Why not DIR ?

[wardric]

So, I can't help it:

You can't be serious though... I, for one, don't think that all non-GUE divers are a-holes, even though many have stood out in that category. Some even to friends of mine

Chris

You have a good sense of exageration. The buddy at he LDS I talked about is a longtime best friend with who I dive a lot.

Thanks for making me laugh though this morning.

 

[wardric]

And it's usually at this point, where we break down into the "name is the problem" point that things begin to fizzle out. It's a name. I dive diverite gear. That doesn't mean that other gear is wrong. It's a name. You seem much more intelligent and secure in yourself than to let a name feel like an attack on you or your diving.

Holy cow, "PADI-The way the world learns to dive."--I guess I'm not of this world if I didn't get PADI trained.

While I don't necessarily like the name, most people call it DIR and not "doing it right." And it never even dawned on me when I first learned of DIR that it implied that I was doing it wrong. I guess I'm just not that self-concious...

Chris

PADI and DIR are not names,they are acronyms. Very different.

After reading the others posts, I understand the choice of DIR might not have been intentionnaly offensive but coupled with the attitude of the minority I was talking about, probably only DIR-wannabees anyway, it had a bad publicity.

Words are much more dangerous than you think. They start wars.

 

[cmalinowski]

well, if ya'll are pausing, I have a question. I forgot my weight belt... and I want to know if JJ would have let me dive today... I think the problem is I am under a lot of pressure to do things wrong. hey its early in Hawaii.

I am not even near good enough to comment yet, but that doesn't stop me sometimes as can be proven just by reading my posts Here are my thoughts:

- The weights should be moved closer to the plate (in the slipstream) to both reduce drag, and limit snag hazard.
- Already said: weights could come off--not necessarily easily--and make holding stop hard.
- Weights could pull on velcro and open cam bands. Depending on situation, tank flapping in breeze not so good. If you're with a team, someone will easily fix it. If by yourself, you'll have to take off your gear to fix.
- Tank needs a label of contents so that rest of team knows that you tested it and are sure of what's in it.- Steel cam bands are good.
- The hose protector can go. I see that it's not up tight which is mostly the problem. But it's also not serving a purpose.
- Guage boot traps moisture and dirt which creates failure point.
- As has been stated, that dust cap is death on a string.
- There's a halcyon logo on the gear. That instantly makes the rig DIR.

Chris

 

[cmalinowski]

Words are much more dangerous than you think.

True, and I think they are very dangerous.

 

[wardric]

I just edited my last post to precise my toughts this morning

 

[The Chairman]

The original OP had to do with "why not DIR"... something we have digressed from somewhat. We have had many who have concentrated on "Why to DIR", which is a good counterpoint and shows how passionate those who have followed this protocol are.

Personally, I don't have a need for it in my diving. I have developed a great situational awareness, buoyancy & trim control, as well as many diving techniques without taking any DIR/GUE courses. Some have mistaken me for a DIR diver since I dive a modified Hogarthian rig. While I don't overly dwell on it, I do make a point of debunking that myth.

Bottom line? There are many cave/cavern instructors who will teach you many of the things in a fundies course without any of the baggage. In fact, there are many of the principles that they espouse that you can learn RIGHT HERE on ScubaBoard. So in reality, that's why I have avoided DIR-F: the baggage.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

So in reality, that's why I have avoided DIR-F: the baggage.

Of course ... it's not that hard to get on the train and leave the bags at the station ... many, if not most, of the folks I know who take DIR-F are doing it to learn skills, not to buy into the whole "if I use this or that piece of equipment will I still be DIR" approach to diving.

For myself, I don't obsess over it. If somebody wants to chew me out for diving a "DIR" rig, that's their problem, not mine. If somebody wants to chew me out for not being "holistically" DIR, that's equally their problem.

FWIW - I've seen way more name-calling from the anti-DIR crowd than I ever did from the DIR crowd ... and those who complain about the "attitude" don't seem particularly bothered the name-callers on "their" side of the discussion. Human nature, I suppose ... kind've like the folks who complain about the "liberal" media while getting all their info from the likes of Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity.

To the OP, there's only one real, honest answer to the question "why not DIR" ... and that's because you don't want to. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that answer. But it would be nice if folks on both sides of the issue could leave their egos and prejudices at the door when they step into the discussion ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Diver Dennis]

I agree Bob. Once it starts though I think you get a lot of people who just want to join the battle and don't really know what issues there are.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I agree Bob. Once it starts though I think you get a lot of people who just want to join the battle and don't really know what issues there are.

I'll say ... and even in this thread, it's obvious that some of the most vocally anti-DIR folks participating don't know anything about DIR other than what they've read on the Internet ... which is great for only reinforcing what you're already inclined to believe.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[The Chairman]

Hmnnnn,

I don't believe that I called DIR or anyone following DIR a name. Did I?