What sealed the deal on DIR-F for you?

[underwater daphne]

this is the best thread i've read on dir. it makes the course really attractive if you're interested in becoming a better diver. i might even take a sip someday when/if i get the chance.

 

[detroit diver]

My open water instructor used to email me all kinds of information on diving. Everything you can imagine-from commercial diving to equipment catalogs to articles on DIR. The DIR articles fascinated me and I began to ask more questions. The simplicity of the equipment and ideas, along with the emphasis on safety, are what eventually sold me on DIR.

To make a long story short, my first equipment purchase was a Halcyon BP and wings. I figure I saved myself a bunch of money by not having to have sold off stuff that I'll never use again.

Oh yeah, one more thing. That OW instructor I spoke about-some of you have had the pleasure of having him as an instructor also. He is now a GUE Fundamentals instructor. His name is Brandon Schwartz. I consider myself extremely lucky to have him as my instructor, mentor, and friend.

 

[BCS]

My open water instructor used to email me all kinds of information on diving. Everything you can imagine-from commercial diving to equipment catalogs to articles on DIR. The DIR articles fascinated me and I began to ask more questions. The simplicity of the equipment and ideas, along with the emphasis on safety, are what eventually sold me on DIR.

To make a long story short, my first equipment purchase was a Halcyon BP and wings. I figure I saved myself a bunch of money by not having to have sold off stuff that I'll never use again.

Oh yeah, one more thing. That OW instructor I spoke about-some of you have had the pleasure of having him as an instructor also. He is now a GUE Fundamentals instructor. His name is Brandon Schwartz. I consider myself extremely lucky to have him as my instructor, mentor, and friend.

Thanks Jack!...likewise too my friend....

 

[jagfish]

Emphasis on boyancy, and focus on diving excellence. I wanted (and want) to be all I can be as a diver.

 

[minnediver]

When I started to think about heading towards more technical diving. I observed a "tech" course and was curious as to why they all did their skills on their knees. I didn't really see much of a skill improvement from where I am at to what was passing the "tech" course. They just had another card.

I also got to hear a lot of negativity towards the local DIR group. I was curious as to why there was such a hate on for this group so I chatted with the biggest DIR guy around and found him to be a great guy. His "wild" ideas about team work, safety, skills & abilities, ect were a splash of fresh water for me. I have found more hatred and resentment from my fellow instructors than I did with the DIR crowd. After taking my fundamentals, watching AG in the water and then remembering the "tech" course I observed before I was hooked on DIR. So much has improved in my diving since the DIR-F course that I wonder how I was able to dive before.

 

[WJL]

Funny now other divers can influence ya ... (Grateful Diver)

Three people from this board got me moving forward with DIR - Jack (detroit diver), Scot Wernette (SJW I think), and Brandon Schwartz (BCS). I learned about the existence of DIR from lurking on this board while I was taking my OW training in the spring of 2002. The concept made sense to me, and I contacted detroit diver to learn more. He told me about the local DIR group, and their plans for a Fundamentals class in July 2002. I met Scot and Brandon and started diving with them before the class, went through the class, and I have been learning from them and with them ever since.

I am lucky to have these guys as friends and dive buddies.

 

[Frank O]

I am curious as to why divers on this board who took DIR-F decided to do so. In other words what was the most important thing you learned about DIR that moved you from the curious column to the signed up for DIR-F column.

I'd been interested in DIR ever since I read about it on the Internet around the time I got my OW cert four years ago. I thought it was odd that my OW instructor had never heard of it.

By a couple of years later, I realized that all my regular dive buddies had been through Fundamentals.

Then, I heard that a GUE instructor who was highly spoken of was giving a relatively rare class in our area. So I jumped at the chance.

 

[mweitz]

Interesting thread. Scuba board is where I heard about DIR.

The reasons:

Standards - I bought all my gear before my first class. I got medium end rec stuff (I still don't regret it ... too much). The instructor kept saying "Push the big button on your inflator". Well, for me it was the opposite. I kept thinking, there should be a standard for this stuff. In an emergency you don't want to think, just react. "Hmmm, where is his dump?"

Techniques - I did OW and AOW. I didn't get very good training on buoyancy control, finning techniques, navigation, etc. I want to be able to do all the fundamental things. If finning backwards is used in some circumstances, I want to be able to do it. I also want to know how and when it is appropriate. I could go on and on here.

Attitude - I understand that training and practice are the things that make you "better" at a sport. DIR also seems to be the only entity that understands this as well. Look at something like ice hockey. How many times does a average shooter get to take a shot on goal during a game (a rec player). Maybe 3 - 5. However you can get a good 20 shots in a half an hour practice session. Simple math on practice, the more you do it the better you become.

Gear configuration - The gear configuration is awesome (though I have to yet dive it). It makes sense. It is streamlined. There aren't stupid things dangling everywhere (see my profile photo).

Looking forward to the class.

Mark

 

[WaterDawg]

I've already posted but Ill do so again in greater detail. When I had about 65-70 dives I noticed my LDS had a board that said "ask about our GUE courses" I had never heard of them so I asked (thankfully). Anyways I walked out of there w/ the DIR/F book, took it home and was amazed by these concepts; being in shape, taking only what you need, standerization, practice of skills...it was very much like the military (which I am used to). Later on I dove w/ a GUE tained diver from my LDS and WOW! It blew my mind how anyone could be soo great.

Why couldnt my instructor do that w/ over 3000 dive? Why couldnt my DM do that? She was soo good I called my other diving friends and let them know. They all said the same thing "Good at diving? how can someone be good at diving?" I mean whats there to it right? I was sold right then and there.

 

[BCS]

Three people from this board got me moving forward with DIR - Jack (detroit diver), Scot Wernette (SJW I think), and Brandon Schwartz (BCS). I learned about the existence of DIR from lurking on this board while I was taking my OW training in the spring of 2002. The concept made sense to me, and I contacted detroit diver to learn more. He told me about the local DIR group, and their plans for a Fundamentals class in July 2002. I met Scot and Brandon and started diving with them before the class, went through the class, and I have been learning from them and with them ever since.

I am lucky to have these guys as friends and dive buddies.

Thank you Bill for the kind words...but I must disagree....we are the lucky ones.

b.