What does DIR mean?

[Underwater Ogre]

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.

If what your saying is true then possibly it could be influenced by LDS, instructors and manufactures to meet there needs?

 

[BDSC]

and then call myself President of the United States of America

I gotta believe that you'd do a much better job than the guy that's up there now!

 

[rjack321]

Hmmm...I have visions of a flashing red light bewteen a set of doubles marked "Scuba Police" next time I go cave diving. It would be hilarious (especially if I decide to check the pressures of stage bottles and write tickets for those I find with less than 2/3rds pressure). The laughter however would probably result in several drownings in the cave. :depressed:

Funny that Officer Gibson is neither trained by GUE nor fancies herself DIR.

 

[Nemrod]

OK. Now I see and understand your point.

I don't really know too much about "DIR" but it seems to relate more to the cave/technical diving community than the reef diving community like myself. For me, it matters not if I have:

a. split fins vs paddle fins
b. snorkel vs no snorkel
c. AI console computer vs AI wrist computer vs gauges vs whatever
d. knife vs no knife
e. AIR II vs regular octo
f. pony bottle vs no pony vs having a buddy as my alternate air source

and the list could go on and on.

What really matters to me is that I enjoy the diving that I do no matter what my or someone else's equipment configuration is and that my buddy and I dive safely and live to dive another day. And so if I accomplish those two things, (enjoyment and living to dive again) then I see myself as "Doing it Right".

You are not doing it right, only they can do it right, you are just plain doing it wrong. Geeeez, I thought everybody knew they were right and the rest are wrong, green eggs and ham.

N

 

[JeffG]

If what your saying is true then possibly it could be influenced by LDS, instructors and manufactures to meet there needs?

Their needs are of no significance. The customer is always right.

 

[Underwater Ogre]

Their needs are of no significance. The customer is always right.

But isn't the customer taught by an instructor who may or may not be affiliated with an LDS or manufacturer? Most people don't work for free.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

What really matters to me is that I enjoy the diving that I do no matter what my or someone else's equipment configuration is and that my buddy and I dive safely and live to dive another day. And so if I accomplish those two things, (enjoyment and living to dive again) then I see myself as "Doing it Right".

No kidding ... do you even remember what gear configuration I was using in Bonaire two months ago? I for sure don't recall whether you were wearing paddles or splits, back-inflate or jacket ... or how your reg was configured.

What I DO remember is that when my buddy and I passed your buddy and you on the reef, we waved and took pictures of each other. We all had fun.

What else is worth remembering?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[BDSC]

No kidding ... do you even remember what gear configuration I was using in Bonaire two months ago? I for sure don't recall whether you were wearing paddles or splits, back-inflate or jacket ... or how your reg was configured.

What I DO remember is that when my buddy and I passed your buddy and you on the reef, we waved and took pictures of each other. We all had fun.

What else is worth remembering?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Right on my Brother. Right on!!!

Hell of a great picture you took also!

 

[rjack321]

If what your saying is true then possibly it could be influenced by LDS, instructors and manufactures to meet there needs?

Amazingly its not particularly influenced by local politics. Vastly moreso by local conditions. For instance 30/30 is a pretty nice gas in high flow FL caves that don't get much deeper than 100ft. Very low WOB while maintaining a -20% EAD among other things. For diving in the ocean tho 30/30 is kinda pointless since its easy to bump up against its MOD. So for ocean dives in many regions 25/25 has been adopted since its easier to mix by topping He with 32% and gives you a little more buffer if you end up on a deeper than expected site (which is very hard to do in an explored cave). Its just a regional adaptation based on conditions and what works slightly better. I don't think any GUE Tech1 divers would scoff at the thought of using 25/25 at Lobos in California and most UTD Tech1 divers would happily adopt 30/30 if they went cave diving at Ginnie.

But isn't the customer taught by an instructor who may or may not be affiliated with an LDS or manufacturer? Most people don't work for free.

Its all about the instructor, not the shop, not even the agency.

 

[BDSC]

You are not doing it right, only they can do it right, you are just plain doing it wrong. Geeeez, I thought everybody knew they were right and the rest are wrong, green eggs and ham.N

Sorry. I stand corrected now. I'm leaving for Little Cayman Saturday morning so someone better hurry up and tell me how to "DIR"!