MikeFerrara:
In science we often find only one truth in any one given subject. There may be multiple theories but in the end only one (if any) is true.
In religion and I'm no theologist but...it's almost a given that a devout practitioner will believe that his is the one true relgion.
Politics...the name says it all. Poly... meaning several and tics...meaning blod sucking creatures. Put together the word means many blood sucking creatures. There you have it. The one true way of politics.
Now in Engineering we don't expect there to be only one best way.
This might be where DIR fits in. There's no argueing that DIR won't help in a cave where you need to be sidemount to get in or on a commercial Job.
I disagree. Unless you're just a mindless drone there isn't any reason to spend any time or effort on it if you don't know the reasons. Without understanding the reasons for the pieces I don't see how you could understand the application and importance of the pieces. No, I think the reasons are essential right from the start.
The history of science is that nearly all theories are proven false. When I was in school I was taught that ALL life on Earth was dependent on photosynthesis. Dr. Ballard found clear proof that that was wrong and he wasn't even looking at that theory.
What if God DOES play dice with the universe?
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In religion, absolute devotion often just results in Holy Wars. In fact I would be hard pressed to find examples to the contrary.
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We are quite in agreement on polyticks, but that does not change the multiple parties and viewpoints, NONE of which have the complete answer.
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What is the old project manager saying? "In every project there comes a time when you must shoot the engineers and build the d**n thing."
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Funny, I keep seeing claims that DIR is best for ALL diving. How about a few reasonable qualifiers on that? Like nearly all recreational and rec/tech diving. As you said sidemount is an exception and so is commercial diving.
The devil is in the details and I suggest that DIR marketing should be a rigorously detailed as the diving system. Exagerated claims don't help.
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Can you really learn all the reasons why things are done a certain way from the begining? Even DIR divers won't sit through that much classroom without diving. Even if they did will they really understand a point that only becomes important way back in a cave until they have been there?
The point is that they can adopt the system and know that they won't have to make major changes when they learn, experience and understand more.
A DIR-F diver will never have as full an understanding of the system as a Tech2 diver and doesn't need to.
I learned a lot about pipes and pipe plugging before I ever tried to place a plug, but I learned 100 times as much out in the field plugging and unplugging pipes and getting the job done. I didn't learn it all at once and I didn't need to.
Of course the GUE focus on continuous learning, training and practice is a good thing. Probably the most dangerous thing is when a diver thinks they know it all and don't need to learn any more.
Most commercial divers go to school full time for 6 months just to reach the 'entry level' of commercial diving. Then they do something like 2 years as a tender (mostly tending but also diving) before qualifying as a full diver. Granted, there is a lot for them to learn and do besides diving but how many rec divers do you think do this much training in their whole life?
In the begining we (commercial divers) do things a certain way because the standards and the Boss say so. In time we have first hand experience and a much deeper understanding of WHY. Berfore I had a cut unbilical I did not have the same understanding of bailout systems and backup procedures that I do now.
Enough for now, my brain hurts.
