PADI DIR Distinctive Specialty

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

I'm sooo confused now...Should I take this or Fundies this summer???

 

[divinginn]

Love it,that should shut up all the padi bashers.

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

I'm sooo confused now...Should I take this or Fundies this summer???

Which one is Beto teaching???

 

[Adobo]

Which one is Beto teaching???

Beto is/was an SSI instructor. I don't think SSI has the equivalent class yet so I suspect he is not qualified to teach this class.

 

[ae3753]

Since I am Padi (Paid) OW certified and need a fundies class in order to take Tech 1. This excellent class sounds just right.

For GUE Tech 1, you are required to take GUE Fundamentals.

What I hope to get out of the class is, how to properly deploy my snorkel, where I am supposed to stow it? (Dive bin at home works well so far),

See above response.

how to back up with my split fins and get my money back (They are for sale)how to properly use a retractor (Currently located in landfill)

As split fins are not as efficient for the variety of propulsion techniques we use, selling them is definitely doing it right.

A $ub-$pecialty on ebaying dive gear is a great idea. Gombessa? Training Director, can you make this happen?

why does DIR say everything must be in black? (My drysuit is orange, is that OK or am I going to die?)

DIR does not require everyone to wear black.

and last but not least hopefully they will teach us how to carry a HUGE camera and strobes, using a stage, while scootering at 160ft

This is beyond the scope of this course.

I understand the three minute deco stop is mandatory, but what if we are cold can we just do the deco stop back on the boat? (We will stay suited up regs in mouth) After all we will be using that special gas Nitrox right?

Both Min Deco and RDP will be covered.

Oh yeah I also enjoy making my scooter breach the water while waiting for my buddy, hopefully they can help me improve on those skills.

This is beyond the scope of this course.

Is there someone available to properly show the class how to install a catheter, hook it to the valve, then demonstrate a valve drill for the class? If they are of appropriate size, I am sure a few *ladies* would be willing to watch (I will be busy doing my own thing somewhere else during that demo).

One of the all time great threads on The Deco Stop:
The Deco Stop

One of the all time great marketing sites (click on "BODY"):
Philips Norelco - Second Puberty

Have fun!

 

[ae3753]

Well now I am concerned about how to carry the snorkel when diving in an overhead environment as the Photon's need to remain in place, along with my SMB. My pockets are full of useless stuff like spare mask, shears, whistle (Must have for cave diving), signal mirror (So you can fend off vampires), and a spool, so I am sure something could be removed...like that extra mask that has never been needed, to make room for the snorkel in a pocket?

Pockets should be sufficient in size to also contain a snorkel. Though in your overhead course, snorkels will be covered separately.

Will we also be taught how to navigate? I have a couple of those compass thingys but in my OW class all we did was walk across the lawn with a compass in our hands then navigate out to the buoy. Found the buoy OK, but they never taught us how to get BACK to where we started (True story). Could be a problem once I start diving outside the pool.

You and Adobo bring up good points. Unfortunately, this course does not go into compass work. The standard AOW course should provide more information on compass usage and more time to practice and train under supervision. Of course, that doesn't always happen - and it's a terrible shame.

The A-DIR class, does it come with a patch too?

Of course!

Is a night dive the requirement of A-DIR...if so last time we dove Monterey at 8:00am it was pitch black below 40 feet, so would that count as a night dive? In fact people were coming back up the anchor line as we were headed down, probably due to not having a DIR approved flashlight.

As the course is being defined, I will take this condition under advisement.

Also will they be offering us the PADI DIR solo diver course soon?

Sorry, I cannot discuss this in a public forum.

Will we also be learning about the HOG setups? As it is lunch time and I am hungry...gonna go pig out

Please keep in mind that in the USA only South Carolina hogs are DIR. In Europe, hogs from Parma Italy are an acceptable alternate.

 

[ae3753]

Beto is/was an SSI instructor. I don't think SSI has the equivalent class yet so I suspect he is not qualified to teach this class.

I am willing to do a cross-over for Beto.

 

[Gombessa]

A $ub-$pecialty on ebaying dive gear is a great idea. Gombessa? Training Director, can you make this happen?

With the upcoming pay-for-access-to-for-sale-forums plan on TDS, I propose we expand the scope of the Ebay sub-specialty to cover all manner of used scuba equipment sales. Highlights will include evaluation of gear condition, how to defocus your camera for acceptable macro images of gear, and etiquette on the use of "PM sent" notifications. Craigslist postings and cross-listing of paintball tank sales can be handled in either "mini" courses or through experience internet dives with a PADI DIR Instructor.

 

[CompuDude]

I would totally buy that patch.

You and me both.

Someone needs to make 'em up and sell them!

Although the PADI lawyers may be an issue...

 

[DiverBizz]

I would pay for patch. It would be a great collector item. No, not to sew on my dive jacket. Hmmmmm wait I can start collecting patches and I am willing to get the PADI DIR Solo patch.