Training dive, Cove 2, 9/15/10

[gsk3]

Thanks for posting another good read of a trip report Lynne. As always, I'm jealous of the life in your quarry-equivalent.

 

[ScubaSam]

The message I constantly try to get across is that this kind of practice makes diving MORE fun, because better control, better communications, solid emergency skills and practiced awareness reduces stress and allows the diver to be in better control of his dive.

This rings so true to my core given my recent MA and NC boat dives. My buddy also took Fundies and the dives were relaxing and FUN!!!

Thanks for starting this thread, Lynne.

 

[b1gcountry]

Well, the wonderful thing about Puget Sound, is that our version of quarry dives comes with octopuses . . .

No, the wonderful thing about Puget Sound is that your version of quarry dives are nearby and open on weeknights. It is literally impossible for me to get a dive in after work. Octopus are just a bonus.

Tom

 

[TSandM]

Yes, we are incredibly lucky. Our shore diving is available almost 365 days a year -- if the water is too disturbed to dive, then the weather is so foul you wouldn't want to be out in it, anyway! Of course, we do cope with cold and sometimes with horrendously low viz, but from reading about quarries and lakes folks dive elsewhere, they deal with low viz, and no octopuses

 

[kathydee]

Thanks for this wonderful write up Lynne! Dives like this are quite rewarding. Really looking forward to heading out tomorrow with a DIR partner and another DIR curious guy for his first bp/w long hose dive. We are going to have fun!

Packing some extra bolt snaps and cave line & really looking forward to the critter hunt ! But humm I didn't think about brownies - maybe I should bring some .

We went on down to the bottom and did a round of S-drills. My buddy was somewhat confused when I requested to do another drill as donor, but I wasn't at all happy with how it had gone, and quitting on a poor performance isn't improving anything. The second time, I was smoother, but I need to do more of these to get them to "Danny standard" again.

S drill to "Danny Standards!" I know EXACTLY what you mean !

[/QUOTE]We were met in the parking lot by Laura, who had the cleverest little propane stove, and had boiled water for cocoa. A hot cup of chocolate, topped with marshmallows, was a welcome treat in the persistent rain, and was accompanied by homemade brownies with enough chocolate in them to ensure a restless, sleep-deprived night.[/QUOTE]


Steamy cocoa, marshmallows, and brownies! Awee, isn't Laura a sweetie !

 

[TSandM]

Yes, I think anyone who has taken a class from him knows what "Danny standard" means!

You know, as much as I have struggled with my GUE classes, I am honestly grateful for the attention to detail and the insistence on getting things right that my instructors have had. Even if I can't pull it together during a class, I sure go home with a clear idea of what I'm trying to accomplish, and continuing to try only makes me better.

My NACD Full Cave instructor told me I was one of the best students to do air-share drills with that he had ever had. I have Danny to thank for that!

 

[b1gcountry]

Really looking forward to heading out tomorrow with a DIR partner and another DIR curious guy for his first bp/w long hose dive.

Can we please stop using this term?

 

[kathydee]

Can we please stop using this term?

Why don't you like the term?

So what do you think would be better?

Actually it's quite rare that I use "DIR" outside this forum.
It's just not a term that we use in the part of the country.

 

[ligersandtions]

Can we please stop using this term?

I would stop using the term if there were a better one. Problem is, I feel that DIR is more inclusive than exclusive. For example, some of my buddies and I often set up charters....we call them DIR charters because we invite divers who dive like us or are curious about the type of diving we do. If we set up a GUE charter, then our UTD and TDI (etc) buddies would be excluded...

For lack of a better term, I still use it.


BTW, Lynne, great report!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Since joining SB a few years ago I have always marveled at the enthusiasm of the PNW contingent. It seems to have disproportionally high DIR ratio among it's ranks. Thank you for your contributions!

There are an even higher number of divers here who, like myself, are more "DIR aware" (sorry Tom) than DIR ... either because we've taken an occasional DIR class or simply through exposure to dive buddies who have.

A local outing on Saturday was an exquisite example of PNW enthusiasm ... our local forum called for a get-together at a site very near my home. More than 50 divers showed up, plus an assortment of spouses, kids, dogs, etc. There were DIR divers, CCR divers, solo divers, old-school vintage divers, a gaggle of folks from the local military base ... plus the majority who were your vanilla-flavored PADI/NAUI/SSI/ETC basic recreational folks.

Everybody had a great time, mingled, dived together ... some of us brought spare backplates, can lights, etc for folks to try out. Nobody criticized anybody or complained about anybody's pink snorkel, or told anybody they were "gonna die".

Once they got outta their rigs, you really couldn't tell who belonged in which "camp". Nor did anybody really care. I can live with that kind of enthusiasm.

Folks like Laura and Lynne have done a great job of promoting acceptance and, yes, curiosity about DIR in the local community ... even among those who have no interest in diving that way. I see more "mingling" now than I ever have ... and I couldn't be happier to see it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)