DIR for Tech diving?

[randytay]

Since I have gone DIR (with UTD), I have been promoting it to my LDS where I am completing the rest of my SCUBA education, albeit diplomatically. I have got some questions with some dive buddies about my configuration (with a single tank), my finning techniques, even my insistence that we maintain eye contact when we descend. But most were just passing questions.

It seems to me that most, if not all, thinks that diving with a BP/W (hence DIR itself) are for tech divers only and therefore, other than a passing curiosity, the guys at my shop did not think that it can be applied to recreational diving, despite my very diplomatic protest to the contrary.

During the NAUI equipment specialist program when we were touching on BCDs, my gear was mentioned as a comparison to the conventional BCDs. Even the instructor, while not explicitly confirming, seems to think along the lines that my gear is for tech dives which would be too much for most recreational divers (he is also a TDI instructor btw), and the a conventional BCDs is preferred. He even think that UTD is a gateway to technical/cave diving (while true to a large extent, but it is not the ONLY reason for taking a class with UTD).

I am now appealing to my fellow DIR practitioners, how else can I change this mindset? Bear in mind I have to be diplomatic about it. Thanks.

 

[aquaregia]

At least where I learned, there was the idea that a BP/W is difficult to perform a rescue out of. That was the biggest thing of which I had trouble dissuading people. The other thing is that around where I am, the only 'complete' bp/w package is a halcyon, and therefore sort of spendy. Other manufacturers making systems at a price that better competes with jacket offerings.

I think the infinite adjustability is something that would appeal to a lot of people. The lack of pockets and multitudinous d-rings is a problem the same way that not offering a 350hp car is a problem. I also think they're much easier to pack for travel.

My friends and I have seen a very gradual tendency towards BP/Ws in our club as more of us start diving them. I think it's been close to three years since the first guy bought his though, and now theres like six of us, so... pretty slow...

 

[MrsBBC]

I am not a DIR diver, but I wear a single cylinder BP/Wing setup with long hose after years of being unhappy with the inadequacies of the BCD short hose.

Depending on the wing a rescue can acutally be much easier. When I last towed a BP/Wing diver with rescue breaths, his wing did the work that one of my hands usually has to, and kept his head entirely free of the water, thus enabling me to concentrate on technique, kit removal and keeping surface waves from hitting his face. Instead of fannying about with clips, all one has to do is use the easily locatable knife or snips and it's free.

I echo the sentiments of aquaregia. I have a DiveRite Travel EXP. It is light and packs down really small for travel.

BCDs never had pockets that were easily accessible or the correct size. Plus if you dive a drysuit your pockets are already on your thighs, right?

I questioned both my dive instructors when I was younger and completing PADI OW/AOW about the inadequacy of the donated hose length, and also how in my opinion it would encourage a paniced diver to try to breathe from it upside down (the reg was never the right way round for the out of gas diver, thus shortening the hose even futher). I never received a substantial answer.

I like that when I sit down on a dive boat there aren't any chest or shoulder clips for someone to 'helpfully' unclip without me asking, thus causing my shoulder to jar or my tank to fall to the bench because I wasn't ready.

I never found anywhere suitable to affix the donated hose, and everyone always had it in a different location (kinda in the 'triangle'). I am much more comfortable donating the reg from my mouth with my spare on a necklace.

A BP and wing also seems to force you into naturally good trim, whereas most if not all BCDs I have worn have tried to push you all over the shop.

Nic

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Why do you want to convert the world? You prefer that approach to diving, most of the people reading in this form likely do, and I do too. But there are a lot of divers out there who are more than willing to take the least expensive and quickest route that gets them diving right now. They do not care that with a little bit more work they could have a better system because they are never going to do the work that is needed to get there. And frankly for warm water diving where very little weight is used in the first place there is often not that much advantage. It is hard to know how to present your case other than address one issue at a time. Why a BP/W? Well the buoyancy characteristics are better, the trim is better, and it does not move around so the fit is better. But getting that fit requires a few dives to get it dialed in. If you are only doing half a dozen dives a year spending several dives tweaking your gear in might be asking too much. It seems the divers who gain the most benefit are doing 50 plus dives a year, often close to home, and are often in cold water. Most of the diving population does not fit that profile.

 

[randytay]

Why do you want to convert the world? You prefer that approach to diving, most of the people reading in this form likely do, and I do too. But there are a lot of divers out there who are more than willing to take the least expensive and quickest route that gets them diving right now. They do not care that with a little bit more work they could have a better system because they are never going to do the work that is needed to get there. And frankly for warm water diving where very little weight is used in the first place there is often not that much advantage. It is hard to know how to present your case other than address one issue at a time. Why a BP/W? Well the buoyancy characteristics are better, the trim is better, and it does not move around so the fit is better. But getting that fit requires a few dives to get it dialed in. If you are only doing half a dozen dives a year spending several dives tweaking your gear in might be asking too much. It seems the divers who gain the most benefit are doing 50 plus dives a year, often close to home, and are often in cold water. Most of the diving population does not fit that profile.

There is a difference between converting the world and changing the mindset. I do not expect to "convert" everyone to dive in the approach that appeal to me, but I would like to remove some of the misconceptions about the way I dive.

 

[Blackwood]

I suspect that - at least in part - dive retailers prefer 'conventional BCDs' because they cost more, and when they wear out it's significantly more expensive to fix (if possible). So they cultivate the notion that a backplate and wing setup is for tech/cave, even though in essence this type of bc predates what is currently 'conventional.'

How many BP/W have been sold vs how many tech/cave courses are taught. I'm betting the former is a significantly higher quantity than the latter. Perhaps ask them simple questions: what does this do that a different BC does not?

 

[fisheater]

The main reason, AFAIK, is due to the marketing strategies and tactics of ScubaPro and Aqua-Lung. In order to be retailer for either of those high-margin brands, a LDS needs to be able to sell a large amount of their product each year, a major portion of which is BCDs.

For every BP/W that LDS may sell, it's another conventional BCD sale against the "quota" lost.


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[FuzzyNutz]

The first time I ever saw a BP/W was when I was in Puerto Vallarta and the owner of the shop came on the boat to do his own rec dive. I asked a bunch of silly questions about it, and his answers just made sense (his answers were short and blunt, it didn't seem like he wanted to go into detail - but I was absolutely fascinated, none the less). I remember thinking, 'why in the hell would they even invent the stuff I'm diving on?!'. Everything about the bp/w was just more robust, simple, and practical. Weight, for example, I remember thinking why would I strap on a bunch of useless padding, only to strap on more lead to sink? Just make your stuff out of metal! It doesn't take a genius to realize that's a smarter thing to do! The long hose and bungeed octo also speak for themselves - it just makes WAY MORE sense over the rec way of doing things.

When I started to purchase gear, I did a lot of searching online - which is how I found ScubaBoard, and how I learned of DIR. Again, everything just made more sense. Weighting, trim, placement of things, less bulk, perfect fit, streamlining, the mindset, and overall concept just feels far more superior. I never felt so free after jumping in the water for the first time with my current rig.

Everything about diving is interesting to me. Reefs, animal life, plantlife, wrecks, caves, etc., and I wanna see it all! I view the equipment as a tool to get there, and a lot of it isn't possible without this so called 'tech' rig... so why would I even consider a piece of equipment that fails to get me there? Regarding safety, I figure caves and diving really deep fall into the category of 'very dangerous,' so obviously their methods are more tried and true - and it can be applied to any level of diving.

I'm still fairly a pretty newb diver, but even I can see that, yes, non dir IS doing it wrong. Sure, other ways work, but it's by no means optimal.

... now going on a complete tangent, I was at a dive show last week. ScubaPro was there showing off their brand new tech gear - acting like they just invented the stuff. I was absolutely apalled by the descriptions and explanation of things they were telling people. Oh, and of course they only bring their most blinged out rig (tons of padding, straps, d-rings, etc.) - and in their catalog they had there, they had the simple hog rig listed as 'basic'... which to a new person would seem like a bottom of the line setup compared to the names of the plethora of other rigs they had. People didn't seem too interested in the gear, and I could only think, "well, of course, it's presented to them in the most ridiculous way possible!" Oh and get this, their aluminum backplate they had on show was $195!!!!!! Go figure!

Edit: I guess I'll even add that my first post on scubaboard was asking opinions of a blinged out bp/w kit I planned on purchasing, and I got blunt answers about why it was 'crap' and why simpler is better. It actually made me feel like an idiot for not realizing it, but like I said before, all the reasoning made sense. I think a very blunt approach to 'converting' people may be the best bet. Yes, this is better, this is why, end of story. The truth speaks for itself. But telling that to a person who just spent thousands on their 'crap' setup, may be hard for them to take.

 

[TSandM]

Randy, since I have been loosely associated with the shop where I got certified for the last six years, here's my take on it: You will not convert anybody. What you CAN do is be a living witness to the facts -- which means, go diving with people. Let them see that the gear works well for you. Let them watch how the skills you have learned make your diving easier and more fun. And offer to do an air-sharing drill with folks, so they can see how easy that is with a long hose and a bungied necklace.

Some people will look at what you are doing and say, "Hey, that's not so complicated . . . " And some, no matter what you do, will remain stubbornly convinced that a BP/W/long hose setup is "tech s*&#" and will have none of it. But words will never do what a good example can.

 

[randytay]

... And offer to do an air-sharing drill with folks, so they can see how easy that is with a long hose and a bungied necklace.

That is a great idea. I will try that one. The only person who "subscribed" to my rig etc was a newly certified open diver whose checkout dive I was present as a DMC. He was trying to emulate the frog kick, and I have to pull him aside and stop him from doing that. (I don't want to get into trouble with my instructor who has already banned me from using my BP/W). Anyway, after he got certified, he called me to go on a dive with him and he was just convinced that the rig I had was much superior to what he was taught on. He has since signed up for UTD's essential course.

From the above experience, what I can conclude is that a new diver with no prior experience and/or perception, will choose the HOG setup if they were given a fair chance to weigh the pros and cons for themselves. What I am trying to do is to get that chance to everyone.