Lawman once bubbled...
If we all converted to DIR and had to buy
all new equiptment....
I am going to guess that you have never taken a DIRF class. The reason I say this is because I was never told in my class (and I have heard the sentiment echoed by numerous others that took the class) that
THEY DO NOT REQUIRE YOU TO PURCHASE SPECIFIC GEAR with the exception of a 7' hose.
A lot of people seem to have a misconception of what IS and what ISN'T DIR.
If you are on the WKPP team led by George Irvine, then he is going to require you to wear certain gear and stick to certain protocols. But the fact is that the vast majority of us will NEVER achieve a diving position with the WKPP.
Then we have GUE. GUE is teaching numerous certifcation courses now. The most basic of this is the Do It Right Fundamentals class (DIRF). I took the class WITHOUT a backplate, WITH a computer, WITHOUT numerous other "DIR" gear and I was not bashed in the class a single time. They only gear that I was "required" to have was a 7' hose for the air sharing drills. For a detailed look at such a class click one of these links below:
DIRF Report-Lost Yooper
DIRF Report-Large Diver
DIRF Report-Cave Diver
If you take a Tech 1 or Cave 1, or some other advanced course from GUE they will certainly REQUIRE you to have certain gear. But so did my IANTD advanced nitrox class, and my NACD full cave class, and on and on.
If you choose to go to an agency and be certified through them, then it is reasonable to expect that you must conform to their guidelines. If you don't like their guidelines, find a different agency. It really is that simple.
I personally like to think of myself as a DIRF diver. DIR Fundamentalist. That means that I use the fundamental ideas and configuration as recommended by GUE, but not everything. I guess I am kinda sitting on the fence between the hardcore "if you don't do it my way you are a stroke" and the "I'd rather have a boa constrictor around my neck than a 7' hose" divers.
I agree that a lot of the DIR proponents come off as abrasive in their viewpoints, but so do a lot of the opponents. I have also noticed that some of the most vocal (with a few noticeable exceptions) of the proponents
HAVE NEVER TAKEN A DIR CLASS!!
Speaking as someone who did considerable research into the whole DIR phenomenon before deciding to take the class myself, I find it quite easy to distinguish between those that KNOW what they are doing and are trying to make themselves better divers and those that are just reading and regurgitating so they can be on the "DIR Bandwagon" so to speak.
To answer your question, I don't think that will ever be a problem. There are too many divers who are just 'holiday divers' for there to be a 100% conversion to DIR.
There are people who are serious about this sport and want to learn to be safer and dive better and improve their dive on each and every dive. These are the people that may eventually convert to a DIR style (or a DIRF like myself).
But there is another group out there that doesnt dive often enough to spend time training, researching gear, finding better instruction etc. They just want to go out and do a few dives on their vacation, then hang up their fins until next year.
So don't be too overly concerned with how the manufacturers will make money. There will always be someone there to buy their gear.
