Doing it Ridiculous

[waynne fowler]

So? You travel around the country setting the nasty DIR people straight?

RSTC hit man h34r:

 

[waynne fowler]

Guess what folks....you can dive DIR and STILL be a nice guy!

What!! :dropmouth

You can dive any other system - or DIR - and STILL be a complete idiot

:ignore:
I truly think this is blasphemy, we are all going to pray for you Kim,
else you just may end up in hell

 

[Kim]

I truly think this is blasphemy, we are all going to pray for you Kim,
else you just may end up in hell

Yeah....I take extreme positions sometimes....I know.

Anyone want to share my BBQ?

 

[MikeFerrara]

Recently diving off Point Lobos in Monterey I had the unfortunate experience to see a pair of "DIR" divers in full meathead mode. On a clear day, in a very easy and nice dive site these fellows pulled up in their oversized truck with their oversized egos and proceeded to gear up with seven foot primary regs, doubles, HID lights, backup lights and a plethora of other equipment. The seas were flat calm, nice open ocean, daytime. The lads in a loud tone talked about all the "strokes" who were diving with single tanks and rec. equipment. What a sad sight they were; legends in their own mind. After a while, I asked them how many dives they had made: "I've got over 50" one muscle head said. I know that the GUE training has much merit. These guys had none.

I don't see why they needed to be insulting to any one else but...99% of all my dives are in my doubles regardless of whether it's the local 20 ft deep quarry or a 300 ft cave dive. Why? It's just what I'm used to so why should I dive anything else? If I'm only planning a single dive close to home I might use a single tank. Another advantage to the doubles (especially when I had my compressor) is that I can drive 100 miles and dive a shallow site all weekend without having to buy any fills or or carry a bunch of tanks and be swapping things out. Besides, all the single tanks are aluminum 80's and I hate using one with a dry suit so I only dive a single tank in the warmest times of the year when I can wear a light wet suit. It's been so long since I dived a single tank with a dry suit that I wouldn't even have any idea how much weight I sued to use or where I put it. LOL. My wing, plate and harness are always mounted. It's the easiest way to carry everything. I go to where it's stored, strap it on and wear it to the truck, set it on the tail gate and slide out of it. Once I'm ready to dive or load the boat I do that in reverse. My two backup lights are always on my harness. I could take them off for some dives but it's just as easy to leave them there. They're certainly not in the way. I find a 7 ft hose the most eficcient way of sharing gas and I dive a Hogarthian rig always, whether using a single tank or doubles. I could live with a 5 ft hose in OW but I don't have one and the 7 ft fits me better. A good HID light is a great way for two divers to communicate in all but the most brightly lit waters. Still, I have to admit to leaving it out once in a while though I shouldn't. Our water are rarely too brightly lit for an HID to be of use.

And then there are training considerations. If you're practicing for dives that require doubles it wouldn't make any sense to use anything else. Maybe thes guys are still getting to be friends with their doubles and need the time in them.

What was the plethora of other equipment? I remember going the the local 20 ft deep quarry in doubles, decompression bottles ect. My wife was getting ready for a tech class and I was preparing fo some of my IANTD instructor tesing and we had to demonstrate many of the same skills and needed everything we brought to practice. That quarry is the perfect place. Trust me, we had to listen to MANY comments from the folks who wanted to make fun of us without having any clue what we were up to. Some of those comments were meant for us to hear and some weren't. Strokes can be pretty rude too.

 

[GDI]

I sit here again and read through yet another DIR bashing post (I think PADI bashing puts it at a close second). The issue here is not whether these divers were DIR but whether they were asses. . I have at times had discussions with DIR divers debating the DIR mentallity and some of the equipment and holistic guidelines in that I have asked them WHY that way or this way. I listened to their logic,rhyme and reason. Some things make sense and some do not. I have had the opportuntiy to dive with some DIR divers (really GUE trained DIR divers) we have never had any problems, they have never called me a stroke outside of a good joking session and I usually respond to them "What A great marketing program". There is no skill set they do which I cannot do including swimming backwards. I believe that divers should be physically fit and menatlly up for the dive they are about to undertake, the dive team must know how to work togther their strengths and weaknesses and plan accordlingly. Now why am I not DIR. well it could be because I have some differences in my equipment, but my equipment is consistent on each and every dive. I like to have a drink following a dive , but not in large amounts. I do talk about diving every opportunity I can, I live and breath the sport. I do not consider myself DIR but I do consider that I Do It Right.

NO of the many actuall DIR divers that I have met I would have to say that they are only normal divers, normal people. They let their diving skills speak for themselves. Those who may have the ego bubble quickly learn it can burst even when they are amongst their own.
I think the old saying goes something like this:


It's hard to be humble when you are perfect in every way

 

[MikeFerrara]

Hey Rick, last time I was at Peacock JJ was there with a crew teaching a cave class. The whole group was too busy to give any one a hard time and getting in the same time we were. We had planned on running a line down that little side tunel to the well. You know the one...right inside the cavern entrance? I was running the line and I did tell my wife...to let me know if they got behind me with the video. LOL. One of my wifes backup lights even has a switch, can you imagine? And no one said a thing. I was caught dead to rights with rock boots (the whites boot actually) and I was never attacked.

 

[dbg40]

Yet again, Easy spot. All you have to do is look through this thread, and you know who the arrogant dir's are. Yakking about how easy it is to spot a "stroke" on the site, then all but calling the original poster a liar. Trust me, a blind man could pick out a mouthy dir diver, no gear sighting necessary. They are easier to pick than a standard issue diver, equipped with death gear. They also come in two flavors,, Arrogant, and mouthy, AND, focused, knowledgeable, well trained. This type having to prove nothing to anyone. And are really quite pleasant to speak with, and dive with. You can also bet, that there have been PLENTY of these divers that have seen this thread, and have passed it by, not wanting to be associated with the latter type.. With all of that fancy training, they still dont get it. It is NOT, lets say that again N-O-T.. the gear, or the training that annoys, and makes bad press. it is the creature UNDER the gear. Taking it one step further, it would seem that manufacturers would dislike them for trying to crush their business. Remember, one narrow gear line, one color, NO, exceptions. It seems that we can dive our way, and let others dive their way, without the unsolicited comments, and attitude. Face it It's NOT for everyone! Somtimes DIR/GUE is its own worst enemy, and it drives me NUTS! It's like having to put your "title" after your name, why even tell anyone HOW you dive? just dive.

 

[Web Monkey]

I don't manufacture squat and I've seen it too.

There's nothing that's quite a much fun as watching a couple of them wander around a 30' reef looking like a junior Borg candidates.

Terry

Isn't it interesting that the person who started this thread purports to be a represenative for Apollo, a company best known for making split fins.

Oh well, probably just a coincidence...

___

 

[Hank49]

If you can't do that (or don't want to) then OK - but puleeeease don't take it seriously. It's just a joke. (and who likes hearing the same old joke again and again?)

Yes, but its no different than many other topics that get discussed over and over. You could say the "old joke" thing about almost every topic on diving. There's always new divers coming onto the board who haven't yet expressed their views. Let em' have at it.

 

[markfm]

Triple all points accumulated previously if that Nitrox SA is the twin version!
:scubadive

Is that like SA Doubles? I can see it now, a pair of them clamped together -- wonder if you can get a proper manifold set up