Garbage that you get for being DIR, or semi-DIR

[WillAbbott]

Well, I've started getting junk from other divers for being somewhat DIR... and I must say it's really annoying... How much do you guys put up with on average? Obviously I see the DIR crowd getting a lot of flak on the board, often it's just a disguise for wanting to know more.

The other day I was in the Dive Shop dropping off my suit for a leak test and repair... and I brought in my reg to get some hose protectors put on (the short rubber ones next to the first stage) and one customer asked me why my hose was so long (curiously) then one of the staff guys asked me when he saw it, in more of a "what the heck" type way... and I explained it to him, as he gave me a funny look I just said "It's a wreck/cave config" and he of course shot back with "are you doing cave or wreck diving" to which I just said something like "not at the moment"

My best and well pretty much ONLY good/regular dive buddy actually said to me once (after finding a used Black Diamond for me to see if it fit and buy if it did, thank goodness it was too big) said to me "you aren't ready for a BP/Wings, you're not going to dive doubles yet..." Yadda, yadda, yadda...

Just tonight we were e-mailing and I mentioned something about valve drills, and even gave him a link to Fifth-D's video and BAUE's explaination of the skill and why it's done, and he still said something like "What would the application of closing and opening your valve be given your regulator, tank, diving depth and work load? What problem would this exercise (solution) solve? What would be the potential causes of 1st stage failure that closing and opening the valve would correct?"

And I just got another e-mail from him, after explaining the purpose, and he still doesn't understand it.. argh... he pretty much thinks there is no point in a singles rig, except for to stop a freeflow after switching to your buddies "safe second" he said.. <sigh>

I guess we are all doomed to critisism... and funny looks. I must admit even though I'm a "NEWBIE" I find dive buddies hard to come by... and even my only one (who is the best I've dove with thus far) is becoming more how to say this... more stoke like? (not really the best way to put it...he's safe and all)

Ack... I guess this thread is more of a rant, and needing to blow off some steam, and I'm sorry... I just find it agrivating that I do ALL this research on this board, and DIR related sites and such, in a struggle to dive safely and better (though maybe not 100% DIR per se) and find divers/buddies who have dove longer than I and give me grief about the DIR type things I am trying to lean or do (granted I need to take the DIR-F class, and hopefully I can this summer) or find buddies I don't like diving with... The infamous dragging thier air integrated console/computer along the rocks, along with thier backup 2nd stage... I cringed that WHOLE dive watching this diver who's dove way longer drag her $900 computer accross the rock reef ;-0

And the diver who has at least a year on me, and many more dives, who runs low on air on a 50' dive after 10-15mins, and has horrid bouyancy control to boot.. Or the dive buddy (whos an instructor) who after saing I'm doing "excellent, in bouyancy and air consumption" for how new I am, then says I'm not ready for BP/Wings, and other junk...

ARG!!!... ok enough, I'm sorry to rant and rave...

How do you guys handle this type of thing? I just can't turn down dive buddies, club or otherwise, or turn my back on this good friend/buddy... but the grief, and or heartaches drive me nuts... I feel like we should practice skills such as OOA at a MINIMUM at least every couple of dives (like first dive of the day/weekend for example) and I have not practiced a skill with a buddy since OW... This can't be good... And my buddies are few and far between, the one is the only one I can count on to do a dive with at least once a month, aside from club dives where I don't know who I'll wind up with for a buddy...

Ok ending rant now!
I've got an idea... UP, why don't you move down closer to me???

 

[Scubaroo]

...just smile and put up with it... eventually they will want one of their own when their fin straps break, you pull an OOA drill on them and they fumble for a lost octopus on a short hose, their BC slides around their body during the dive and rides up around their shoulders, the yoke o-ring blows out when they turn their reg on...

 

[Northeastwrecks]

I explain why use a DIR equipment configuration. If they have questions or disagree with my reasoning and are willing to discuss the reasons, I continue the discussion politely. I may or may not be convinced. The same goes for them. We usually end up discussing the minor differences in philosophy that differentiate a DIR configuration from other technical configurations, i.e., why DIR stages are on the left versus TDI's right rich, left lean configuration (which I actually like). Oftentimes, we end up posing questions that relate to "How would you handle <fill in the blank>."

If they get confrontational (which doesn't happen much), I remind them that (1) this is my rig; (2) it uses a proven system; and (3) I'll accept their configuration over mine as soon as they demonstrate that it works as well or better than mine either deep inside a wreck or 4 miles into a cave at 300 feet.

I'm lucky. No one at my LDS would ever pull the garbage that your people did because (1) they are a DIR-friendly shop; and (2) they sold me all this stuff.

 

[ckharlan66]

Scubaroo has it right.

Just be nice in return and explain why you like it. Don't try to push it on them. Dive with them and show them how it works. Let them try it if they want. If they decide you are right great if not just nicely tell them that you understand their view point and accept it but that you disagree and then agree not to discuss it anymore. Then dive with them anyway and have fun.

Life is too short to agrue about gear configuations.

Dive safe, Dive Often.

Chad

 

[Arnaud]

but don't make a big deal out of it. I recently "upgraded" and got a lot of crap from my buddies. And yes, they look at me funny, but also, with some sort of curiosity. We'll see how it plays.

 

[kingprawn]

WillAbbott once bubbled...
How do you guys handle this type of thing? I just can't turn down dive buddies, club or otherwise, or turn my back on this good friend/buddy...

Gear configuration is not worth giving up a good dive buddies for. I have been unhappy with bad buddies for better reasons (unsafe!). Make sure they understand your rig before you dive, and that you understand theirs. Yes DIR says everyone should be the same to make this easier, but life says we are all different.

Don’t tell him his is wrong, and don’t let it bother you when he says your is wrong.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

kingprawn once bubbled...


Gear configuration is not worth giving up a good dive buddies for. I have been unhappy with bad buddies for better reasons (unsafe!). Make sure they understand your rig before you dive, and that you understand theirs. Yes DIR says everyone should be the same to make this easier, but life says we are all different.

Don’t tell him his is wrong, and don’t let it bother you when he says your is wrong.

Absolutely right. For the record, not all of my buddies dive a DIR configuration. Of those who do, I won't do complicated dives with one because he has a cowboy attitude. Configuration is far less important than a proper attitude.

I only get confrontational when someone else decides to push the issue by bashing my rig. Even then, I'd just as soon go diving.

 

[The Chairman]

I must live a charmed life. I dive a long hose both on pleasure dives and when I am teaching. Never had to do more than extend my primary for others to figure that one out. While I reserve a Bp & Wings for doubles only, I have Y valves on my 120s so that I can dive the same configuration on singles.

 

[The Chairman]

I would rather dive a hookah system with an astute buddy who dives within his limits than with a cowboy in perfect DIR get-up.

 

[Mo2vation]

Let them quibble about gear. Your rig likely cost less than theirs. If they own cheap drek, yours will last longer than theirs.

Let them cast an eye at your stiff, stubby fins. You have two back up pair with the same money they spent on the fin du jour.

You're smarter about your cash.



Let them snicker at your slow, controlled horizontal descent and slow, controlled horizontal ascent.

While they're in the bubble wash on the anchor chain with the rest of the out of control divers, you're calmly using your breath(not your inflator) to control your ascent, while they're looking for their mask that got knocked off by the guy above them that they couldn't see throuth the bubbles of the other 9 divers on the same chain.



Let them laugh at your undersized wing, your undersized mask, your undersized bottom timer, and that tiny light on your wrist.

While they're burning gas with bad trim, bad buoyancy and bad gear that's flappin in the breeze, you'll have enough gas in the can to be an asset to the team.


Don't argue gear. Let it roll off. While they're partying, your preparing. And while they're touring, you're practicing. And soon, its Miller Time (Warren Miller Time, that is) and you're skills are all you'll need to speak with.

Bring it on. Its go time.

K