Posted by tleemay on June 22, 2001 at 14:46:21:
In Reply to: Re: Opinions on this rig posted by Steve on June 22, 2001 at 06:44:45:
"The only way to find out if your're DIR [compliant]
would be to show up at George's cave in Florida
and see if he lets ya in".
That is not entirely true.
First of all, it isn't George's cave per se.
George holds permits to dive certain caves
from the state and private land owners, but not
he, nor the WKPP, owns them.
If you show up in FL expecting George to judge
you, he would not even give you a second look
unless you were attempting to get on the WKPP team.
Outside of that, he doesn't care how anyone dives
unless their actions jeopardize the projects of
the WKPP. DIR is the way his team demands to do
their work. In George's opinion, if everyone dove
with the same DIR attitude and configuration, there
would be much less diver related deaths and incidents
in cave and deep wreck/reef diving.
Where George would get vocal to you about how you
dive and are configured is if you try to publically
denounce the configuration and practices of his team
and try to pontificate yours is better than his - and
argument you will most surely lose. This is where
the personal of George has received it's angst
attitude. George needs to slap some people around
until they finally get it. This type of conflict
runs rampant in the cave communities where different
teams and orgs are contsantly fighting to get the
permission and/or permits to dive some of the most
fascinating cave systems in the world, particularly
fascinating from a scientific and ecological point
of view.
George does take pride in pointing out what's wrong
with cave and deep wreck/reef diving in the world
today and making sure everyone understands why
that is. Death or injury on any team is bad media
to orgs like the WKPP even though the incident
didn't involve a WKPP member. Something similar
happened out here in SoCal after that sad weekend
day in late July of 1995. When it happens in FL,
the public and politicians just know that a cave
diver died. He then offers up ther reason why his
team and configurations work so well and are more
successful than other like teams. Case in point,
does anyone remember Bill Stone's WAK2 and it's
failures including the injuries on a similar
project in the same systems?
Stwally, from what I read off tour gear list I
would say you are definately more DIR than most
when it comes to technical diving.
The exception is what Frank pointed out - the
computer. I also have to ask that when you say
you have OMS SPGs, you mean one for the double
setup and one for each stage, correct? No
multiple SPGs on a manifolded double set, right?
You also dive in a single strap harness witout any
plastic or e-x-p-a-n-d-o doo-hickie clips, right?
Also, if I recall correctly, the DiveRite
manifold uses a non-bayonet type of O-ring seal
assembly with flush seated connections between the
valves. I believe the bayonet type will take more
abuse and not cause a leak if rocked.
I dive dry with twin OMS 112's. I even have a VX10
I use as a primary, although I am looking for another
set of Apeks SE4s. Walker says I should move into
104's instead since my RMV has gotten much more
efficient in the last two years.
Regardless of the gear compare - I think you are
better than on your way to a DIR configuration.
The only question I might have in follow up, is
how is your DIR mental state and it's applied
phylosophy?