Ground-up DIR divers and preparation for the real world

[Rainer]

And neither is an OW class...

Really?? I was taught to use a pony bottle in my NASDS AOW course in 1986 as my instructor prepared us for solo diving. More recently I have seen pony bottles introduced in PADI AOW for deep diving.

Doubles and redundancy are obviously introduced early in NSS-CDS and NACD courses though these are not likely considered mainstream agencies.

 

[RJP]

Seems to me that a DIR diver who dives with an unknown instabuddy has strayed far away from the plantation.

I'm not a DIR diver myself, but from what I have read of it the central core principle of it is that you dive as part of a properly equipped, trained and coordinated team. Taking on what is likely a poorly equipped and relatively unskilled dive buddy and then stepping off the boat with no more plan than maybe, "descend to 70', look around and surface at 500 psi", would seem to be violating every principle of DIR there is.

We manage to somehow survive those instances. Our buddies do as well.



Note: interesting how many "non DIR divers myself" are able to post about what does and doesn't constitute a "violation" of principle, such as they may be.

There's this strange mythology that DIR divers arrive at a dive site somewhere like Bonaire or Key Largo and are unable or unwilling to strap on an AL80 and jump in the water without running multiple V-Planner scenarios, rock-bottom calculations, a canister light and a fellow DIR diver.

A great many of my favorite dives have been with "non-DIR divers themselves" I've met here on SB. The fact that I'm trained as I am, and dive as I do, makes me a pretty damn good buddy to have if you're a DIR diver, and even more so if you're not. I'm very capable of buddying up with anyone who wants to "descend to 70', look around, and surface with 500psi." Especially since, in diving with that person, I'll probably have about 1500 or so PSI left at that point.

As I heard someone say recently - unrelated to diving - "I've got more than enough self-sufficiency for the both of us."

 

[AndyNZ]

Seems to me that a DIR diver who dives with an unknown instabuddy has strayed far away from the plantation.

Not really.

The emphasis I've always seen in (DIR) classes is the emphasis on having fun whilst diving.

Agreed, doing an aggressive dive with an insta-buddy is straying from the plantation.

But part of the whole team based thing is that you always dive with in the limitations of the weakest member of the team.... so you moderate your dive plan to accommodate your unknown (and non-standard) team member. You can still do a dive, and still have fun though.

 

[ScubaGypsy]

And neither is an OW class...

Ah, so the actual comparisons here are between GUE's and UTD's Recreational curricula and the BOW of other agencies though the GUE's and UTD's Recreational curricula includes BOW, AOW, Rescue and Nitrox?

 

[RJP]

Not really.

The emphasis I've always seen in (DIR) classes is the emphasis on having fun whilst diving.

Agreed, doing an aggressive dive with an insta-buddy is straying from the plantation.

But part of the whole team based thing is that you always dive with in the limitations of the weakest member of the team.... so you moderate your dive plan to accommodate your unknown (and non-standard) team member. You can still do a dive, and still have fun though.

I remember doing a night dive in Curacao two years ago and the DM was talking to my insta-buddy while pointing at my rig (one piece harness in particular) saying "Now take note that he has a non-standard configuration which will present several significant problems in an emergency..."

He: "Isn't that dangerous?"
Me: "Why?"
He: "If there's a problem, I won't be able to get you out of your gear."
Me: "Just cut the webbing."
He: "With what?"
Me: "Don't you have a knife or other cutting instrument?"
He: "No, why do I need one?" (And I'm diving a non-standard rig?)
Me: "Never mind, I have three. Here, here, and here..."
He: "How do I know if the problem is severe enough to cut you out of your rig?"
Me: "Just start cutting. If I tell you to get your ****ing hands off my gear, I'm fine. If I don't respond...keep cutting."

 

[elmer fudd]

I guess my point would be that when you dive casually with a non DIR diver, it would seem that you're not really following DIR yourself.

 

[AndyNZ]

I guess my point would be that when you dive casually with a non DIR diver, it would seem that you're not really following DIR yourself.

It's not a set of commandments written of stone.... it's just a way of thinking, so as long as you are thinking then it's DIR.

Others may disagree, but that's the way I look at it!

 

[RJP]

I guess my point would be that when you dive casually with a non DIR diver, it would seem that you're not really following DIR yourself.

I've never had any training that involved goose-stepping in locked formation..

As Andy points out, the main thing about DIR is having the right mindset, right gear, right gas, right plan, right buddy, and right training for the dive at hand. If any one of those things is "fixed" - such as a casual insta-buddy - then you modify the other things accordingly.

Would I take up with an insta-buddy if I was heading out to dive the 869? Of course not. A 50' house reef at the Marriott in Curacao? No sweat.

 

[kanonfodr]

It's not a set of commandments written of stone.... it's just a way of thinking, so as long as you are thinking then it's DIR.

Others may disagree, but that's the way I look at it!

:classic:

Unfortunately there are some who have decided to take DIR as stone tablets carved by lightning on top of the mountain. They are a fair minority, IME.

I have no option, as there are very few DIR-trained divers in my neck of the woods. Either I break the rules or I quit diving.

:focus:

Peace,
Greg

 

[Cave Diver]

I guess my point would be that when you dive casually with a non DIR diver, it would seem that you're not really following DIR yourself.

Why?

As long as they are a safe diver and there is pre dive planning and gear review that both understand and are in agreement with, how do you feel this invalidates the principles of DIR diving?