Posted by Green_Manelishi on January 08, 2001 at 10:38:39:
i will try to respond to both of your comments/inquiries here.
i will preface my commentary by up-front stating that i am also
'working toward' DIR but i've some way to go for the following
reasons:
1) i own(ed) "stroke" gear that needs replacing
2) i, on occasion, dive solo which is a big No-no for the purists.
my reasons for this, albeit perhaps not legitimate to purists are:
1) not many "DIR" interested in my area (although that is
increasing)
2) too many bad -experiences with buddies that make plans to dive
and then cancel at the last minute leaving me without a dive.
therefor, i started 'doing my own thing'
3) uncomfortable diving with persons unknown to me. If on the other
hand my buddy IS known to me and i trust said individual i will
dive with them regardless of their config provided it is good
equipment and we agree to a plan with which we are both
comfortable. if that opens me to flames from the purists, so be
it. it is my hope that seeing the config and etc my 'non-dir'
buddies will ask questions etc and start making their own
way.
anyway, onward an upward.
for the gear. for ME, the two greatest gear issues are:
1) the "BC" being used
2) the regulator config
a backplate and wing can be purchased for not more than a standard
BC so the money is actually a false argument in my book. if you DO
own a jacket style that is the first thing i would replace.
almost ANY regulator can be long-hosed and the backup second necklaced for short money. If it is a RELIABLE regulator and you
are not planning DEEEEEEEP and/or strenuous dives it should not be necessary to go out and buy another unless/until high-performance becomes an issue (concern). Let's face it: it is much more comfortable
to share-air with someone who can be easily seen and know that your
backup second is right under your chin where it is unlikely to have
been dragged throught the sand, etc.
as for the gauges/consoles:
the concern with 'puters is the same as my concern with teaching
childrens to do math with a calculator: unless you understand what
is being done you are FUBAR if the 'puter is telling you absolute
garbage. if you own a 'puter, fine. dive it. but don't trust it
beyond its dive time and depth reporting functions.
I find it interesting that the times i've compared my rep-dive time etc calcs based on TABLES and square profile dives against the times allowed by my 'puter-using-buddies, when all aspects (time, depth, "bounce" to a deeper depth than the majority of the dive, etc)were taken in to account, my calculated times were always within a minute or two of the 'puter times. (this assumes TABLES '.vs' 'puter for NO-deco dives). If i am not doing "square dives" (ie: beach dive)i cannot carry (or refuse to carry) enough gas to get myself anywhere
near deco limits. When i've done the deco-dives i use PC software
and run profiles and contingencies and don't F*** around. I know EXACTLY how much time i am going to spend, and know that i have MORE
than enough gas to pull it off etc rather than waiting for my 'puter
to go 'one-two-three-red-light' and make it up as i go. It's called
PLANNING.
regarding placement let's be honest: it is much easier to read a gauge that is located on your wrist than one in a console the size of a brick that is clipped who knows where. Unless you are reaching with BOTH hands into crevices it should be a simple matter of placing the gauge on your non-reaching-into-holes hand. if you rig the gauge holder with a shock-cord loop it can be moved from hand to hand easily even with heavy mitts.
regarding fins, knives, etc they are all 'short money' replacements
so that again is a non-issue.
as for the other non-equipment issues: fitness, planning, attitude,
etc those are all (should be) part of basic OW so they are hardly
a "DIR" exclusive-domain. as with any other pursuit, complexity of
intended mission requires a greater or lesser degree of planning,
fitness, etc.
I've been invited on some dives that involved 45 minute surface swims
to get to the dive site. I declined. why? Not because i am incapable of doing it, rather i considered the downside to a 45 minute
swim before the dive was even started and what would happen if something went awry: the potential pleasure of the dive was not worth
the likely disaster if anything went wrong. To me that is one
aspect of "DIR". To ask "what is the point?"
In closing, i repeat and emphasize that in MY opinion it IS possible to work toward DIR by replacing or modifying critical gear FIRST with "DIR" gear as i mentioned above. The other equipment changes (consoles, etc) are all short money. The "other" changes are internal
and physical so they are free.
if i am going to be flamed by the purists so be it. I fear noone.
dive safe.