Now, I have to ask. A new stroke poll....

[WetDane]

Nice try, but you're not roping me into a scrap on stroke vs DIR!!! I like to think I'm extremely open minded, and ready to learn, but I start to dig my heels in when opinions get forced down my throat.

PS - you can wear whatever makes you comfortable! I dive for pure enjoyment, and it wouldn't cross my mind to scoff at any diver who didn't do things the same way I do (which incidentally, is unbeatable in its perfection!)

Hey Sea Squirt,

My initial post was "cough" then all these things came after I posted it - hmm...
Anyway - what you wrote above - makes me want to dive with you - not so much because you dive a DIR rig, but because you seem to take the time to think about things.
I completely agree with you and Zept that certain DIR evangelists can be a bit much - we are fortunate that we do not have a whole lot of those on this board.

I like to think of my diving not so much as a religion - although I can see why that comes up - but more as a philosophy, and I'm not about to discount a diver just because s/he does not dive a rig the way I do - for one thing it is expensive to go get new equipment and for another - it takes some warming up to - I did NOT like the back plate the first couple of times I dove it, but by now I would not trade it for anything.

I don't think you should let anyone shove anything down your throat - you are right to dig your heels in - but I hope that at the same time you will approach new concepts with curiosity and interest.

Also - if you look at the definition of a stroke as I mentioned it - it really means a person who is doing something against better knowledge - in that case I think it is justified. However - I will have you know that I have never actually heard a diver call another diver a stroke. I have had several divers come up to me and ask me about my rig and my diving thoughts - a very good friend of mine started diving the long hose that way - it just made sense to him.

Anyway - in my realm - it seems that us west coast divers are much more relaxed about things than a lot of the verbal ones.

For now I wish you the best diving you can get - that - after all is why we are here ¿no?

Now I will go meet Uncle Pug and dive in the show (yes, it is snowing at the moment - can't wait to get in the warm water).

Big T

 

[WetDane]

I have a problem with this. Not the long hose technique, just this statement. I dive with a high quality Beuchat reg for my octo in O/W. I know it works. Anyone who would get into the water with an octo that they would not trust their own life with to begin with is a fool! Whether it be a long hose, or a octo, you and you buddy should know for a fact it works.

James,
I would sure hope that you trust your equipment.
That is not the issue pointed to - what is indicated is that a lot of people - in the way they mount the octo - make is easy for sand, debris and I have seen gunnels... to get into the octo.

So although the octo works just fine - what we are talking about is that when a person is out of air and is holding her/his breath - they are going to want something that are breathing and running - NOW... That would be the reg in your mouth.
It will not be needing purging in the same way and it is not possibly filled with stuff.

Now - don't get me wrong - I am sure that you carry your octo in a very good way - but I'm sure you have seen the people why have octo and SPG dragging through the sand on the bottom - right? Would you want to try breathing one of those if you are stressed?

when that reg is on a necklace - it is right there - it's not going to get sand in it and I can tell you that it is easier for me as the donating diver to purge it.

Anyway - this is just how I see things and how I do them - you are naturally free to do things the way you see fit - this just works really well for me (well, for a lot of us).

I hope that clarifies it.
Big T

 

[Lost Yooper]

Originally posted by Big James


I have a problem with this. Not the long hose technique, just this statement. I dive with a high quality Beuchat reg for my octo in O/W. I know it works. Anyone who would get into the water with an octo that they would not trust their own life with to begin with is a fool! Whether it be a long hose, or a octo, you and you buddy should know for a fact it works.

James,

Well, if I'm breathing on it when my buddy needs it, it's working -- guaranteed, no doubts, no problems. A diver in need of air will go for the reg they know is working -- the one in your mouth. The backup on a necklace is right there tapping your chest letting you know it's there waiting to be used. There's nothing more comforting than this. No worries about it coming off, being inaccessible, or being difficult to deploy like some octo concoction or whatever. Simplicity, efficiency, and streamlining...this is what it's all about.

Take care.

Mike

 

[JamesK]

Both of you gentlemen make very good points, and I understand where you are coming from. I guess I just assumed that you would mean that some people would not check that both regs work before they get in the water. Anyway, like I said, I was not debating long hose vs octo. I see good points in both depending on the diving at hand.
Oh and as far as my octo draggin, it is securly mounted on a bungee under my chin.

 

[Deloian]

Is it considered "strokery" to dive with independant single steel 120's, one under each arm, with my deco and travel gas duct-taped around my chest, using empty bleach jugs for a B.C.? sure they all laugh at me up in cave country....but deep down, i know they're just jealous.

 

[Ron Brandt]

Ok . Is any one on here just an OW, ADV OW,RESCUE, DM, Instructor from any agency other than GUE ?
Good , knew you were.

Unless you are GUE trained at some level you are a stroke.Period.

GUE at this time Does not teach OW.

Befor I became a regular agency instructor I looked into starting my own agency , using the DIR system right from the start.I even contacted JJ about it. I stoped befor I started for the simple reasion that I live in PADI teritory. If I don't sell or teach PADI here I simply don't teach for lack of work. I am a one off in the market.

Yep, as I have stated befor, I own the gear , but have not taken a GUE course.I do teach scuba and my dive buddy "after hours" is another instructor.He will not ever believe in the DIR system as far as gear goes. If I dive with him I am in violation of rule number 1. Therefor , since I do not have a buddy using the same system as me , guess what ? I am a stroke too.

This is kinda like using Karate (sp ?) in a street fight.

Ron