Trying to decide between dive trips, equipment or dive courses?

[Asiandivergal]

Hiya,

I've been having a minor headache trying to work out my diving budget for the next few months. I usually pump in a large amount of my savings into making monthly dive trips, but recently have had to make some tough decisions.

I'm currently finishing up with my Rescue course, and plan to do my Divemaster course soon. Recently, a good friend of mine suggested that I take a course on Basic Fundamentals of DIR - I have read through some stuff on DIR, and it really sounds interesting, but the course is not cheap, coz it will be conducted by Jarrod Jablonski.

In order to take the course, I will also need to purchase a new set of equipment due to the DIR configuration. Currently I am using Oceanic Delta III reg and a SeaQuest Diva BC, which was just purchased May this year. I've also set my heart on getting the UK new HID dive light Light Cannon, and that is not cheap either.

And I havent even mentioned about my monthly dive trips! I will be going on a live-board trip to Similans end of this month, and was also planning on buying a 3mm wet suit - currently I am using a 0.5mm, but am a little worried about getting cold in the Andaman Waters.

As you can see, it's a real dilemma - should I invest in the DIR concept, focus on getting my DM, upgrade my equipment or should I wait and concentrate on more recreational diving? I intend to move into technical diving eventually, but right now I am still having fun checking out the reefs and the pelagics Still, my friend is adamant that the DIR concept is not just for technical diving, but that it can help make me a better diver.

Any advice will be much appreciated!

Thanks,
ADG

 

[Lost Yooper]

First of all, your friend is right, DIR works superbly for recreational diving and is well worth the investment. DIR doesn't necessarily have to translate to tech diving :nono:, but it certainly gives you the option.

My advice would be to buy the DIR equipment and perhaps not take the Fundementals course. There's a lot information out there about DIR, and it can be easily learned on your own -- especially if you have a buddy who is DIR. However, if I had the opportunity to take a class with JJ, I'd do it so I could pick his brain for a few hours.
I haven't taken the Fundementals class, but based on everything I've read about it, the class is relatively basic. If I were you, I'd buy the books, read about it thoroughly on the net, and do it -- just take your time. Get on DIR Quest and have all your questions answered by JJ, Irvine and others for a ton less than the course. There's a few of us here who would be happy to give you hand in choosing the gear you'll need for DIR as well -- just post away.

OK, so I'd say get the equipment (a must) AND concentrate on recreational diving. Skip the DM for while and get used to the DIR thing for little while. Technical diving should introduce itself as you gain confidence.

Good luck.

Mike

PS. Your Oceanic reg should be OK, but probably needs a long hose (40", 5', or 7') depending on what you want to do in the future. I'm not familiar with the UK light you mentioned, but you'll want a canister light anyway -- also not especially cheap. Also, you can save some moola by getting an AL BP instead of a SS BP.

 

[keralucu]

wow - so many worries-lah! I empathise...

I don't know how much wetsuits cost in Sing, but you can get a 3mm full wetsuit (women's cut) in Bangkok from an outlet shop called Decathlon for around THB 2,100 (SGD 85). If you need any help with this let me know!

 

[Thresher]

ADG

A buddy of mine adopted the DIR system this year and just like LY, he did all the learning by himself. That probably saved him quite a bit for his gear.

Btw, I just received my UK Light Cannon (after 3 weeks on the wait-list). Man, this baby is super bright! And I haven't even tried it underwater yet. Makes my other divelights look like penlights. Can't wait to use it this weekend. I suggest you get one for yourself. Absolutely no regrets!

 

[Asiandivergal]

Hiya all,

Thanks for the comments and advice.

Mike - yup, I have been thinking of slowing down on DM, wanted to do a bit of relaxed diving instead of rushing the certification. I guess since I'm not a tech fanatic (yet), I cant understand your fascination with JJ's brain My friend has been forwarding me some emails from the DIR experts on gear equipment, and apparently Apeks and Oceanic were given the thumbs up, but not ScubaPro hee hee but seriously I have been thinking of selling my Oceanic and getting the Apeks - it seems to be highly recommended. What do you think of the Nightrider? Any websites you can recommend for those of us thinking of venturing into DIR?

Alison - wow for a moment there, you sounded Singaporean I was just wondering if a 3 mm wet suit is necessary? Do you think my 0.5mm is sufficient for Similans? I have been getting mixed answers on that, so I am not very sure. I dive OK in that for water temp of around 28-30 degree celsius, even when hit by thermoclines...the only time i feel cold is during the night dives on the surface after getting out of the water. Here the wet suits are more expensive, costing around S$150 - $280, depending on brand.

Thresher - arrrghhh i have been on the wait list like forever, and is still waiting for the dive shop to call me! Where did you get yours, and how much did you pay for it? I booked with Paris at Lucky Plaza, and Charlie (think that's his name??) told me it costs $320. hahahaha want to rent your Light Cannon to me for a slight fee?? want to test it in Similans lah

 

[Lost Yooper]

Here's some links:

www.gue.com -- Read equipment section.
www.wkpp.org -- Read equipment section and pics.
http://www.sfdj.com/dive/dir1.htm -- Download both DIR 1 and DIR 3. This is good stuff.
http://wrolf.net/index.html -- Scroll down and read all the hogarthian and DIR stuff.
http://www.sfdj.com/dive/dir1.htm -- DIR shop.


I like the Apeks regs, but I hear the Oceanic regs are nice too. As I recall, the WKPP only use Apeks, Oceanic, and Scuba Pro regs (for deco). If they're good enough for them, they're good enough for me.

JJ -- I'm simply awe struck by his in-depth knowledge of physiology, decompression procedures, and his overall demeaner and personnality. He's pretty cool.

Nightrider?? I'm not sure about that one. It's a light, right? Check out www.extreme-exposure.com for good canister lights. It should be the last primary light you'll have to buy.

Gotta go.

Mike

 

[scubakat]

My opinion on training vs. equipment...

Here goes... There are many skills that you can learn from the fundamentals class that you can apply to your recreational diving, including but not limited to an attitude toward safety & buddy systems, finning techniques, bouancy control, trim & attitude in the water. These are skills that in-my-opinion do not require a specific gear configuration. In my neighborhood the only requirements for the fundamentals class are a back-inflation sytle BC and a longhose configuration on your reg. You can rent or borrow any other gear required for the class. I think that if you have the chance to take the class from Jablonski that you should do it, but I think that it is WRONG for them to require you to purchase an entirely new rig before you have decided that it will work for you.

-kate

 

[scubakat]

And... if looking for a light & you are going to spend > $300, then look at canister lights... In addition to the links posted above, check out www.aulinc.com.

-kate

 

[roakey]

Let me ditto the suggestion for a canister light. I’d look at AUL’s or EE’s lights.

I’m waiting for HID technology to mature a bit more before I take the plunge.

There are several advantages of a canister over either the UK Light Cannon or the Nite Rider lights. The canister lights have a Goodman handle so you have BOTH hands free, instead of one having to hold onto a pistol grip like with the UK light. The Nite Rider does have a Goodman handle option, but the batteries are non-standard.

A canister light is very simple “nut-and-bolt” technology that makes maintaining it very easy. If you can operate a soldering iron and a wrench you can fix almost anything on a canister light. It’s cheap and easy to have multiple battery packs too: a quick trip to Batteries Plus and an hour with a soldering iron and duct tape will give you a whole new battery pack. Maybe not important for the occasional night dive, but when you’re doing a couple of cave dives in a day, you need to replace the batteries for the next dive because you don’t have time to charge them.

The downside of a canister light is that it’s very difficult to mount unless you’re diving a backplate.

This is why a backplate is the entire backbone of the DIR system. You can just replace your BC with a backplate and wings and keep all the rest of your equipment the same if you like. But you absolutely need a backplate in order to move your configuration towards DIR.

Roak

 

[keralucu]

(I have a few Singaporean friends... hence the confusion over my accent! )

Rather than buying another wetsuit, why don't you just hire one from the boat operator? They must supply them. They shouldn't cost a lot to hire for the entire trip so even if you don't use it, it won't take a big chunk out of your wallet.

It may be a bit colder than 28-30 degrees in the water though. The weather is definitely cooling down for the winter. We had temps of 28 degrees at 25m in April which is the hottest month of the year, so I would expect it to be lower than that in December. I am usually the only person in my group in a 2mm shortie - everybody else wears full 3mm. But last time I dived even I felt a bit of a chill - and I am a very warm-blooded person - which prompted me to go and buy a 2mm vest to wear inside my suit for Similan. What I meant was, if you want me to get you one of those wetsuits I was talking about and somehow send it to you in Sing, it's not a problem - especially as the outlet shop is on my way home from work.

Let me know...