Scuba_Vixen:
But maybe IB's got somewhat of a point:
"Wich aspects of DIR are too much for OW diving...managing gas?...working with a buddy?...a streamline equipment configuration? Which? ...good technique? because that's the bulk of what they teach OW divers"
No one would would question that gas management is important to learn, buddy skills are important, but streamlined equipment ...Just how much difference can it make to those who want to swim leisurely around the reef looking at pretty fishies whether they have 2% less drag with a bp/w setup, or a nice comfy rec bc that's easy to unclip to don and doff with pockets for their camera and sea shells they might think are cute to take home. Proper trim and bouyancy can be maintained in a rec bc. Why do they *need* a 7' hose, they will never need to share gas in a single file while penetrating anything. They aren't going to dive where they can't come immediately to the surface if the air share need arises, the standard hose will be sufficient. Why prohibit split fins, with penetration ruled out, the need for a complete arsenal of alternative finning techniques is eliminated, .. as long as they have bouyancy and trim under control, they can stay sufficiently off the bottom to not muck it up. These are folks who will not dive a lot and likely don't work out a lot, so splits will save a lot of leg cramps and that makes for less stress.
I think that some of those issues are what IB means when he says dir is too much for ow divers. There are millions of non dir ow divers apparently doing alright, most could, no doubt do better .... The point is, that they don't have to be dir, just to be OK.
The crux of the matter is that dir doesn't settle for just OK, they want to be "all you can be" ... and since it's their ball of wax, they get to set the rules.
Those that are not dir, have no rights to try to tell dir what it ought , or ought not to be, and those dir, need not try to impose their thinking on those not dir.
Darlene
sheesh ... how did I get suckered into yet another dir discusion !
Good points and what you're saying I think is that it's possible to do a dive without a Hogarthian equipment configuration. I would agree but...
The equipment configuration matches the techniques used especially emergency responses. Do you need a 7 ft hose in OW to share air? Maybe not but it sure makes if comfy and the hose is stowed in a way that doesn't leave that unsightly, drag rich loop of hose sticking out to the side.
The bc...
Sure you can get trim in any bc but they don't secure the tank as sucurely and in most cases there's mor than 2% additional drag but whatever. They're also just not as clean but yes you could dive in it. Compounding factors are the long HP hoses with boat paddle type consols. More hoses sticking out and clutter. I see more dangling than anything and even when clipped there's that large loop of hose sticking out to the side. Again it just doesn't seem as clean or that it works as well as having a depth gauge on the wrist where it's always visable without changing position and without a long HP hose.
Funny as hell to see a diver trying to ascend on a night with a light in one hand, a console in another and an inflator in another...oops...we ran out of hands didn't we. LOL If they're sharing air during the ascent they've been taught to use the 4th hand to hold onto the buddy. Good plan.
Having diver need to search for an alternate air source doesn't seem like a good idea either. Again I see more gangling than anything else. The less skilled the diver the quicker and easier we need air donating procedures to be. You can argue that the typical messy configuration can be made to work but when I check out syudents prior to starting them in a continueing ed class one of the things I ask them to do is to donate and share air midwater and few are able to pull it off without it turning into a real mess. A short hose just makes it harder. Having to look for an alternate makes it harder and since an OOA diver is likely to end up taking the reg from your mouth anyway it's nice to have your own backup right under your chin close to where you need it.
Same with a compass. Why add length to a HP hose just so you can get a compass out in front of you?
Kicks...
Has nothing to do with diving in an overhead. It has to do with efficient movement and non silting. You live in a tropical paradise where divers can stay 20 ft off the bottom. Here divers swim a bit closer to the Bottom so they can see it and the traditional flutter kick is just murder on the vis and the environment in general. It's funny. They think the vis in our quarries is bad. What they don't realize is that it's only bad when they're there. LOL
A reverse kick is also a very slick tool to help control the distance from as buddy as you ascend or descend.
Part of a back kick is a big help in turning around also as apposed to some of the afflicted techniques we often see.
Now the thing here is that NOTHING that we've talked about here is unique to DIR it's just plain good technique and an equipment configuration that works well.
If a diver preferes a sloppy, dangly configuration, cool but where's the advantage in it?
I've used both and found no advantage in the more typical configuration and methods and did find many disadvantages.
Learning to dive well in a streamlined, functional configuration doesn't cost any more and may cost a good deal less. It makes diving easier and more fun yet we have an arguement here that it's more than a rec diver needs. I think a rec diver especially a newer one will benefit as much or more than any one else.
The less skilled the diver the less of this slop they'll be
able to tolorate on a dive. The more skilled the diver the less of this slop they will be
willing to tolorate on a dive.
