DIR for the recreational diver - feedback appreciated

[PeterB]

I'm pretty new to diving. I've done my OW, AOW, Search and Recovery, Nitrox and Rescue diver (all at Manly dive center in Sydney) but only have 29 dives (I liked the instruction there so wanted to get some training in to kick off my career).

I ended up getting a DIR style rig with the long primary reg hose, the backup at my neck and a Halcyon wing just before I left Sydney. I would consider myself a competent diver (I'm very comfortable underwater, nice clean controlled ascents/descents, good buoyancy control on the bottom, etc) but I'm also clearly very new to diving at only 29 dives and over the last couple of years I've only done 4-6 dives a year while on holiday.

I always do some kind of checkout dive before I go for a real dive - usually in a pool - as I know diving once a year isn't enough to keep the skills up, and I'm just about to do a refresher course with a local DC before a Thailand trip.

I notice that whenever I go diving I almost always get negative comments from the dive master about the kit. They're usually "you only need that for technical" "why the strange kit", etc. I understand the benefits of DIR and the kit, but it is occasionally a little disconcerting that the only professionals I speak to (with *way* more diving experience than me) think I'm nuts to be diving with that equipment.

Anyone else had this experience? Any suggestions/comments? Just want to get a sanity check!

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Tortuga68]

Get a stab jacket BC, spare air and air2 octo. Add a strobe light, tank banger and put it all on a retractor. That'll show 'em

But seriously, **** them so long as you know how to use your gear

 

[ScubaInChicago]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the gear configuration your using, and certainly not overkill in recreational OW if that's your question.

That said....by looking at your first sentence and the tone of the post, it looks like you enjoy learning about new facets of diving. Why not sign up for a Fundies or Essentials course and learn the full reasoning and skills sets that go along with the gear. It will also give you a better leg to stand on to explain why you use the gear you do (if you feel the need to).

Fair warning though.....after the class, you may enjoy diving soo much more that 29 dives in a single year won't feel like enough.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm pretty new to diving. I've done my OW, AOW, Search and Recovery, Nitrox and Rescue diver (all at Manly dive center in Sydney) but only have 29 dives (I liked the instruction there so wanted to get some training in to kick off my career).

I ended up getting a DIR style rig with the long primary reg hose, the backup at my neck and a Halcyon wing just before I left Sydney. I would consider myself a competent diver (I'm very comfortable underwater, nice clean controlled ascents/descents, good buoyancy control on the bottom, etc) but I'm also clearly very new to diving at only 29 dives and over the last couple of years I've only done 4-6 dives a year while on holiday.

I always do some kind of checkout dive before I go for a real dive - usually in a pool - as I know diving once a year isn't enough to keep the skills up, and I'm just about to do a refresher course with a local DC before a Thailand trip.

I notice that whenever I go diving I almost always get negative comments from the dive master about the kit. They're usually "you only need that for technical" "why the strange kit", etc. I understand the benefits of DIR and the kit, but it is occasionally a little disconcerting that the only professionals I speak to (with *way* more diving experience than me) think I'm nuts to be diving with that equipment.

Anyone else had this experience? Any suggestions/comments? Just want to get a sanity check!

Thanks,
Peter

I think most everyone who dives a BP/W and long hose has had that experience. People tend to distrust what they aren't familiar with. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

I mostly just respond that it works for me and let it go at that.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Tortuga68]

BTW... BP/W and long hose doesn't mean you have to be/or are DIR; but that's a whole other discussion. Good move anyway

 

[Scott L]

PeterB,
I would counter with the question to him of what do you have against a more streamline set-up which produces less drag? Like ScubaInChicago indicated with essentials or fundies training you will appear to be a more compentent diver and will unlikely receive such questions....

Or you could go with my favorite quote from the movie Pulp Fiction and Samuel L Jackson and state "I don't remember asking you a *** damn thing".

 

[netmage]

Anyone else had this experience? Any suggestions/comments? Just want to get a sanity check!

Thanks,
Peter

Those are usually the comments from someone who:
a> Dosn't know what they are looking at...
b> Wants to sell you something. (The "if I don't got it - you don't need it" mentality.)

It's not uncommon to run into incompetent "professionals"... Ignore them and move on...

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

PeterB,
I would counter with the question to him of what do you have against a more streamline set-up which produces less drag? Like ScubaInChicago indicated with essentials or fundies training you will appear to be a more compentent diver and will unlikely receive such questions....

Or you go with my favorite quote from the movie Pulp Fiction and Samuel L Jackson and state "I don't remember asking you a *** damn thing".

I would advise against countering with anything ... doing so almost always leads you into a no-win situation.

I have found that the only people worth explaining your diving style to ... no matter WHAT style you dive ... are those who are truly interested. Everyone else already has their mind made up, and you ain't gonna change it anyway ... so who cares what they think ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[paddler3d]

There is a large group here in the forums that refer to themselves as Dive NY.

You have a real nice quarry (I know I have real and nice and quarry in the same sentence, and usually that doesn't go) not too far away from you. It is Dutch Springs.

Dutch Springs

My understanding is it is very close to NYC.

Hook up with those guys and get more dives!

As for your rig, I switched to nearly the exact same one very early in my career. I too would get comments. You'll figure out most of the people that makes those comments tend to be morons anyway. Ignore them. I found it is better to just change the topic.

One tip, make sure that your dive buddy knows where to go for air. Most new divers are trained not to go for the primary of their buddy. If you have a regular dive buddy, pass them your primary at a safety stop or something easy and safe. You may find they are making the switch themselves.

Good luck!

 

[paddler3d]

I would advise against countering with anything ... doing so almost always leads you into a no-win situation.

What Bob said there.