MHK
Guest
This thread, coupled with the other thread on the DIR forum, has made for some pretty interesting reading. Thanks to the participants for keeping the flames down, but it's surprising to me at this late date that the impression still exists that in order to be DIR you must outfit yourself in Halcyon gear. That is simply a falsehood of epidemic proportions. At the end of this post I'll repost an ad hoc equipment list that I've posted often and please note how little, if any, Halcyon gear is "required".
A couple of other points that I thought I'd attempt to explain is the notion of how inflexible the gear and gear placement is. Some have suggested in this thread that it's about some type of violation of personal freedoms or personal preferences. The point behind standardization is too allow the diver to think "less", not "more". Conceptually speaking, if an emergency happens, particularly if it happens in a silt-out or limited visibility situation, I can help my buddy more easily because his equipment is configured exactly like mine. I don't have to rely on the quick buddy check that may, or may not, have been done before the dive nor do I need to rely on memory as to where his knife may be, or where his "octo" is stowed. By promoting consistency amongst the team reduces stress in an emergecny situation, it's isn't promoted because DIR likes to be dogmatic..
I also note that someone in this thread made mention of the PADI 5 star requirement that the shop only teach PADI classes and the relationship to GUE training. We have been through this in great detail with PADI, and various PADI 5 star shops that have requested that we offer a DIR-F class. Prior to the DIR-F class becoming a "certification" based class, ie; prior to July 1, 2003 PADI did in fact allow us to teach at 5 star facilities because the classes were non-certification, workshop based classes. Subsequent to July 1, 2003 when GUE went to the "certification" based DIR-F classes PADI has specifically advised several shops that we were going to teach at that they risked loosing their 5 star status if they allowed us to teach at their facility. I have for the longest time felt some level of hypocrsy from those that suggest that GUE is inflexible but yet the largest agency in the world holds hostage it's highest rating and, associated promotional value, if the shop teaches anything other then PADI.
In any event this has been an educational thread, and I welcome the discussion and will be happy to answer any questions relating to WHY we do what we do, because I suspect when the WHY's are actually known, that much of the misinformation that you see on various scuba forums are quickly corrected.
As promised here is the recommended gear list. Also on the www.wkpp.org George Irvine lists his equipment configuration and I think you'll see that the notion that in order to be DIR you must be completed outfitted in Halcyon is an erroneous assumption.
DUI TLS 350 drysuit or virtually any shell suit
DUI C-4 thermal garment or Diving Concepts stretch C-4
Aquatic Hood
Harveys Neoprene Gloves (although some in the colder waters use the dry gloves)
Scuba Pro Jet Fins (Turtle fins in the alternative)
Tusa Mask
Sea Elite manifolds
Highland Millworks Bands
Akona knife
PST or Luxfer cylinders
Barry Miller HID primary light
Barry Miller Scout lights (backup)
Suunto compass
Uwatec bottom timer
Apex or Scuba Pro regs
Any brass SPG will suffice
If using a computer, a suunto
And then of course the BP and wings. I believe Halcyon is the best quality but as we have said often, as long as the wings are not bondage wings, most will suffice.
Hope this helps.
Michael Kane
A couple of other points that I thought I'd attempt to explain is the notion of how inflexible the gear and gear placement is. Some have suggested in this thread that it's about some type of violation of personal freedoms or personal preferences. The point behind standardization is too allow the diver to think "less", not "more". Conceptually speaking, if an emergency happens, particularly if it happens in a silt-out or limited visibility situation, I can help my buddy more easily because his equipment is configured exactly like mine. I don't have to rely on the quick buddy check that may, or may not, have been done before the dive nor do I need to rely on memory as to where his knife may be, or where his "octo" is stowed. By promoting consistency amongst the team reduces stress in an emergecny situation, it's isn't promoted because DIR likes to be dogmatic..
I also note that someone in this thread made mention of the PADI 5 star requirement that the shop only teach PADI classes and the relationship to GUE training. We have been through this in great detail with PADI, and various PADI 5 star shops that have requested that we offer a DIR-F class. Prior to the DIR-F class becoming a "certification" based class, ie; prior to July 1, 2003 PADI did in fact allow us to teach at 5 star facilities because the classes were non-certification, workshop based classes. Subsequent to July 1, 2003 when GUE went to the "certification" based DIR-F classes PADI has specifically advised several shops that we were going to teach at that they risked loosing their 5 star status if they allowed us to teach at their facility. I have for the longest time felt some level of hypocrsy from those that suggest that GUE is inflexible but yet the largest agency in the world holds hostage it's highest rating and, associated promotional value, if the shop teaches anything other then PADI.
In any event this has been an educational thread, and I welcome the discussion and will be happy to answer any questions relating to WHY we do what we do, because I suspect when the WHY's are actually known, that much of the misinformation that you see on various scuba forums are quickly corrected.
As promised here is the recommended gear list. Also on the www.wkpp.org George Irvine lists his equipment configuration and I think you'll see that the notion that in order to be DIR you must be completed outfitted in Halcyon is an erroneous assumption.
DUI TLS 350 drysuit or virtually any shell suit
DUI C-4 thermal garment or Diving Concepts stretch C-4
Aquatic Hood
Harveys Neoprene Gloves (although some in the colder waters use the dry gloves)
Scuba Pro Jet Fins (Turtle fins in the alternative)
Tusa Mask
Sea Elite manifolds
Highland Millworks Bands
Akona knife
PST or Luxfer cylinders
Barry Miller HID primary light
Barry Miller Scout lights (backup)
Suunto compass
Uwatec bottom timer
Apex or Scuba Pro regs
Any brass SPG will suffice
If using a computer, a suunto
And then of course the BP and wings. I believe Halcyon is the best quality but as we have said often, as long as the wings are not bondage wings, most will suffice.
Hope this helps.
Michael Kane