EireDiver606
Contributor
You’re misunderstanding the whole system. Everything works with each other in a way that if you remove something, the system doesn’t work.I thought the DIR model was to keep things simple. If so, then you are carrying an extra 3 feet of hose because it makes it easier if you have to share air. How often do you have to share air? I'm not carrying an extra 3 ft of hose to mitigate an event that might happen once every thousand dives, especially when the configuration Eric described is more than adequate to deal with it. If you are in caves or overhead where you might need to be single file that's different, but carrying it just because it makes doing something that might never happen a little easier seems to be the definition of "pointless".
Ken
The whole idea of DIR or whatever you want to call it is that you’re using the same equipment all the time so you build up excellent muscle memory. It’s only a small adjustment but switching from 7ft hoses while in caves and then 4ft in open water isn’t necessary. And that’s besides the fact that a 5-7ft hose is easier to share with and gives you a decent amount of room to comfortably swim along with the OOG diver as opposed to being in their face with the small hose. The long hose is not a burden at all, contrary to some beliefs. It’s only a few extra feet of hose, it’s not a big deal and it’s easier to have it around the neck in a ready to go position than to have it in done alternative configuration. With a smaller hose, yeah it’s smaller but it takes away the main advantages of the system.
How often does your car crash and how often do you wear a seatbelt?
Just because something doesn’t happen very often, does not mean you should become complacent and tell yourself that it will never happen. Diving can be a dangerous activity done in an environment that does not support human life. Preparing for the unexpected means people go home to their family alive not if but when **** hits the fan.