I know what I'm about to say won't be popular.
Frankly, it must piss Michael off when he dives at sites or overhears strangers talking like they know something about DIR or more historical Hogarthian approaches to diving. But then observing them standing there speaking like authorities on the matter with partially implimented DIR clusters gear, mixed with out of compliance components, and then by their every action prove they don't have a clue.
If a solution is holistic it simply cannot be dissected. No doubt a single superior equipment component or configuration might bring its user benefit, why not it's "better" than the rest - and there's a reason. So if you got it good for you. But an ignorant observer who heard a diver claim "I'm diving DIR" becomes associated with that organization. That unfamiliar diver would look at that configuration which is quite frankly out-of-compliance with the complete solution, and have questions or problems which their unique configuration cannot answer or solve. As they dive would they also display unsafe behaviors? Would they misuse the equipment which isn't symbiotically aligned with the whole? And then by their actions would they defy the philosophy which they never learned and finally send a critical message to observers that DIR is certainly an odd cult, who would want to dive like those finatics?
I'm sorry, but I have to fully understand and agree with MHK, when I say he does not offend me at all for sticking up for the holistic approach that is DIR, it cannot be seperated, it cannot be dissected piecemeal, and quite frankly if you are completely suited DIR, you still don't have everything you need with out the training and active diving practices.
In an ideal world, you would purchase and receive a completely compliant rig head to toe, show up the first day of class with the gear unworn, get MHK to configure it for you for your very first dive, unlearn everything you have learned grasshopper, and never look back.
And for those of you who have taken away some single change to your system from ScubaBoard or observing other divers don't believe for a second you are part of DIR. Of course be thankful you learned of a better way, that's a great start. And if you had unsafe gear more power to you to fix your crap. But let the DIR instructors judge whether you are "part of the club".
I've not drank from the bowl of koolaid and yet as an outsider even I can discern the value of truely "belonging to the club", the wholistic approach, the complete system. I can only imagine how much of an insult this would be to someone who gives his heart and soul to it like MHK. On the otherhand I'm sure he's complimented by a sincere "disciple" seeing the light, yearning for something better, and one day maybe MHK might even be able to rely on him as a buddy.
