DIR, NAUI TEC - Gear configs

[Anti-Hero]

That drysuit is baggy on the skinny guy, no doubt about it.

But other than that, what changes would you make to do tech or cave dives with doubles, stages, deco gas? How hydrodynamic can you be considering you would be lugging doubles and stages around for hours in cold water?

Oh don't get me wrong, I totally understand the configuration, I dive it myself for the most part. But I'm not a DIR practitioner.

One of the bullet points constantly being harped on is "reducing drag." One of the reasons "bondage wings" are forbidden in DIR is the wrinkles caused by the bungee causes unnecessary drag, which compared to the picture is, well, ironic.

 

[Blackwood]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Looks like G3's set-up. The irony is juicy-thick - and so, so sweet to the thinking diver...

To the thinking diver, it's quite clear that he won't look like that in the water. For one, he'll be horizontal. For another, his suit will be compressed. For another, his light will be in his hand and his reg in his mouth. During the dive, the only... sticky-outies are the tanks and the wing, and not much can be done about those (except possibly side-mounting the tanks or going closed circuit).

 

[Gombessa]

To the thinking diver, it's quite clear that he won't look like that in the water. For one, he'll be horizontal. For another, his suit will be compressed. For another, his light will be in his hand and his reg in his mouth. During the dive, the only... sticky-outies are the tanks and the wing, and not much can be done about those (except possibly side-mounting the tanks or going closed circuit).

Also, you have to compare it to the alternatives, perhaps in a "what's wrong with this picture???" fashion?

 

[Blackwood]

Also, you have to compare it to the alternatives, perhaps in a "what's wrong with this picture???" fashion?

It's sad that these discussions always degenerate into a discussion about equipment, and whether it's streamlined or not in-and of itself.

DIR =/= streamlined. Streamlining is a part of the DIR attitude. From an equipment standpoint, it's fair to summarize it as: bring everything you need, nothing you don't, and assemble it in a functional, consistent manner, streamlining where possible.

Is a singles rig more streamlined than doubles? Yes. But sometimes singles aren't enough. Is is rig without a wing more streamlined than a rig with a wing? Yes, but most often the mass properties of gear suggest the use of a wing. Etc., etc..

 

[David P]

How anyone can claim this is "streamlined" from a hydrodynamic context is beyond me...

Gawd, I always thought that was such a horrible photo! The wing sticking out past his side makes the suit look even bigger than it is, and the black diagonal stripe, and the black pockets, and legs... the suit looks huge on the guy, and then with the different colors just makes it look all the worst! Yeah that photo is not a good selling point for the streamlining concept.

 

[sambolino44]

Gawd, I always thought that was such a horrible photo! The wing sticking out past his side makes the suit look even bigger than it is, and the black diagonal stripe, and the black pockets, and legs... the suit looks huge on the guy, and then with the different colors just makes it look all the worst! Yeah that photo is not a good selling point for the streamlining concept.

Not to mention the haircut!

 

[TSandM]

To the OP:

Asking, "What is DIR?" is like opening Pandora's box. You're going to get a bunch of links, a few reasonable answers, a lot of bizarre answers, and a lot of flack. A lot of the people who will answer you are not DIR divers and have not had any training from any legitimate DIR source.

DIR is a holistic approach to diving that grew out of a particular cave diving project in Florida. The essence of the equipment configuration is simple, streamlined, and efficient. If you don't need it, don't take it on the dive; if you do really need it, you may need two. Configure everything so that you minimize entanglement hazards and drag. Use a standardized setup so that everybody on the team knows everybody else's equipment inside and out -- They can spot errors before the dive, and they can handle problems during the dive.

Combine this equipment configuration with a set of standardized protocols for communication and procedures, and a standardized set of gases, so that everybody is on the same page for decompression on any given dive. Add a high standard of personal skills, so that every diver on the team is competent, confident, and cooperative. Make sure everybody goes through the same training sequence, so that all divers are on the same page.

That's DIR diving.

The DIR equipment configuration is pretty simple, and you can get a good written description off the GUE website (look at the equipment requirements for the classes) and a good visual off the BAUE site. The essence is this: A backplate and wing assembly for a BC. A long hose (5' or 7' in general) for your primary reg, routed around the back of your neck to your mouth. A backup regulator on a necklace, so it lies directly beneath your chin. A simple brass and glass SPG; a knife on the waist belt, a canister light, and fins with spring straps. You can get into more detail, and obsess over brands, and positions of gadgets, but the underlying principles are streamlining and standardization.

This thread will almost certainly degenerate into chaos; if you have any further questions about DIR diving or equipment, please feel free to PM me and I will answer questions with the best information I have. I am GUE Cave 1, so I have a little bit of authenticity in answering.

 

[Anti-Hero]

Its too bad DIR draws such negative connotations. I'm not a DIR diver, and have no GUE training, but I can certainly appreciate the methodologies behind it.

 

[Gen732]

Yeah, I kinda figured this might lead into a gear/equipment configuration quasi-argument. But of course, you never learn anything unless you ask either. Thanks to everyone for such quick responses though. It's kinda given me some ideas on what I can do with my gear to help streamline what I'm running right now, and some possibilities for the future. I've known a few cave divers (being a caver kinda helps in that avenue), so I knew about the whole standardization protocol and such. The GUE website and the BAUE site definately helped answer alot of what I had running around in my head. Basically, everyone just helped me to to figure out that most of my hoses are either a) routed the way I was trained which is causing them to bow out and/or b) routed correctly, but maybe just need to be a little shorter (probably due to me being a scrawny wirey type). Maybe on into the future as I get more experience and broaden my horizons some, then more of this may come into play.

 

[Gombessa]

A big part of why the picture looks so weird is because the photographer used a wide angle lens close-up at eye level. With the "lightbox" mask taking away all context, it makes the subject look comically big-headed and small-footed. But considering he's got a drysuit, argon, doubles, and a can light, that's about as clean of a setup as you can get.