RDP:
Let me start by stating that I am not DIR, nor do I claim to have any magical scuba powers & wisdom. I have been looking in the DIR Fourm, and it's easy to get flamed there. That is why I am posting in this fourm.
Okay, why is it the DIR philosophy does not support a console or retractors?
Be gentle. :kopfab:
Here are a couple to consider:
If your buddy has a problem (say an OOA, or even general unease) and you need to control a safe, slow, controlled ascent. With depth timer on yo' wrist, its easy to reach over and monitor ascent while working your inflator (or his, if appropriate) and just glance at your wrist - as opposed to reaching back for back for brick on a rope and trying to hold that correctly while grappling your buddy.... you get the idea.
Another reason: most of the divers who I dive with that still use a console simply can't and don't monitor their depth accurately. I signal "lets go to from 65 to 55 and hold at 55 for a minute" and they find it very tough to maintain direction and depth as it requires reaching back and holding the console while diving... and honestly, most divers simply won't and don't do that. On any boat dive, look around and see how many people dive with the console in their hands... its like nil. This means most are winging it.
How often do you see a diver with their console in the same place? Its rare. Some clip to their shoulder D-ring, some to their cumberbun thing, some to a D-ring or clip off at the bottom hem of their BC, some across their chest, etc. Us DIR types keep all our stuff in the same place everytime. We don't all dive the same brands, or the same equipment, but we all configure it the same way. I can walk up to any DIR diver anywhere in the world and instanly know where there back up reg is, where their SPG is, where their depth gauge is, etc... When the spit hits the fan, I don't wanna play "find the gear" whether its a Console, Compass, SPG or Octo.
Like I said in another post - come dive wif us. We don't bite.
K
