All I'm transitioning to a DIR style of diving for recreational diving and will hopefully transition to tech diving in a few years. From what I read you want you pressure gauge to be a 2 inch brass/glass gauge which is clipped off to left hip D ring. Now here is my question...I have always dove with the entire. On sole setup AND. A dive computer. I know most tech divers and DIR people tend to use depth timers etc instead. Until I go that route what should I do in the interim? I was told to wear my computer on right wrist along with my depth gauge? Then my compass could be clipped off elsewhere? Any advice would be appreciated.
If I understand correctly, you have a console that has an SPG/depth gauge/compass and separately, you have a computer. Is that correct?
I've only played with a few such consoles in the past. All of them could be taken apart where you could use the SPG by itself. If the same is true for your console, with a hose of appropriate length, you could use the SPG and stow it clipped to your left hip d-ring. Assuming your computer is more or less just like other computers, you will not need the depth gauge. Just use your computer as your bottom timer/depth gauge. Put it on your right forearm.
If the compass in your console can be put in an appropriate case, you should be able to continue to use it on your left forearm. Most of the compasses I have seen in consoles can also be purchased as a wrist mount. Check to see with the dive shop that carries your brand of compass to see if they have a wrist mount for you. Alternatively, deepseasupply.com carries aftermarket cases for some of the brands of compasses.
P.S. I personally am not a huge fan of learning how to dive over the internet. Take fundies sooner rather than later. It'll be the best money you spend on diving. The answers you get in the internet can sometimes be, well, suspect.
---------- Post added June 13th, 2015 at 01:56 PM ----------
For now, you can obviously leave your computer in computer mode if you want to, you don't have to have a wrist compass, I actually hate them for any real navigation, and if you don't want to break your console up, you don't have to. Can either clip to the right shoulder across your chest, or get a shorter hose and keep it on your left hip. That said, navigating with console compasses is basically impossible, and there is no need to carry a redundant depth gauge at this point in your diving *on square type profiles with an actual bottom *i.e. not bluewater* there is little point in carrying a redundant computer/bottom timer until you are doing decompression. At that point a DSMB with knotted line, and a wrist watch can suffice, though not sure what the GUE philosophy on that is, but that is a long way out for you.
tbone,
I am not sure I am clear on what your are suggesting.
I am not aware of a DIR (or GUE) configuration wherein a diver clips a console across their chest (left to right) onto the right d-ring. I haven't tried that but it seems like a good way to trap the long hose.
Regarding your compass/navigation technique, I can appreciate that there are different ways to skin a cat but what your are suggesting is far from what GUE teaches, at least in their entry level classes. If the dive requires a compass, the last thing we would want the OP to do is to get into the water with a set up where they could lose the compass (compass peeling off as it is not mechanically secured, the zip tie breaking off of the bolt snap, etc).
And then there is this business with knots and the dsmb line. It portrays a more complicated approach than what is actually used in ocean dives by GUE divers.
To me, if someone asks for the DIR answer, it seems we should do our best to give the DIR answer, no?
