You're never ready. That's the point. Until you're task-loaded to the breaking point (safely, of course) you can't possibly know your level of readiness.
Thinking you're ready because you can back kick like a mofo is missing the point. If you think your buoyancy is locked, cool, I guess.
Add a missing mask, an airshare with a buddy who's lost his mask, mix in a valve drill and the need to ascend 10' and hold for 30, then rise another 10 for 30, etc, etc. It gets piled on until you break.
All on video.
That's one of the points. You can't know your own level of performance under these very controlled, but very demanding situations. The point is to keep your wits about you and keep you and your buddy alive when the spit hits the fan.
Oh, and you need to look good doing all of this...
Honestly - its demanding. I knew I wasn't ready. I had my BP/W for all of about 4 dives, was horribly over weighted (went in with 16, came out with 10) and realized that all my skeels amounted to zip.
But the in-water take away is this: it gives you focus on what needs work. Practice doesn't make perfect. PERFECT practice makes perfect. I came away from DIR/F knowing what I needed to work on, so my dive time is not only fun, but also productive. I can honestly say, I learn something every time out. This is important to me. And its paying off with increased confidence and control and decreased gas usage.
The classroom stuff just rocked, and was the reason I took the class. I wanted to develop a better planning routine than "hit the water, go that way until I use half my gas (or when the computer goes BEEP) then come back..."
There's a lot to it. But waiting until you think you're "ready" will only deliver dissapointment - as you'll find out you really weren't.
K
