Posted by tleemay on September 26, 2000 at 16:11:23:
In Reply to: More questions posted by Gerry Smith on September 26, 2000 at 13:42:11:
As Michael and others have pointed out before, DIR
is easily adaptable to the typical sport diving
depths. There is no depth point where DIR starts
becoming applicable and the traditional practices
stop.
The system works for shallow 20' warm water MX reef
dives as well as cold NE 400' lake and sea wrecks.
Other than the required extended training for
breathing a medium other than air and common
sense OE training, the configurations and phylosophies
are the same. In fact, the only real change is in gear
config whereas you would use thicker gloves and
larger bolt snaps on the kit besides the required
additional exposure protection.
Cross posted from one of Michael's latest posts, here
are some of the points concerning DIR without
specifically addressing gear configuration;
1) No deep air diving.
2) The selection of a proper buddy (NO SOLO DIVING).
3) Limit your P02’s to 1.4 for the working portion
of the dive.
4) Incorporating deep stops into your ascents.
5) Using the proper mix for the planned dive.
6) Keeping your EAD’s or End’s at 100’ max.
7) A unified team concept.
8) Good physical fitness.
9) Increased pre-dive preparation.
10)Minimalism and streamlining.
You would not believe how much more enjoyable
diving is when these points are followed. The
safety factor is also amplified because you
and your buddy are configured and thinking the
same should the sh*t hit the fan. You know where
everything is on his kit and know how to deplay it
correctly, and the same goes for him with yours.
We have divers with as few as 11 (as of last weekend)
or as many as 3000+ dives post certification who
are adapting the DIR configurations and phylosophies.
We have doctors, laywers, students, housewives, business
men and women, electricians, contractors, JR High kids,
boat crew members, photographers, scientists, even
exotic dancers and retirees learning the DIR style.
For Pete's sake (Hey Pete, how are the fills coming
along?) it isn't brain surgery. It does cause you to
re-think you gear setup and dive plans in advence,
but I can almost gaurantee you you will be more
comfortable and be more efficient in the water. If
you were new to diving and were starting at dollar
1 in your investment of gear - you would be hard
pressed not to dive the DIR configuration taking
into consideration the replacement and maintenance
costs of your investment. I don't know about you,
but when I got into this sport it was for the long
run. I wasn't going to invest initially $1800+ just
to have it wear out prematurely or become obsolete
when the next new fangled doo-dad came out. I learned
too late that lesson. Since I have re-configured
to DIR, I spend less money and time in worrying about
my kit with the usual reg servicing as the exception.
You should configure yourself in solid, expandable,
easily maintained, and proven equipment. Turns out,
the right gear is usually less expensive that the latest
and greatest.
And you do not have to purchase your gear from only
company "X" to be DIR - that's another major mis-conception.
You need to come to the next Demo. If you cannot, seek
Michael or myself out on the Great Escape where we
frequent. If your time does not allow you to do a trip,
we will just meet with you on the boat the evening
before we depart on the next trip.