After getting a contact high from the DIR concept here and on a few other scuba discussion boards, I eventually found my way to the GUE web site, and ordered the $60 "DIR 2004 Video", which is described as:
"The most comprehensive overview of the "Doing It Right" system ever available on video"
Apparently what that means is "nobody else has ever put any comments about DIR on video under any conditions, anywhere" - because I, never having taken a DIR course, owning no "DIR gear", and basing my comments solely on the contents of some web sites I found in an afternoon of googling the topic, could make a better video than DIR 2004.
The packaging belies the product: This looks like a professional video when you get it and open the box. I was expecting something a little rough around the edges - I'm not asking for broadcast quality material - but when you pop in the first DVD and start watching it quickly becomes apparent that this was a good idea gone horribly, horribly awry.
What you actually get is the experience of standing in someones' livingroom while two guys with no credentials (that is, no biographical information that would tell you who they are, why they matter, and why they're presenting the material is given. I know those things because I bothered to research the topic, but you'd never get that info from the video.) ramble on for 4+ hours about DIR - sometimes contradicting each other, sometimes interrupting each other, often referring to material that will be covered later that never is, and utterly failing to make a coherent presentation. I especially enjoyed the 45 minute "couch session" where the two guys (one of whom is wearing uncomfortably tight shorts - my wife referred to them as "plum smugglers") hang out on their couch and try to tell stories about their experiences in diving challenges, but often fail to bring the rambling full circle and actually >tell the whole story<.
This is not the image that GUE needs to be projecting. A long weekend of filming, preceded by perhaps a week of scriptwriting, and a week of post production to add graphics and some structure is all that is required to get this material kitbashed into shape. These guys have a lot of really good information to discuss, and its backed by years of practical diving experience. The utter and total failure to communicate this information effectively means this video is a waste of $60.
This is what GUE needs to do:
1) Before doing any more work, they need to write out a consistent description of what DIR is, how it works, why it works, why you should care, and how you go about engaging with the DIR education process.
2) They need to organize their presentation.
I suggest starting with a >brief< overview of the history of "challenging recreational diving" (i.e. cave, wreck & technical), to discuss the issues that confront all divers who want to do something more difficult than drop to 30 feet and swim with the fish.
Topic 2 should be a discussion of equipment. Start with two divers, one rigged DIR, and one rigged like a traditional open water diver. Discuss the clear differences between these two diver's setups. Then walk through the DIR rig, explaining each piece and then >removing it< to reveal the next layer down (as opposed to the >addition< system used in the DIR 2004 video). It makes so much more sense when you can see how the whole system integrates than try to imagine how it will integrate when it's all fully equippped.
Topic 3 should be a discussion of diving principles. Explain the Long Hose and why you'd ever wrap that thing around your neck and abandon the brightly colored "octopus" that essentially every Open Water diver is trained to regard with near-religious awe. Discuss the strategy of establishing pin-point boyancy control (and deal with the wetsuit depth compression issue. It's not useful to say "wetsuits are hard" and then move on - a lot of us are diving wet and we like it!) Talk about how you deal with the fact that the DIR rig doesn't have integrated weights. Detail the water-entry routines used to ensure safe diving.
Topic 4 should be a discussion of expedition diving principles. DIR promotes buddy diving (and 3-person team diving) when a lot of the technical community advocates self-reliance. Don't editorialize - factually present the theory and practice DIR advocates. If your presentation is persuasive I won't care what "the other guys" think about it.
Wrap up with a short section of DIR resources (web sites, books, training seminars, LDS locator resource, etc.)
3) They need to intercut the "classroom" footage with in-water film showing how the DIR system works and giving people visual real-world examples of problems and how DIR solves them.
The whole programme is probably 90 minutes long, including intro graphics and credits. And well worth my $60.
I hope they try again in 2005 with a more experienced crew, and a better handle on how to express themselves. I'm unlikely to spend $60 more dollars though until I see some glowing reviews.
Ryan S. Dancey
"The most comprehensive overview of the "Doing It Right" system ever available on video"
Apparently what that means is "nobody else has ever put any comments about DIR on video under any conditions, anywhere" - because I, never having taken a DIR course, owning no "DIR gear", and basing my comments solely on the contents of some web sites I found in an afternoon of googling the topic, could make a better video than DIR 2004.
The packaging belies the product: This looks like a professional video when you get it and open the box. I was expecting something a little rough around the edges - I'm not asking for broadcast quality material - but when you pop in the first DVD and start watching it quickly becomes apparent that this was a good idea gone horribly, horribly awry.
What you actually get is the experience of standing in someones' livingroom while two guys with no credentials (that is, no biographical information that would tell you who they are, why they matter, and why they're presenting the material is given. I know those things because I bothered to research the topic, but you'd never get that info from the video.) ramble on for 4+ hours about DIR - sometimes contradicting each other, sometimes interrupting each other, often referring to material that will be covered later that never is, and utterly failing to make a coherent presentation. I especially enjoyed the 45 minute "couch session" where the two guys (one of whom is wearing uncomfortably tight shorts - my wife referred to them as "plum smugglers") hang out on their couch and try to tell stories about their experiences in diving challenges, but often fail to bring the rambling full circle and actually >tell the whole story<.
This is not the image that GUE needs to be projecting. A long weekend of filming, preceded by perhaps a week of scriptwriting, and a week of post production to add graphics and some structure is all that is required to get this material kitbashed into shape. These guys have a lot of really good information to discuss, and its backed by years of practical diving experience. The utter and total failure to communicate this information effectively means this video is a waste of $60.
This is what GUE needs to do:
1) Before doing any more work, they need to write out a consistent description of what DIR is, how it works, why it works, why you should care, and how you go about engaging with the DIR education process.
2) They need to organize their presentation.
I suggest starting with a >brief< overview of the history of "challenging recreational diving" (i.e. cave, wreck & technical), to discuss the issues that confront all divers who want to do something more difficult than drop to 30 feet and swim with the fish.
Topic 2 should be a discussion of equipment. Start with two divers, one rigged DIR, and one rigged like a traditional open water diver. Discuss the clear differences between these two diver's setups. Then walk through the DIR rig, explaining each piece and then >removing it< to reveal the next layer down (as opposed to the >addition< system used in the DIR 2004 video). It makes so much more sense when you can see how the whole system integrates than try to imagine how it will integrate when it's all fully equippped.
Topic 3 should be a discussion of diving principles. Explain the Long Hose and why you'd ever wrap that thing around your neck and abandon the brightly colored "octopus" that essentially every Open Water diver is trained to regard with near-religious awe. Discuss the strategy of establishing pin-point boyancy control (and deal with the wetsuit depth compression issue. It's not useful to say "wetsuits are hard" and then move on - a lot of us are diving wet and we like it!) Talk about how you deal with the fact that the DIR rig doesn't have integrated weights. Detail the water-entry routines used to ensure safe diving.
Topic 4 should be a discussion of expedition diving principles. DIR promotes buddy diving (and 3-person team diving) when a lot of the technical community advocates self-reliance. Don't editorialize - factually present the theory and practice DIR advocates. If your presentation is persuasive I won't care what "the other guys" think about it.
Wrap up with a short section of DIR resources (web sites, books, training seminars, LDS locator resource, etc.)
3) They need to intercut the "classroom" footage with in-water film showing how the DIR system works and giving people visual real-world examples of problems and how DIR solves them.
The whole programme is probably 90 minutes long, including intro graphics and credits. And well worth my $60.
I hope they try again in 2005 with a more experienced crew, and a better handle on how to express themselves. I'm unlikely to spend $60 more dollars though until I see some glowing reviews.
Ryan S. Dancey
