"GUE's equipment configuration is based on the DIR philosophy of diving that promotes diver safety and enjoyment through a reasoned approach to teamwork, equipment choices and diver training. GUE's equipment configuration is holistically conceived to be functional, with minor adaptations, in any environment."
You might want to re-read #5 below: "
Long Hose: Optional in shallow, open water diving,"
On the other hand, #26 states: "
Primary Light: Hip-mounted, canister-style light; this is optional in some environments, but valuable in nearly all." According to DIR, both cannister light and long hose are optional, yet the cannister light is at least valuable in nearly all. Does it say the long hose is valuable in shallow, open water diving? Uh, no.
Clearly, if it's "optional", it's not necessary. If it's not necessary for the dive, it should be left behind.
You might want to check out the GUE site. It may clear up your obvious misconceptions about DIR. It is very much about equipment.
DIR Equipment Configuration
A good SCUBA equipment configuration should allow for the addition of items necessary to perform a specific dive without interfering with or changing the existing configuration. Diving with the same configuration not only helps solve problems, it prevents them.
Following is a list of equipment as that is of prime consideration:
- Mask: Low Volume mask reduces drag and requires less effort to clear it of water.
- Primary Regulator: Quality regulator that will be passed to an out-of-air diver.
- Short Hose: Should be long enough to breathe comfortably, but not long enough to bow and create drag.
- Back-Up Regulator: Quality regulator that a diver will use as a reserve either in the event of a failure or in an air-sharing episode.
- Long Hose: Optional in shallow, open water diving, but mandatory in deeper or overhead diving; the long hose simplifies air sharing. When used, the long hose, along with the primary regulator, should ALWAYS be placed on the diver's right post.
- Back-Up Lights: Tucked away to reduce drag but still allow for easy one-hand removal.
- Goodman Handle Light Head: Allows for hands-free diving while allowing the diver to easily direct the focused light beam.
- Thermal Suit: Appropriate to keep diver alert and comfortable.
- Crotch Strap: Allows for custom fit, and supports two D-rings: one works as a scooter attachment point; (divers should not hang equipment here as it would hang too low); and one further up, closer to the back plate, which works for towing additional gear. The crotch strap also holds the BC in position and prevents the BC from floating up away from the body.
- Hood: Where necessary to keep diver alert and comfortable.
- Mask Strap: Strong strap that will resist breaking.
- Necklace: Designed to hold the back-up regulator within easy access.
- Corrugated Hose: Should be just long enough to allow for ear clearing and potential dry suit inflation while actuating inflator, but not so long that it drags or entangles easily.
- Power Inflation Hose: Should be long enough for a diver to easily use his/her corrugated hose, but not long enough for it to bow or otherwise create excess drag.
- D-rings: No more than two on the chest, positioned to reduce the drag of attached items; one hip D-ring to hold the pressure gauge.
- Pressure Gauge Hose: Custom hose allows a diver to easily read the gauge after unclipping, but does not bow or dangle, thus avoiding excess drag.
- Pressure Gauge: Quality brass gauge should be easy to read and reliable.
- Knife: Waist-mounted in front, near the center of the diver's body, for easy access.
- Pockets: Hip-mounted to reduce drag; these pockets are ideal for storing slates, decompression tables, small guideline spools or other necessary equipment.
The following additional configuration items appear on the next two pages:
- Knobs: Soft knobs (to limit risk of breakage) should be opened completely.
- Valve: Contingent on environment and diving activity. Dual orifice valves (H or Manifold) are an excellent way to increase safety and redundancy.
- Burst Disks: Use of double disks prevents accidental burst failure.
- Buoyancy Compensator: Adjusted based upon needed lift whether one is diving single or double tanks. Buoyancy should be sufficient to float equipment by itself while at the surface.
- Cylinders: Contingent on environment and diving activity.
- Harness and Backplate: Designed to hold the diver snugly to their rig while reducing drag and increasing control.
- Primary Light: Hip-mounted, canister-style light; this is optional in some environments, but valuable in nearly all.
- Alternate Lift Device: Lift bag, diver alert marker, or surface life raft, for open water diving. Halcyon's MC system allows for storage in backplate pack for increased streamlining.
- Overboard Discharge: Also known as a P-Valve; used with a condom catheter by male divers to allow for urination during long dives with a dry suit.
- Bottom Timer / depth gauge: Wrist mounted to eliminate drag and entanglement.
- Watch: Wrist-mounted, with a functional stopwatch to allow for timing safety or decompression stops.
- Compass: Wrist mounted to eliminate drag and entanglement.
- Fins: These should have no attachment buckles that can break. Replace with a more robust connection.
- Guideline Reel: Use is contingent on the diving environment; it is usually mounted on the rear crotch strap D-ring for streamlining and to reduce clutter. Spools and other guideline devices are usually kept in the diver's hip-mounted pocket.
