DIR: God's gift to diving or Hell spawn?

[jonnythan]

"Extra 10%" LOL

After my DIRF, it felt more like I was only taught 10% and I was learning the last 90%!

 

[gj62]

Som,etimes, when I answer an burglary alarm at 2am, I just open the door and walk in. Look around, everything is fine. That time, mediocrity prevailed. But, when the day comes when the **** hits the fan, I want to be on my best game. I want to utilise the most safe, beneficial, tactical skills I have at hand to keep me alive. Sure, many divers can go below the surface, breath air from a compressed air cylinder, and surface. The differnece is when they need the skills to overcome a real problem, they have zero in their tool chest to do so. To promote having zero is just as bad as attaining it.

Try driving a car... LOL. It's the most dangerous thing most of us do. Keep your scare tactics for the rookies...

 

[gj62]

Yes.

It's not just the equipment.

No. What sways people is when they see it in the water.

It really doesn't require that much effort and it's much more than a small return as you suggest.

What is it that doesn't add to your diving safety or enjoyment?

You twitter and moan that divers can't achieve basic bouyancy control and you can't find a DM that can show skills in shallow water, and yet here you say it doesn't really require that much effort. Mike, your either a joke or just trying to win an arguement. I don't believe the first, and you've not acheived the last.

I've already said I don't like certain points of the rig (bungeed 2nd is not comfortable for me, nor do I like the routing of the primary). Could I get used to it? Probably, but I see no need to.

BTW - I've seen it in the water. Who cares? I know a guy who can blow "air" rings in the water like I can smoke rings. Coolest looking thing in the world. I could probably do it if I practice. No thanks. I'll just take in what I came to look at.

 

[gj62]

"Extra 10%" LOL

After my DIRF, it felt more like I was only taught 10% and I was learning the last 90%!

Since this thread seems hijacked for good and no one is complaining, I'll continue.

Jonnythan, good for you! I'm glad you felt it worthwhile and recommend you give it your all.

However, let's ask the question, what are we underwater for?

Most of the people I run into couldn't give a monkey's toss what they were wearing on their back, or how they fin through the water. They want to see a barracuda, old wreck, sea otter, etc, etc. They can do that with a minimum of effort & expense. Sure, they may never know the joys of perfect trim and a back kick, but they'll get by just fine, thank you.

Get some perspective... You folks remind me of people I see all the time hiking in my area. Seems that if you can't be prepared for the worst possible weather in the remotest section of the Rockies, well, you're just not a hiker. Got a news flash. Rec hiking is wonderful, you don't need to plan for every contingency, and yes, you may die where others with more experience may live if the worst occurs. REI is the mother of all evils too, trying to sell you everything you don't need, and it is their fault.

Of course, your risk was far greater driving to the trailhead than even that last step at the end of the trees. Would covering your a** be that much more difficult? For the experienced hiker, of course not. Because they've had the training, experience, equipment and knowledge base to work from. Would most people hike if they had to achieve that before their first 3 mile loop - NO.

Now, not to startle anyone, but to yank this thread back on topic, one of the reasons that DIR folks get a negative reaction is the fact that DIRs can't seem to say, "I dive this way because I like A, B and C about it". Instead, it's like DIR folks have ex-smoker disease. "I used to do it this way, but now I do it that way and everyone else should too".

Solution - dive, however you wish, and enjoy what few get to see firsthand.

 

[jonnythan]

You're missing the entire point. Diving *is* all about fun. I'm not prepared for the worst situations by carrying tons of gear. In fact, I'm carrying less gear than most. I'm becoming a safer diver by improving the quality of my diving, and that makes it more fun.

Everything is more fun when you're better at it. Tennis is more fun when you have good technique and can play well. Running is more fun when you're good at it and have good technique. Skiing is a ton more fun when you have good technique and you can bomb through the trees. When you're good at a physical activity and you have good technique, you get to enjoy the activity itself instead of fighting against all the things that are getting your way, like bad trim and buoyancy, air consumption, emergency procedures, etc.

It's all about fun, and becoming a good competent diver, however one does it, makes it more fun. The DIRF course is all about becoming a good diver, thus *making* it more fun by taking all the work out of it.

 

[cyklon_300]

Most of the people I run into couldn't give a monkey's toss what they were wearing on their back, or how they fin through the water. They want to see a barracuda, old wreck, sea otter, etc, etc. They can do that with a minimum of effort & expense. Sure, they may never know the joys of perfect trim and a back kick, but they'll get by just fine, thank you.

For those with that mindset, training or skills enhancement of any sort, DIR included, would not be a priority.

For the motivated few that want to truly excel at diving, DIR is an excellent route to take.

And speaking of fun, I had loads of it today diving with a total stranger (DM candidate)...she was hand-sculling, kneeling on the bottom at the 20' stop, and generally displaying a broad range of mediocre, it'll get me by, at-least-I-didn't-drown dive skills.

Tell me again, the M in DM stands for what?

 

[db8us]

100% agreement with gj62!!!

I have 10times more fun while diving since i d.i.r..
I can concentrate on the wreck, the fish, my buddy, the cave
and not like i saw it again this weekend...struggle with gear, bad skills, etc..

Michael

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

half the time, the D stands for dunce, I'm still pondering the M

 

[MikeFerrara]

You twitter and moan that divers can't achieve basic bouyancy control and you can't find a DM that can show skills in shallow water, and yet here you say it doesn't really require that much effort. Mike, your either a joke or just trying to win an arguement. I don't believe the first, and you've not acheived the last.

Now you hit on the really frustrating part. Divers are NOT taught the basics and it is hard to find a DM that can demonstrate skills bu it doesn't take that much effort to learn. They just haven't seen it and they haven't learned it. Once they see it they pick it up pretty quick.

I've already said I don't like certain points of the rig (bungeed 2nd is not comfortable for me, nor do I like the routing of the primary). Could I get used to it? Probably, but I see no need to.

I don't really understand it being uncomfortable but the reason we do it is because it works. You know the reg you're breathing works and every one knows where it is without having to look for it. All any one needs in a hurry inderwater is something to breath so you want to be able to donate it fast to avoid real problems. Give them (or let them take) the one in your mouth. What more logical place for your second than right under your chin where you can even get on it without using your hands if you need to? and on a hose just long enough to get it there. It's always there. It never comes out of it's little clippy thing and dangles. The hose is long enough that both divers can swim without interfering with each other.

BTW - I've seen it in the water. Who cares? I know a guy who can blow "air" rings in the water like I can smoke rings. Coolest looking thing in the world. I could probably do it if I practice. No thanks. I'll just take in what I came to look at.

Neither bubble rings or smoke rings have much practical value. I don't know exactly what you've seen but taking in what you're there to look at is the whole point. I see so many divers strugling just to dive that it's hard to imagin that it's fun or that they have the time to see much of anything. If there's a little silt around they won't see anything.

Skills that make diving easier have real value (way more than bubble rings).

I see in your profile that you're an OWSI. I think you're just defending the way you were taught and the way you teach.

 

[gj62]

I see in your profile that you're an OWSI. I think you're just defending the way you were taught and the way you teach.

I have nothing to defend. I didn't get certified for several years after I started diving and I haven't taught a student in 20+ years.

For the motivated few that want to truly excel at diving, DIR is an excellent route to take.

I agree that DIR is excellent training. It isn't the only way to excel at diving however. Most folks don't need to excel at it simply to enjoy it...

Everything is more fun when you're better at it. Tennis is more fun when you have good technique and can play well. Running is more fun when you're good at it and have good technique. Skiing is a ton more fun when you have good technique and you can bomb through the trees.

I feel sorry for you. If you can only have fun when you are good at something, you'll miss alot in life...