"Doing It Right"

[Iguana Don]

All inputs please,
Posted on the equipment forum & didn't get any replys, so I thought I'd post here.

I've been studying the DIR method of gear configuration, does anybody have any experience with it. Not asking if you like George or not, just the gear config. Any help?

TIA

 

[Walter]

Don,

It is one, but far from the only, excellent way to set up your gear. If it works for you, use it. My only problem with DIR is not with George, but with those who blindly follow him. Follow his advice, but do it after thinking about why you are doing what you are doing. I personally do not use DIR, which makes me a stroke, but it is a good system.

Walter

 

[Rick Murchison]

I don't think my rigging can be considered DIR, but most everything's in the triangle. It's certainly a good place to start, then modify to your own "best fit."
Rick

 

[Iguana Don]

Yea,
Yea Walter you're a stroke, but a good one, would like the chance to meet you. Maybe when I get to Fla. this summer I can. Thanks for the reply.

Don

 

[Mario S Caner]

Since there are so many different pieces of gear to choose from, there are going to be an infinite amount of gear configurations to choose from. Though one might be able to group many of these together with generalizations, when you look into the details you will see that there will be many decisions to make. What I'm trying to say is that the configuration that's best for you is your own, and will become easier to configure with experience.

Mario

 

[Campana]

If you saw my rig, you would think I'm a DIR diver. I have a standard 7' hose, a backplate and harness, my knife is in the "right" position, I put my wreck light on my hip in the right position, my doubles are fixed up with the right configuration on the hoses, and I want a pair of Scubapro Jet fins for Christmas. I wear my computer on my wrist. I have gradually converted to this system because each detail has been thought out and is probably the best way to do it. I have diving buddies that are all out DIR.

However, I don't call people strokes and I will dive with others who are not configured as I am. I would be diving solo most of the time, because my most frequent buddies aren't DIR at all, and don't even know what it means. When I got my 7' hose, everybody laughed at me, until they saw how it works. Now they're laughing at me because of my hip worn canister light. Next time we go on a night dive, they won't be laughing anymore, and will want one like mine. I just accept it.

Also, I don't know George and have read a little about him. Famous divers are usually famous for a reason. For example, I used to make fun of people who worship Shek Exley as a hero. However, I recently read about his diving, and he was truly an awesome man. We really should emulate his attitude, his dedication, and his achievement. For all I know George is such a man. I don't like it when he calls people strokes, but I reserve judgement of him until I know a lot more about it.

(Whew, I got carried away--sorry)

Campana

 

[Mario S Caner]

Campana, check out the thread Speaking of great Books...

Mario

 

[Greg G.]

"DIR" purports to be a way of configuring gear that supposedly makes you superior to other divers. This like saying putting on a Superman costume will give you the ability to fly. I have read numerous times the "philosophy" of DIR. Most of it is common sense and learned in OW, e.g. staying fit, careful dive planning, keeping close track of your buddy, not diving beyond your training/experience, being self-sufficient, etc.

What isn't covered in OW is the gear. Jacket style BC's are out, backplates and wings are in. Pony bottles are evil, doubles only on all dives, doesn't matter that most of the time you may be diving 30-40ft with no overhead environments. Also not covered in OW is the no deep dives with nitrox. Well, duh! Anybody who's taken a basic nitrox can tell you that it's not for the purpose of diving deeper. To the contrary, nitrox is for shallower depths.

So what is so different about DIR? It boils down to one thing, follow the $. You do not hear DIR mentioned with out a reference at some point to Halcyon, a gear manufacturer. It's embroidered right on their gear in big bold letters, DIR - Doing It Right. No other manufacturer of the same type of equipment will say anything about "DIR". You can follow the "philosophy" to a tee, have your gear configured strictly in accordance with "DIR", but if it isn't HALCYON, it isn't "DIR".

In summary, "DIR" is nothing more than a marketing slogan for Halcyon. What "This Bud's For You" is to Anhauser-Busch, "DIR" is to Halcyon. I have never met a proponent of "DIR" who didn't have some connection with Halcyon. They either own Halcyon gear, and/or sell it in their shop, or have some other connection with Halcyon.

 

[Iguana Don]

Greg,
Have you looked at the gear config? DIR can be done without ahving to buy the Halcyon equipment.

Don

 

[Greg G.]

In theory, yes, but that's just my point. I was not exagerating when I said DIR is embroidered on Halcyon gear. I've seen it up close on other diver's gear, (which by the way, has been only one diver I've met in the over 6 years and 300 dives I've done) and you can see for yourself on the Halcyon Web site. It's not associated with any other manufacturer of the same type of gear. The most ardent advocates of DIR always refer you to Halcyon, no other. Try to be "DIR" using OMS gear and see what kind of reaction you get.

Originally posted by don
Greg,
Have you looked at the gear config? DIR can be done without ahving to buy the Halcyon equipment.

Don