Posted by tleemay on January 02, 2001 at 18:40:50:
In Reply to: DIR posted by Cheri on January 02, 2001 at 16:35:56:
Here's a recent description that was posted on this
very BBS a few weeks ago;
www.diver.net/bbs/messages/1710.shtml
If you want even more information, go to www.gue.com
and even www.wkpp.com if you desire a more technical
application of the configuration and phylosophy.
Very soon there will be a written outline for DIR
diving as it relates to sport diving authored by
the training heads at Global Underwater Explorers.
In the mean time, don't believe the cult skew by
others who do not wish to dive or otherwise accept
DIR as a viable alternative to the lack of trainning
and proper efficient configuration promoted by the
mainstream agencies out there. The agencies for the most
part admit to scrambling to grab every training
buck a diver has - and crank out those divers as
if they were operating a Nebraska puppy mill.
The "S" word ( *Stroke* you'll hear it here mostly from the
non-DIR proponents) has taken on a new meaning
among those who do not dive DIR and to most of them,
it's offensive. There is a description of how the
word was originally applied to diving on the WKPP
site referenced above.
DIR is no more of a cult than spoprt diving
without an inflation device, diving a plastic
backpack or Hawaiian pack, diving w/o a snorkle,
diving wearing all black or all pink, diving solo or
*independently*, diving deep on air. The difference
is that there is a proven reason for all the points
outlined in the diver.net link referenced above -
above and beyond the "just because that's the way
I like it" & other nonsensical personal preference
(as opposed to the *sensical* type I suppose). Either
you recognize the value of DIR or you don't - and
many, particularly on this BBS who do not consider
themslves DIR, admit it has an aweful lot of
positives. Where they tend to disagree with the
practice is when they feel is infringes on their
own diving style (it's OK for others, but not for
me).
I admit I have been apart of a team that has done
DIR demos at SCUBA club meetings and shows up and
down the West Coast of California of the system to
perhaps 1000 divers in the last year. Of those,
perhaps 20-30% are receptive to what we have been
promoting. Of those I would say that 3/4's have
embraced the phylosophy and configuration and are
in the process of migrating to DIR. The 1/4 are
taking bits and pieces of the system and applying
it to their own configuration. While the latter
may not be considered DIR by definition, at least
they were offered something different that has a
proven track record and does what it promotes -
and at no cost to the diver other than the gear
configuration as required. But if you set yourself
up right in the beginning, those extra dollars
spent on re-configuring later become moot - but
that's only after you have decided to give it a
try and do a demo. After that, it's your decision.
No one will brow-beat you into changing your way
(for the better or otherwise), it's your call.
With what I have experienced, I am willing to
wager though that you will feel better and become
more efficient in the water once you try it.
The promotion of DIR is sponsored by one particular
company who specifically markets appropriate
equipment for the configurations, but other
companies also offer their brand of the same gear
- and sometimes it's a bit cheaper in the short
term. One company even calls their product line
in description amongst their staff "DIR Compatable".
We receive absolutely no compensation or other
consideration from these demos we do. In fact,
our travels and diving is at our own peril and cost.
This past weekend I was doing a demo on the boat
for two different divers. In my discussions with
them the two evenings before we went out to dive in the
configured gear, each one asked essentially the same
questions; "Do you work for GUE or the gear
manufacturer? Are ou their sales rep?".
My response in both scenarios was "No".
"That's a refreshing attitude" one diver replied.
"Really, why not take a kick back or something?"
was the response from the other diver.
"There is no need to" I replied. "Welcome to DIR".