Dumb Question

[divedude]

I'm new to this board, been diving almost 20 yrs. Set in my ways.
I keep reading about "DIR"
What the hell is "DIR" and what does "DIR" mean.
I ask a couple of guy at the LDS and they had no idea.
Maybe I should start reading dive mags

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by divedude
I keep reading about "DIR"
What the hell is "DIR" and what does "DIR" mean.

DIR is an acronym for *Doing It Right*...
It is the slogan of a new training agency GUE that is taking principles from the cave diving successes of the WKPP and applying them to a broader spectrum of diving.

Yooper will be along shortly with a list of links but this should get you started:
www.gue.com
www.wkpp.org

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

[divedude]

Thanks UP, I had a feeling thats what it was.
So now I wonder who elected themself god and the rest of us wrong all these years. Will check out the links with great interest

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by divedude
So now I wonder who elected themself god and the rest of us wrong all these years.
Nah... I know God; God is a friend of mine; and that guy ain't Him...
Anyway I think it is the same priniciple as *DiveRite* gear...
While I am sure that they mean to imply that their gear is the best I don't get myself worked up over it...
I mean, thinkaboutit....
Why would anyone get worked up over a sales slogan?
However it does reveal latent insecurities when folks do start to froth at the mouth.
:D

[SPEEDSTER]

oh boy, here we go again...:boom:

[Uncle Pug]

Like I said, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.":D

[omar]

incoming.............:boom:

[Rick Murchison]

Could the first post in this thread be a hook???
Nahhhh... nobody'd do that, would they??
Rick :)

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by Rick Murchison
Could the first post in this thread be a hook???

:D
Rick you should know by now it wouldn't matter to me...
I'm always on the look out for evangelism opportunities...
Even set ups are just wide open doors for the ardent...
;)

[Rick Murchison]

Originally posted by Uncle Pug
Even set ups are just wide open doors for the ardent...

Indeed they are, my friend... indeed they are.
Agape,
Rick

[divedude]

Naw it wasn't a plant.
I had just finished reading a long thread "Tired of DIR" and no were in the thread did it say what DIR meant. I had a good idea from the thread but thought I'd double check. After checking out
the links Uncle Pug sent I clued in.

These GUE guys have a good hook, sucker people in to think their doing it wrong, sell a course, and "proper gear."

Now that I've clued in, I know what a dive instructor on my boat was talking about, he wanted me to take a course from him so I could learn to dive safer. He said something about GUE but I laughed and blew him off, as he had taken his first open water dive off my boat 5 yrs early. Like I said good advertising. It'll hook a lot of people.

I'm not saying that they are doing it wrong, they have good sense, and good methods. But....... back to the macho days.

[O-ring]

....... back to the macho days

Yeah, that and deep air...

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by divedude
These GUE guys have a good hook, sucker people in to think their doing it wrong, sell a course, and "proper gear."

Nice boat Jim... 9 kts?

As for GUE... you are not equipped to make a judgement like that... and it doesn't make you look wise to do so publicly... Asking questions one day... pontificating the next... either you have an axe to grind, a huge chip on your shoulder or you found something on the GUE site that poked you square in the belly.

Since you are an old time macho diver and have a beautiful dive boat I feel something of a kinship to you Jim... I know it can be hard to expose yourself to the possibility that you might not really know as much as you've led yourself and others to think all these years. Takes a really BIG Jim to humble himself enough to learn from others.... btw: I had been a macho diver for a loooong time and one of my DIR instructors had only been diving for three years.... his skill UW amazed me.... young whipper snapper!

Your prices look good... and Canadian too... shoot that makes it a super deal... just too far away for me but one of these days I'm heading east to dive with Yooper and his pappy. Maybe I'll head your way too... in the mean time if you ever get to the PNW I'll take you out on my dive boat (for free) and introduce you to the giant Pacific octopus.

[omar]

Ahhh what the heck I’ll play along.

I went and took a look at your web site. It appears that you could benefit from a number of the concepts that GUE incorporates into their diving approach. Specifically no convoluted gear, your gear is a mess of hoses and crap protruding all over the place, a better choice of back inflation (no bondage wings of death) and being fit and trim.

omar

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by omar
Ahhh what the heck I’ll play along.

Shoot Omar... can't you be a little more circumspect? ;)

[omar]

not in my nature...:innocent:

always have been direct and probably always will be.

omar

[divedude]

[i]Originally posted by omar Specifically no convoluted gear, your gear is a mess of hoses and crap protruding all over the place, a better choice of back inflation (no bondage wings of death) and being fit and trim.

omar [/B]

aahh yes! my point exactly.
your right I'm wrong
bet your GUE DIR

I use OMS (wings of death) twin 80s. :eek:

[divedude]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Uncle Pug

Nice boat Jim... 9 kts?

As for GUE... you are not equipped to make a judgement like that... and it doesn't make you look wise to do so publicly... Asking questions one day... pontificating the next... either you have an axe to grind, a huge chip on your shoulder or you found something on the GUE site that poked you square in the belly.

[QUOTE]
Thanks! 12kts if I push her.

I guess the only GUE instructor I have run into turned me sour.
His attitude was "Your a sh**ty diver if your PADI" and made out like the rest of the customers on my boat shouldn't be allowed in the water. Like I said before he took his first "PADI" O/W off my boat 5 yrs. before.

Becides I'll never change, I'm just as comfortable at 100' as most people are walking in they back yards. In fact I think I'm happier.

I'm not trying to dish anyone who upgrades their skills.
just wondered what DIR meant and things went from there :boom:

[omar]

Well "BIG" Jim,

You left out the:

"It appears that you could benefit from a number of the concepts that GUE incorporates into their diving approach."

Apparently to twist it around to fit your agenda.

Never said I was right & you were wrong, but that you have a few things to learn about better diving. And as Uncle Pug said "As for GUE... you are not equipped to make a judgment like that."

So what poked you in the belly? Or are you someone who is satisfied with mediocrity?

omar

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by Uncle Pug
... in the mean time if you ever get to the PNW I'll take you out on my dive boat (for free) and introduce you to the giant Pacific octopus.

If I say Big Jim's a pal, and I brought him to the board ('cuse I like his charter op), and that I just might be in the PNW within the next 6 mths (Seattle in October)... can I take Jim's place? Huh, huh?

[divedude]

Originally posted by omar
Well "BIG" Jim,


"It appears that you could benefit from a number of the concepts that GUE incorporates into their diving approach."

So what poked you in the belly? Or are you someone who is satisfied with mediocrity?

omar

Why could I benefit?

Mediocrity?????? I dive!! It's a sport, not a competition.

If you want a challenge come on up help me move 5 ton mooring blocks at 120' into position and hook 1.5 inch mooring line to them. Every friday afternoon help clean zebra mussels off the Wolfe at 65' zero vis. heavy work. I'm not better than anyone else. It's just what I do.

We have Friday afternoon dives to clean up the shipwrecks. POW (www.gtcs.org/pow.html) members, I supply the boat. If you want to join us, your welcome.

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by divedude
... We have Friday afternoon dives to clean up the shipwrecks. POW (www.gtcs.org/pow.html) members, I supply the boat. If you want to join us, your welcome.

Jim sent me schedule - or is it EVERY Friday? I'd help you and Donna out... on my days off :D

[divedude]

Originally posted by DivingGal


Jim sent me schedule - or is it EVERY Friday? I'd help you and Donna out... on my days off :D
Weather permiting starting May 24 every Friday. Only cost- you must be a POW member But....... we may make a exception for SOS members
:thumb:
Best thing is to call first or e-mail Thursday night just in case I'm stuck in the USA.

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by divedude

Weather permiting starting May 24 every Friday. Only cost- you must be a POW member But....... we may make a exception for SOS members
:thumb:
Best thing is to call first or e-mail Thursday night just in case I'm stuck in the USA.


Gee thanks pal.... will do.

[Uncle Pug]

Originally posted by DivingGal
can I take Jim's place? Huh, huh? Yes :D

[pipedope]

Hey DiveDude,

Sounds like some everyday diving to me.:D

Is there any reason that you need to use heavy block moorings? These days, permanent moorings driven into the bottom are lighter, stronger and hold much better. It doesn't take much boat to walk a 5 ton block out of place in bouncy conditions. :upset:
Everything is a compromise and the equipment used must meet the local needs. I understand that in some locations *everything* must be removed from the water at the end of the season. Even in some of these areas they make exceptions for driven moorings as long as all of the chain, rode and bouys are removed. This makes for a lot less stuff to be put back in the spring. Also reduces the damage potential by not having the possibility of big mooring blocks being dragged over anything and everything.

Must be rough to have to go dive every friday. :D

[divedude]

Originally posted by pipedope
Hey DiveDude,

Sounds like some everyday diving to me.:D

Is there any reason that you need to use heavy block moorings? These days, permanent moorings driven into the bottom are lighter, stronger and hold much better. It doesn't take much boat to walk a 5 ton block out of place in bouncy conditions. :upset:
Everything is a compromise and the equipment used must meet the local needs. I understand that in some locations *everything* must be removed from the water at the end of the season. Even in some of these areas they make exceptions for driven moorings as long as all of the chain, rode and bouys are removed. This makes for a lot less stuff to be put back in the spring. Also reduces the damage potential by not having the possibility of big mooring blocks being dragged over anything and everything.

Must be rough to have to go dive every friday. :D
The reason we use 5 ton blocks is that's what the Canadian Coast Guard uses on the navigation bouys around here
Yup!! we steal them off the bottom :D
If the Coast Guard can't find their block in the spring they put another down. So around each bouy we can find 2 or 3 blocks
No! we don't steal the one that is in use at the time :jester:
In fact 2 years ago they took 4 blocks out on the lake for us and dropped them near some of our wrecks. We bought the Captain and crew a few beers... well more than a few!
We don't use driven mooring because we have flat limestone bottom and most dive sites are 85' to 120' and with 250' rode we have had only one block move and that was when West Point M.A. brought a 85' dive vessel up here and we had 8' seas which is high here.

[pipedope]

It is good to be in cooperation with the Coast Guard. :)

How much cover is on top of the limestone bottom?
If the rock is showing or is easy to get to you can drill and blot into it for a *very* secure mooring. Then again, your system is working so it doesn't sound like there is any real reason to change it.

The biggest advantage of a bolted (or driven) mooring is the ability to maintain full holding power with much less scope. This keeps the vessel in place better and reduces bottom damage from dragging tackle.

Hey, could you use another diver/electronics tech?
I am looking to move north, this heat is killing me. Actually the heat nearly killed me last week when I got heat exhaustion working in the sun doing fabriform concrete half in and half out of the water.

[divedude]

Originally posted by pipedope
It is good to be in cooperation with the Coast Guard. :)

How much cover is on top of the limestone bottom?
If the rock is showing or is easy to get to you can drill and blot into it for a *very* secure mooring. Then again, your system is working so it doesn't sound like there is any real reason to change it.


The "Puppy Poop" on the bottom varies from 1' to 6' in places which sometimes creates a problem when the block sinks in, right out of sight. That might make it hard to put in a permanent mooring, I've had no experience with them so I'm not sure.

[pipedope]

The 1' deep is downright simple to work in. Most of the time your don't even need to remove it as my arms are long enough to reach and work by feel through it.
For 6' it would take a little work but still not too bad.

One trick you might consider is to shackle your mooring chain to the block with a bouy just big enough to lift the chain at about 10-15' from the block. This will make the unit easy to find and get ahold of. If you leave this bouy in place it can help in those odd times when the surface bouy gets broken off or otherwise lost. :rolleyes:

All part of the fun.

[Bob3]

I am looking to move north, this heat is killing me.
Are you sure you haven't been peeking at the wage rate sheets instead? You poor devils down in FL (on average) have about the lowest dive rates in the US. (probably because EVERYBODY in FL is a "diver"):rolleyes:

[pipedope]

Not just the dive rates but everything.
They all want you to have ten years experience and work for $8-10/hr.

Oh yea, then they give you that 'lower cost of living here' line. BS, it was true once but not anymore. You might find that the cost of living is 5% or 10% lower but the wages are half.

The kicker, heat exhaustion on a diving job in the first week of May????? I gotta make some changes.
:D

Maybe I'll go out and play in the Atlantic next week. That might help my attitude.

[Bob3]

Washington State and CA have some of the highest union rates. In WA employers usually want you to have at least 10-15 yrs experience. San Francisco area is moderately busy, but expensive to live.
Southern CA is pretty crappy work wise, lotta low $$ stuff.
TORCH (New Orleans) is always hiring, they have work several states. The place is a tad on the odd side, but never heard of anyone getting ripped off. Not a lotta bucks down south though, need to head north for that. Canada needs HSE certs, but an American working there would have to be under the table anyway. Been known to happen.
:rolleyes:
Page with links to wage rates and sites to look for work: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/divers3/diveinfo.htm

There's always seafood harvesting. You like uni?
Spearfishing commercially in FL can pay OK, and bug season is coming up. You'll need to buy at least 1 trap permit to harvest by hand (I think).
If you're in the right places, 1000 lbs/day isn't unreasonable, though they don't stay in the clusters much past August (opening month).
Guess where I'll be in August...
:mean:

[pipedope]

I'm actually trying to do more electronics and less diving.
My potential business startup here seems to be failing due to partner trouble so I am looking around for a backup plan. :(

Life can get interesting at time, eh?

[Bob3]

Hey, they're always looking for good ROV operators & techs. Heck, you'd still be employable in that field once you pass 40!!!:mean: