DIR will end my teaching career.
- Thread starter GreenDiverDown
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How very ironic... After being bugged by my LDS to become an instructor for the past 6 months or so, it is only now after having taken a DIRF course that I am actually giving it serious consideration. I feel that I have been shown a better way to dive, and that it is possible to incorporate some elements of this into the traditional PADI training that I received while still maintaining the standards that PADI requires.
If, by becoming an instructor, I did nothing more than teach and demonstrate EXCEPTIONAL bouyancy control and streamlining to my students I think it may be well worth it. I have seen far too many examples lately of 'good' divers who bounce off of coral, stir up the bottom and have 'stuff' just dangling everywhere.
Just recently I saw an IMAX film titled 'Ocean Men' about world record free divers. One of the most outstanding things to me about the film was watching the safety divers in the water. These guys were diving trimix doubles with stage bottles and they had stuff dangling everywhere. I guess I just expect more from tech divers and even recreational divers now, and the only way I feel I can fix the problem is by becoming part of the solution...
wetman
Contributor
What are some of the mainstream agency standards that are directly opposed to ideas in DIR (not knowing the standards i'm quite interested)? Looking back on my open water class, i don't see where you couldn't just do the basic things as required by the agency and then suggest the DIR approach. I think if students know theres another way, theres no better time to introduce it to them then at the very beginning.
Also in your shop you say DIR is a joke. Take away the DIR label and you have a streamlined gear configuration and a set of skills and a mindset that would improve any diver's safety and comfort level in the water. If thats what they think is a joke, do you really want to be diving with them? The problem with people opposed to these things is that they really don't have much of an argument against them - they can't possibly.
steve
Also in your shop you say DIR is a joke. Take away the DIR label and you have a streamlined gear configuration and a set of skills and a mindset that would improve any diver's safety and comfort level in the water. If thats what they think is a joke, do you really want to be diving with them? The problem with people opposed to these things is that they really don't have much of an argument against them - they can't possibly.
steve
PADI - Golden triangle can never be DIR-ized.
Would you expect an OW student to remove / replace their mask while hovering? Probably not... What I'm getting at is there are some skills that are simply too demanding. Buoyancy and horizontal trim are one of those.
What did we learn in DIR-F that we didn't learn in OW? Nothing. GUE simply stresses certain aspects which are commonly overlooked by OW classes. So if you get a little creative, you can incorporate DIR into OW classes without disturbing the standards.
For instance, to help with streamlining, have the students put the BC on without the tank, and "wear" the 1st stage around the neck. Inspect each student and give them tips on securing their consoles and octo. While in the classroom, demonstrate the console dragging over coral.
Always be a role model, and spend a little more time stressing certain things during pre/post dive conversations. If they know what to do and what not to do, most will try to improve on the next dive.
Good luck... and don't give up.
Ken
Would you expect an OW student to remove / replace their mask while hovering? Probably not... What I'm getting at is there are some skills that are simply too demanding. Buoyancy and horizontal trim are one of those.
What did we learn in DIR-F that we didn't learn in OW? Nothing. GUE simply stresses certain aspects which are commonly overlooked by OW classes. So if you get a little creative, you can incorporate DIR into OW classes without disturbing the standards.
For instance, to help with streamlining, have the students put the BC on without the tank, and "wear" the 1st stage around the neck. Inspect each student and give them tips on securing their consoles and octo. While in the classroom, demonstrate the console dragging over coral.
Always be a role model, and spend a little more time stressing certain things during pre/post dive conversations. If they know what to do and what not to do, most will try to improve on the next dive.
Good luck... and don't give up.
Ken
Stephen,
Don't give up. Your teaching can always be better, you only need the time to do it. You can teach better fundamentals in every area without calling it "DIR". The number of truly stupid things we are required to teach OW students by the agencies are actually quite few if you really look. And much of HOW we teach is tradition and not taught by any particular agency.
Nobody says you can't teach mask removal while hovering; I'm starting to do it more and more. You can even teach better use of the standard gear config. As Ken suggests, DIR-F for the most part is (as far as I can tell, never took it) refining techniques, not inventing anything new. Good instructors have been doing a lot of this stuff all along. If you realize the shortcomings of what you've been doing, you are a better instructor. DIR is not the WORD, it's only a way. Find YOUR way to do it.
Neil
Don't give up. Your teaching can always be better, you only need the time to do it. You can teach better fundamentals in every area without calling it "DIR". The number of truly stupid things we are required to teach OW students by the agencies are actually quite few if you really look. And much of HOW we teach is tradition and not taught by any particular agency.
Nobody says you can't teach mask removal while hovering; I'm starting to do it more and more. You can even teach better use of the standard gear config. As Ken suggests, DIR-F for the most part is (as far as I can tell, never took it) refining techniques, not inventing anything new. Good instructors have been doing a lot of this stuff all along. If you realize the shortcomings of what you've been doing, you are a better instructor. DIR is not the WORD, it's only a way. Find YOUR way to do it.
Neil
Neil
I totally agree with you.
The standards the Agencies set are the minimum requirments for students to dive on.
There is nothing in the rule book that says you can't expand on them. I always do !!
I totally agree with you.
The standards the Agencies set are the minimum requirments for students to dive on.
There is nothing in the rule book that says you can't expand on them. I always do !!
Read the thread "design your own OW class". The standards won't stop you. The shop, however, might. We teach PADI OW. We teach it within the standards. I have never seen a OW class like the one we teach.
I think most of you guys are getting on the right track. Let's start by leaving all agencies names out of it. A good instructor can produce good divers under any agencies name. I think it is just too easy to place the blame elsewhere. I have not taken any DIR classes, so I do not feel qualified to comment on them, but I have not seen anything on the board that really seems that controversial or revolutionary. I have been stressing buoyancy skills for years. I agree with everyone, I hate weekend OW courses. In fact, I downright despise them. I refuse to teach them. Luckily, I am in a position that I do not have to rely on a LDS for my classes. I do understand and sympathize that most of your hands are tied by your LDS. I would recommend sell your ideas to your LDS. Do not put a label on them "DIR, etc." but just emphasize better buoyancy, more time in the pool. I guarantee that any good instructor is going to agree with you. If your LDS does not agree that classes should be longer, find another. Quite frankly, if they do not agree with you they are not interested in providing quality instruction and I for one want no part of that.
I am always amazed at people that think that the PADI standards are the "gospel". That you can not expand. If you have ever read the standards, (for those non PADI folks, not a jab) they are pretty vague. I can't immagine teaching a class without expanding. Again, I have not taken any DIR stuff, but last night I was in the pool with a class doing Module 5. We were all hovering and practicing skills they are going to do this weekend in Open Water.
Remember, the class can only be as good as WE make it.
Just my $.02
I am always amazed at people that think that the PADI standards are the "gospel". That you can not expand. If you have ever read the standards, (for those non PADI folks, not a jab) they are pretty vague. I can't immagine teaching a class without expanding. Again, I have not taken any DIR stuff, but last night I was in the pool with a class doing Module 5. We were all hovering and practicing skills they are going to do this weekend in Open Water.
Remember, the class can only be as good as WE make it.
Just my $.02
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