Took the DIRF

[lord1234]

I have to agree with TSandM. I went into fundies with 15 total dives and 1 or 2 of those dives being practice with a diver who "knew some of the DIR philosophy and style, but was not DIR certified(though they had taken the class)". This person was definitely and still is(in my book) a very good and qualified diver. They were able to show me a COUPLE of things, but I was glad I had not had a chance to build up any real habits, since some of the stuff I had been shown was not "quite" DIR. Better to go into the class and look like a dummy the first 1/2/3/all the dives, and learn than go in with a "ingrained" vision of what a DIR diver is, and come out looking like a blockhead who won't change because "they know" what a DIR diver should be before they walk into the class.

 

[caverdave]

For what its worth I too would side on the "I was better to not practice" so to speak...

Most everything I was shown about diving before fundies wound up changing after fundies (not everything, just most everything). Fin strokes were certainly on the top of the list... with lots of reading prior to class I thought I was doing the frog and helicopter etc but quickly came to learn that there was a better way. And of course some of the best parts of the class were things that couldn't be captured in the book, videos, conversations etc so I'm not sure if practice could have helped with that in any way...

That said I think if I had someone working with me before hand that actually knew what "everything was about", then things could easily go the other way and that practice before hand would have been a huge help... sometimes a little tricky finding a person that is truly in the know though (and no I don't profess to be!)...

And finally- - one thing that I was able to do that really really helped was to sit in on the "next class" a few months after. If you have an opportunity to do something like that I would encourage it. For me doing so really brought everything together... Some topics were either pushed out of my mind (maybe overload, maybe age, maybe just me...). So having a few months to work on some parts and then come back and get refreshed on other parts really helped dial things in a little better.

And of course as long as we are underwater (or at least underground) then its all good....

Its been awesome reading about everyone else's experiences by the way- - THANKS!

 

[FLDVR]

Wait a minute. I was told that I had to wear black underwear to complete my Dir Poser status. Maybe they become optional when you get past provisional.
And yes to PPo2 there is a lot of relearning to correct for bad or unsafe habits formed over the years, not that I had any though

 

[snow drift]

Ya mine are black also. Even brass balls get cold. Have an advantage my fundys instructor works in the same shop I do.

 

[Rick Inman]

...it takes something like 2000 repetitions to solidify a pattern, and something like 10,000 to change one.

Oh great... Only 9000 more kicks to go...

 

[HarryWhisman]

I've been studying the videos on the 5thd web site. Practice in the living room while watching the video. Practice in the pool 2 or 3 times a week. Progress is slow but I figure in a couple months I'll look just like the guy in the picture, just in time for the class. Unfortunately they don't show the helicopter thing there. Anyone know where I can find it.

Ordered my black underwear today.:14:

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

Buy that black underwear Harry

 

[StSomewhere]

I've been studying the videos on the 5thd web site. Practice in the living room while watching the video. Practice in the pool 2 or 3 times a week. Progress is slow but I figure in a couple months I'll look just like the guy in the picture, just in time for the class. Unfortunately they don't show the helicopter thing there. Anyone know where I can find it.

No but I can tell you if you do the frog kick with one foot and the backward kick with the other you'll be pretty close. :14:

 

[limeyx]

No we just wear black arm bands on our black drysuits. It's what sets us apart.

I felt the same way after fundies that it would have been nice to practice before hand. I think the new 4-5 day course will take care of some of that sensory overload.

Gratefuldiver was in my class and he had been diving with DIR style divers for over a year. It was still hard for him even though he had many of the skills down. If you perform the skills well, the instructor will raise your personal bar to show you where you need improvement. Remember the instructors are at least Tech2 and there the skills requirements are much more exacting. So the bar can be raised a long way...

Not sure the instructors acutally *need* to be tech2.

However, yes, the course will kick your ***. I think if you have 1 dive or 1000 dives, you can still learn something.

How much to practice for the class is a matter of debate, as if you practice wrong you have to "unlearn" stuff (however, it definitely helped me)

 

[wb416]

Not sure the instructors acutally *need* to be tech2.

Unless this has changed, I know DIRF instructors that weren't even Tech1 when minted (they were Cave1 at the time), but subsequently are Tech2 & Cave2.