Posted by seahunt on January 16, 2001 at 20:32:36:
In Reply to: Re: DIR on the West Coast posted by MHK on January 16, 2001 at 17:33:54:
Michael,
A few months back I noticed you when you came on the board with
strong opinions about diving on the Yukon that amounted to
something near a police state mentality. You pushed DIR and claimed it
was vastly superior to any other type of diving and further that any
other non-DIR divers were just accidents waiting to happen. You were
insulting and disrespectful of some very experienced divers.
It raised a lot of controversey and you got a lot of criticism,
such that you had to mute your line about OE training for everyone.
You were asked for clarification over and over again about what you
really meant, which you never provided.
Recently, you've gotten my attention again. So I read what you
wrote and what was on the various DIR sites. I was again impressed
with both the typical DIR ambiguity and also the claims of vast
superiority. Also the seemingly odd belief about the holistic nature
of the DIR system. Something that contradicts both engineering and biological principles.
From this reading, ignoring the fact that DIR is totally based on
cave and wreck diving practices with some horrible communication
practices, I tried to piece together what DIR might have to offer for
divers on the west coast. DIR is so cryptic and ambiguous that it was
hard to find the important points, but I did. I then hinted that I
wanted some points clarified and was ignored.
In my most recent esay, I brought up what I thought were the
critical points to DIR's relevancy to west coast diving.
I carefully avoided many of the more controvresial issues
that have come up, that while important, did not seem to dictate
the application of DIR to west coast diving. I ignored all personal
issues. I took the point of view that DIR is an advanced diving
system and that by itself could have merit that had to be seperated
from any personality issues. I stated that DIR seemed very good for
some diving such as wreck/deep/cave and OE.
.
Realize, it was only at the start of this thread that I
specifically asked about these 3 points (consoles, Al/wetsuit,
computers) and that was because it seems that DIR attitudes on these
were kept pretty hidden. Your only responses were evasions (deco
computations and steel w/wetsuit) or erroroneous (doubles drag).
My response was to clarify further to negate your evasions.
I stated that computers are safer and (with typical CA dive
profiles) better. I disagreed with your statements about drag
relating to doubles and consoles and gave the engineering/physical
reasons why. I asked for the DIR engineering rational (consoles).
I pointed out that steel with wetsuits and no BC didn't cause a problem
(Chris and diving before BC's). In responce to your reasoning that
you don't take problems down with you, I replied that they aren't
much of a problem (consoles and steel/wetsuit) and that they are a
huge plus (consoles, computers, steel/wetsuit).
I had finally found the important, seemingly hidden, implications
of DIR as they would effect west coast divers. I clearly stated the
issues and that these were the issues that had to be resolved....
and you blew them all off. You never tried to answer them except for
your evasive answer about steel/wetsuits that was irrelevant. You
have never tried to approach these important points. You have just
dissed anyone that didn't dive and believe like you.
.
I am dissappointed and I will clearly tell you that you are
going to have to be far more forthcoming and up front if you hope
to promote wide acceptance of DIR. My analysis could have been used
to try to make DIR more applicable and relevant to west coast diving.
Instead you just gave the party line and ducked out. I am
underwhelmed.
Enjoy, seahunt