Bigcape:
What is all the controversy and angst about?
It seems some people will mock statements DIR/GUE writings or people say.
Ive seen "eye rolling" in words.
Heck, This is the ONLY section that has "rules" to follow and a link to the TOS, namely on how to reply in the post!!!!
No body seems to bash "cave" divers (even though they get huffy if you wear your mask backwards!)
No body seems to bash the "solo" divers either
Can somebody explain this to me?
Simple, lets start with the name, Doing It Right. By definition if one is "doing it right" then anyone not doing it that same way must be doing it wrong. Right off the bat that puts them at odds with everyone else that isn't DIR because it flies in the face of millions of dives that were conducted safely long before DIR was ever even thought of. Ok, not off to a good start.
In a way it's almost like religion in that some of its followers (the extremists) believe that there is only one true way, theirs, and that the rest of the infidels and non-believers out there must be converted, or at least enlightened as to how their imbecilic ways will lead to their demise. That's not going to help the situation any.
Lets take for example this post that keeps getting linked to. In it there's a reference to what they consider to be an ideal OW course. (This is not aimed at the poster but at the topic.)
"long hose in OW. octos relegated to dustbin of history"
There is no valid reason to require a long hose in OW diving. In cave or wreck diving it may be a requirement for sharing air while being able to move through narrow passages but in OW rec diving it's a nicety, not a necessity.
"BP/W or back-inflates only. jacket BCs relegated to dustbin of history"
Again, more complete rubbish. There is no valid reason why a jacket BC can't be used safely in OW diving.
"nitrox, gas analysis and ability to read a gas analysis sticker (green and yellow bumper stickers relegated to dustin of history)"
More rubbish, there is no reason why an OW diver needs to know this. There are many divers today, and throughout history, that will never breath anything but regular air.
It's the desire to push stuff like this on everybody that makes some of them look like religious fanatics which brings about the push back from others. Their counter-argument is that dive training by other agencies is lacking, and that may be true, but it' a completely seperate subject and one that forced gear selection and nitrox classes isn't going to solve.
Now to be fair I feel I should also point out that there were some really good suggestions in there as well like,
"introductory gas management skills (focus on simple rules)" and
"introductory rescue skills (primarily assisting buddies, and towing)" and
"buoyancy control and skills done neutral"
That's all good stuff that ANY diver can use and should be taught right from the start.
I think another reason they get bashed is things like the TOS for the DIR forum. It seems pretty weak when rules have to be set up so that nobody is allowed to voice an opposing point of view. Herman pointed it out perfectly. He said something that, and I read it, seemed like a very level headed response to the OP's original question that didn't say anything bad about DIR other than pointing out that there's middle ground between going full DIR and not doing it at all. He was immediately jumped on for not following the party line and violating the TOS that says thou shalt not challenge DIR. Doing things like that doesn't do anything to help earn respect. If the position is strong then there should be no problem arguing it based solely on its merit.
So, what causes the bashing? Attitude. Or more specifically, the attitude projected by an apparently small minority of their members.
