegan?

 

[Lorenzoid]

Let me see if I can help you achieve that goal.

In keeping with the health aspects, (fitness/non-smoking), are most DIR divers Vegan?

An “Attitudes toward vegans” thread could easily reach 1000 posts on its own.

 

[The Chairman]

Scuba is a physical activity.

What's the best way to get fit for scuba? Get in and scuba. I swim most every day, though I've missed the past three and I guess that there are other exercises to get you ready, but none beat getting in the water with a tank or two and blowing bubbles. That said, during most dives, the most exertion I get, is climbing out of the water, be it a boat or shore dive. It's just not that hard. Oh, I've seen the underwater Rambos fighting currents like mad men. Meh. Dive smarter, not harder. I often get the "but there are times..." response. Meh. Just because you haven't figured out how to deal with currents, doesn't mean we all have to fight them.

 

[flymolo]

That's generally how certifications work, yes.

or rather how they are *supposed* to work

 

[mr_v]

I think if you feel that way it’s because you don’t understand what diving with a unified team is like.

An important point that is hard to understand unless you've experienced malfunction on serious dives.

 

[flymolo]

What's the best way to get fit for scuba? Get in and scuba.

I think some kinda weight training is beneficial too. your equipment shouldn't be the heaviest thing you lift.

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

golf courses could/should be reconfigured as rifle ranges

And cemeteries should be reconfigured as golf courses. Bury-em vertically and skip the head-stones. Or better yet.... send-em on a final deep water ocean solo dive for natural "recycling" purposes.