Four years later, or why I'm still a DIR diver

[Blackwood]

None of the classes have 6:1 in water AFAIK.

Per version 1.4:

Essentials, Rec 1-3, and Intro-to-Tech all allow up to 6:1 in water.

For Tech 1-2, Trimix 1-2, Wreck 1 it's 4:1.

For Cave 1-2 and Wreck 2 it's 3:1.

For Cave 3 (and likely Wreck 3) it's 2:1.

[Rainer]

Ugh, 6:1 is something I'd stay far, far away from. Thankfully, I can't think of any UTD classes that have had 6:1. Oh, and off topic, but 2:1 for Cave 3 makes little sense. For bigger dives, don't you want more resources, not less?

Per version 1.4:

Essentials, Rec 1-3, and Intro-to-Tech all allow up to 6:1 in water.

For Tech 1-2, Trimix 1-2, Wreck 1 it's 4:1.

For Cave 1-2 and Wreck 2 it's 3:1.

For Cave 3 (and likely Wreck 3) it's 2:1.

[ScubaSam]

The "Ouch" part finally hit -- they want you to have particular equipment - the backplate, wing, 7' primary, necklace secondary. . . .

I was hoping to learn skills, but cannot be changing equipment at this point, doggone it.

My instructor had BP/W and regs with long hose, necklace secondary to loan to the students.

[Blackwood]

Oh, and off topic, but 2:1 for Cave 3 makes little sense. For bigger dives, don't you want more resources, not less?

I was just mulling that over. My suspicion is that since the "3" courses are exploration, you don't really have two students being supervised. You have a team of three, where one team member also happens to be an instructor.

[rjack321]

I was just mulling that over. My suspicion is that since the "3" courses are exploration, you don't really have two students being supervised. You have a team of three, where one team member also happens to be an instructor.

Yeah, the instructor is no longer hovering overhead "solo" at these levels, they are integrated with the 2 students.

[Rainer]

I was just mulling that over. My suspicion is that since the "3" courses are exploration, you don't really have two students being supervised. You have a team of three, where one team member also happens to be an instructor.

Almost certainly correct, good point.

[iztok]

Little off topic but just to add to what TS&M said.

I had an opportunity to at least try to dive with a couple of UTD divers. While I didn't make it into the ocean at least I've tried twice but not having the experience (at that point) passing the surf area. (Since then I've learned a bit and I think I can manage it better now

I was surprised with their helping me. Sean picked me up from the hotel, provided tank and took me back. He trusted me with the keys to his truck while they were diving and I was not so I could change back to regular clothes. He was standing close to me during my entrance attempts to make sure I am ok. After two attempts and being tired I called a dive and as soon as I was safely away from the water he joined the group and went diving.

I sure hope I will get a chance and dive with them again.

[Jax]

My instructor had BP/W and regs with long hose, necklace secondary to loan to the students.

That's good to know . . . still, everything points to this being a 'major event' to a working girl . . . in the meantime, this thread is playing havoc with my online training. Thanks for all the information, I'll be assimulatinging it . . ..

[rjack321]

That's good to know . . . still, everything points to this being a 'major event' to a working girl . . . in the meantime, this thread is playing havoc with my online training. Thanks for all the information, I'll be assimulatinging it . . ..

You're not really that far from SoCal. Try signing up on the UTD site and see if you can attend a local SoCal fun dive day. Even if you decide its not for you, you'll have met some (friendly) new people.

[muddiver]

Lynn,

Nice post. Now you know what military diving is like. Everyone has trained to do the same responses to problems, every dive is with the same gear (with mission spacific stuff added), everyone has learned to perform a function, or functions as part of a team.

You can't take full advantage of the instruction in a hodgepodge of equipment. Most (all?) instructors for both UTD and GUE have loaner plates + wings. Some even have hoses you can borrow since some folks do prefer a 5 or 6' primary hose vs. the 7ft. A ~22" backhose hose and some bungie is seriously cheap.

That is the kind of statement that turns a lot of non-DIR divers off. I have all the same equipment to perform the same safe and redundant diving and skills as any DIR outfited diver, but I my gear is not the standardized gear. And, I am not going to buy more gear just to be standardized if I can dive safely with what I have. That's just me though.