I tasted the Kool Aide and it didnt agree with me

[rjack321]

Although, I may go back to my SmartCom, not sure at the moment.

Is that a console?

 

[Otter]

I kept the backup reg on the necklace but changed my primary reg back to the normal hose. I thought it over and the long hose did not seem necessary in open water diving.
....

So do you donate your shorter working primary? I realize that this is little different than those who have integrated safe seconds (e.g. Atomic SS1, ScubaPro Air2), but one of the things I disliked about that approach was there was little head movement possible for the receiving diver?

 

[rhlee]

.... again... as the thread seems to be centered around identifying alternatives to DIR training/procedures, perhaps this isn't the best forum?

 

[dirdiversrule]

DIR diving isn't for everyone. I mean, not everyone should be exploring Everest either. Like my dad said, the world needs ditch diggers. The world also needs non-DIR divers.

 

[tonka97]

...
Going back to the ocean again for the first time since last January, I remembered why I started diving and what really gets my heart racing. The color and splendor of the coral, reefs, and tremendous variety of fish and other wildlife.
Cave/cavern/spring diving is not something I like. ...

One of the more interesting posts lately on SB.

Thank you for your candor.

 

[Hank49]

DIR diving isn't for everyone. I mean, not everyone should be exploring Everest either. Like my dad said, the world needs ditch diggers. The world also needs non-DIR divers.

Hey, I'm non adventurous, afraid of challenge AND stuck in a meaningless, non thinking job....Damn, where do I sign up for this ...D...IR?

 

[David Watson]

I'm not sure how it is in New Orleans, but on the west coast here, it is easy to find an open water instructor that is trained very highly in the DIR philosophy (most of them Tech 1 or Tech2 trained). I know a lot of people who get really solid DIR-based training, and a PADI OW card to go with it. This is something that people should look for, you would be surprised at how many OW and AOW instructors are fundamentally trained.

As for not having a long hose, what are the disadvantages that would cause you to switch back?

David

 

[PerroneFord]

Carribeandiver,

It's good to see you posting, but I am going to pick a few nits here in the interest of full disclosure.

Last Feb I took a GUE DIR Fundies course and was disappointed for several reasons. I failed miserably but that wasnt the most disappointing part. In the course I did learn what standards I was supposed to be at before I took the course and realized I wasnt close. I also realized that I wasnt going to get instruction and learn those things in that course, which was disappointing.

Yes, you took a DIRF class. However, you walked out of the course before finishing it. Perhaps you would not have learned what you wanted to learn, but you missed half the material or more. Additionally, by your own admission, you did no reading or research on what would be expected of you in a Fundies class before you signed up and took it. You were diving with gear you had never used before, and being asked to show buoyancy skills you didn't have. It is nearly impossible to proceed with the in-water skills in Fundies without that buoyancy, as you found out.

I am not saying this to slam you, only as fair warning to those who might read your words and wonder why you struggled as you did.

True, I struggled mightily to master buoyancy and trim with the BP/W, and I always seemed to be buying more specialized gear for DIR diving. But, the real frustrating part was how incompetent I was as a DIR diver and how I could never find anyone to dive with.

Several people made overtures to dive with you. I set aside an entire weekend to personally dive with you and help you with anything you desired. I offered to let you select the location (somewhere near me though) for the diving so that you'd be more comfortable. I know others offered to dive with you as well. You canceled our dive, and I understand you had your reasons, but the next contact from you indicated that you were giving up without even giving it a fair try. I was disappointed to hear it, but what could I do.

I spent a considerable amount of time practicing and trying to dive in environments that didnt turn me on. I cant say I benefited from all that practice but if it got me to where I am now, it was worth it.

I think you might have benefited from diving with DIR divers, cave divers, or other accomplished divers. I am happy you've reached a point where you feel comfortable though, and it is encouraging to hear that you've rediscovered your love for diving.

Cave/cavern/spring diving is not something I like. Those 68 F waters are sub-freezing to me and I just didnt see anything that turned me on like ocean diving does.

There is nothing to say that DIR diving is necessarily spring/cavern/cave diving. A great number of DIR divers don't live in areas where these features are available. I would dare say that many divers in the US didn't like getting their OW certifications in a quarry, preferring the tropics for their diving. But they took the training where it was offered. I never intended to be a cave diver. Wreck diving is what I love. But I live in cave country, and I make the best of it. My cave instructor is a marine biologist. He thinks I'm nutty when I say I am not really interested in ocean diving. But it sounds like you two would get along great!

A couple weeks ago, when back in the ocean, I wore my jacket BCD for the first time since last January. It felt strange and bulky. Doing some of the shallow dives, ones where the max depth was 15 feet, I could not help but notice how I could hover in place to watch something or take a picture. Later on the boat, I could not help but reflect how that was an impossible task with the BP/W. I wonder why but dont dwell on it, I am just happy I feel competent.

Honestly, I don't know why you struggled so badly with your BP/W. I can guess that it was probably not adjusted correctly. Or that there was something else going on. But you never gave me, or the others here who offered, a chance to help you. Last year I was asked to jump in the water and help with an OW course. Rather impromptu. I had no gear with me, so I borrowed a BC. I noticed no difference in terms of hovering, trim, or anything else. Maybe there was something wrong with your gear. I cannot say.

I dont know why I could never come remotely close to mastering the basic of basics for DIR diving

Maybe because you never really gave it a fair chance.

Still, I realize that DIR is not for everyone and certainly not for me.

DIR diving is certainly not for everyone. Maybe not for you. But it seems you got enough of it in your one day to change a number of things about how you dive. So maybe it really *is* for you.

It has been a tough journey traveling to where I didnt belong and could never fit in and back to where I am now. My quest was achieved in that I am a better diver now so it wasnt a waste.

I'm glad to hear you don't think it was a waste. If you want to jump in the ocean and do a wreck dive, I'd still love to dive with you. I enjoyed our conversations in the spring, and was really disappointed we didn't get to meet. I wish you all the best with your diving, and hope it brings you the joy it's brought me. DIR or not.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Glad you liked the lights, if nothing else!

 

[Carribeandiver]

Carribeandiver,

It's good to see you posting, but I am going to pick a few nits here in the interest of full disclosure.

Yes, you took a DIRF class. However, you walked out of the course before finishing it. I did complete two full days and left at the start of the 3rd day. Day 1 was classroom and I soaked in as much as possible. Day 2 was diving at the springs. We jumped in with a specific task in mind. The Instructor pointed at me and I did it as best I could. We exited, watched a video and received constructive criticism. NO OTHER INSTRUCTION WAS OFFERED. We then jumped in again with specific tasks in mind. When pointed at, I did the best I could. Again, we exited for the video critique. I got the BP/W one week before and had zero dives on it. I had no buoyancy control and no trim except when moving. I could not remain stable in a column of water. BECAUSE I RECEIVED no instruction and considered day 3 to be nothing more than a repeat of day 2, I decided to leave.
If you want to criticize, find out ALL the facts first. I did not criticize anyone, any system or any program. The purpose of this post was to say I tried the DIR approach, it didnt work for me and I am now happy diving for the purpose that got me interested to begin with.
Perhaps you would not have learned what you wanted to learn, but you missed half the material or more. Again, I DID NOT miss half the material. You do not know what you are talking about. Additionally, by your own admission, you did no reading or research on what would be expected of you in a Fundies class before you signed up and took it. Funny, I do not recall saying that. I found out about Fundies approximately a week to 10 days before the course. I enrolled, contacted the Instructor and asked him very specific questions regarding gear configurations required and tasks to be learned. He merely referred me to the GUE Website by providing links in his reply emails. I read the website, I read what I could find and I did indeed research as much as I could find in that short of a time period. Again, you do not know what you are talking about.
You were diving with gear you had never used before, and being asked to show buoyancy skills you didn't have. It is nearly impossible to proceed with the in-water skills in Fundies without that buoyancy, as you found out. Know what? I agree. However, the instructor perhaps should have advised me of that beforehand. Nonetheless, I am not faulting anyone as it is not the purpose of this thread.
I am not saying this to slam you, only as fair warning to those who might read your words and wonder why you struggled as you did.
Several people made overtures to dive with you. I set aside an entire weekend to personally dive with you and help you with anything you desired. I offered to let you select the location (somewhere near me though) for the diving so that you'd be more comfortable. Yes, you did. The site selections were 400 to 600 miles from me and yet I agreed to go. I cancelled because the weekend you were available was Easter weekend and considering many members of my family lost homes through Katrina and now live all over the place, I decided visiting with my family was more important.
I know others offered to dive with you as well. Oh yea? WHO? You canceled our dive, and I understand you had your reasons, but the next contact from you indicated that you were giving up without even giving it a fair try. I was disappointed to hear it, but what could I do.
I think you might have benefited from diving with DIR divers, cave divers, or other accomplished divers. I am happy you've reached a point where you feel comfortable though, and it is encouraging to hear that you've rediscovered your love for diving.
There is nothing to say that DIR diving is necessarily spring/cavern/cave diving. A great number of DIR divers don't live in areas where these features are available. I would dare say that many divers in the US didn't like getting their OW certifications in a quarry, preferring the tropics for their diving. But they took the training where it was offered. I never intended to be a cave diver. Wreck diving is what I love. But I live in cave country, and I make the best of it. My cave instructor is a marine biologist. He thinks I'm nutty when I say I am not really interested in ocean diving. But it sounds like you two would get along great!
Honestly, I don't know why you struggled so badly with your BP/W. I can guess that it was probably not adjusted correctly. Or that there was something else going on. But you never gave me, or the others here who offered, a chance to help you. Last year I was asked to jump in the water and help with an OW course. Rather impromptu. I had no gear with me, so I borrowed a BC. I noticed no difference in terms of hovering, trim, or anything else. Maybe there was something wrong with your gear. I cannot say.
Maybe because you never really gave it a fair chance.
DIR diving is certainly not for everyone. Maybe not for you. But it seems you got enough of it in your one day to change a number of things about how you dive. So maybe it really *is* for you. About 6 to 7 months of practicing in pools and springs without a real dive made it a chore and not a fun hobby. Trust me when I say, I gave DIR a very fair shot and found it not for me. So what? That doesnt make me bad or anyone else better or worse. We all have our niche, I suppose and if mine is to dive where I get thrilled from the little things then I am sticking to that niche.
I'm glad to hear you don't think it was a waste. If you want to jump in the ocean and do a wreck dive, I'd still love to dive with you. I enjoyed our conversations in the spring, and was really disappointed we didn't get to meet. I wish you all the best with your diving, and hope it brings you the joy it's brought me. DIR or not.

Thank you Perrone and good luck to you.