What does DIR mean?

[DA Aquamaster]

This whole thread (especially with the GUE tangent) has a few widely-spread misconceptions. There is really no "DIR" inner circle actively promoting what DIR is and is not, and there's no governing body or organization managing it.

GUE has effectively deprecated its use of the term DIR (JJ wrote an interesting article about it--"Toward a New and Unique Future", Quest Summer 2004), and is instead promoting a "GUE standard" independent of DIR. UTD (another agency teaching DIR principles) is more or less avoiding the term as well.

DIR isn't set in stone; it's evolving on its own, and arguably splintering a bit regionally and over new procedures and technology. I think there's a fairly solid core, but it starts getting fuzzy the more closely you look at the details. It's just not as centralized as a lot of people think it is.

I agree with you completely, but I have lost exactly that argument (no single controlling DIR body) on numerous occasions where GUE and DIR have gotten convoluted by people whose DIR training and experince has been from GUE.

Now...here's the kicker. Most of the main tenants and procedures of DIR ( Gas Usage, gas switching for example) do not change, but some minor details get debated and or implemented differently in different regions.

Believe it or not this response represents a quantumn leap in evolution as it is at least acknowleding that the basic DIR approach needs some tweaks in some environments.

 

[mdb]

It seems that This never ending discussion has evolved into a more civil discourse on training, equipment, philosophy. That seems good to me. Lots of good comments here.

I am a minimalist diver, just take what you need for the dive at hand. I do not want any long hoses or doubles for a 60 ft. dive. I much prefer solo diving, most of the time.

I do learn from these internet discussions and respect the opinions that are expressed. What we all want is safe and competent divers.

The very few fanatics on one side or the other are simply distractions and should be ignored.

For me, this weekend, I'll just go diving, very simply, in Monterey, hope the weather and vis holds.

 

[Blackwood]

Believe it or not this response represents a quantumn leap in evolution as it is at least acknowleding that the basic DIR approach needs some tweaks in some environments.

That's not what he said.

 

[Blackwood]

I am a minimalist diver, just take what you need for the dive at hand. I do not want any long hoses ... for a 60 ft. dive.

While I can certainly appreciate that, I'm far to lazy to switch out my hoses based on the dive site.

 

[BDSC]

"como estas?"

muy bien gracias

 

[Blackwood]

muy bien gracias

Do itashi mashite

 

[Teamcasa]

It seems that This never ending discussion has evolved into a more civil discourse on training, equipment, philosophy. That seems good to me. Lots of good comments here.

I am a minimalist diver, just take what you need for the dive at hand. I do not want any long hoses or doubles for a 60 ft. dive. I much prefer solo diving, most of the time.

I do learn from these internet discussions and respect the opinions that are expressed. What we all want is safe and competent divers.

The very few fanatics on one side or the other are simply distractions and should be ignored.

For me, this weekend, I'll just go diving, very simply, in Monterey, hope the weather and vis holds.

Me too! I'm taking my brass spring clipped video camera to dive wreck alley in San Diego on Friday then to Catalina Island on Tuesday.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Hello, I noticed in some posts they use the term DIR equipment... what does DIR mean?

I saw DIY as well and it was clearly pointing to Do It Yourself but I didn't manage to figure out DIR

Thanks for your help.

Hey Solly,

Did you get an answer to your question?

Doc

:cool2:

 

[rjack321]

Believe it or not this response represents a quantumn leap in evolution as it is at least acknowleding that the basic DIR approach needs some tweaks in some environments.

I don't think anyone has ever denied that. The problem starts when you weigh the benefits of standardization against the benefits of a modification. A great example is "best mix" which is by definition optimized for a dive but gives up alot in the process. Including things like being able to pick an alternate site with a slightly deeper depth, intuitively knowing the deco schedule, easy mixing, and matching with you buddies amongst others.

What is quite irritating is someone who doesn't understand the benefits of the whole and only sees the benefits of their proported change to come storming into the DIR forum and proclaim that practitioners are stupid lemmings. The reality is that most of us have a pretty decent grasp of the whys and chose the approach that makes the most sense for us already. AND that choice happens to co-incide with the basic DIR framework so its fairly easy to put that label on it afterwards. I have never put a label on myself and then tried to figured out what I was supposed to do because of the label.

 

[Underwater Ogre]

Well I can say that I have a better understanding of what DIR and GUE is all about. I cant see me diving in with both feet. I am quite happy with my minimalist rig.