SeaJay
Contributor
I've done about 100 dives since I got certified last May... Although I've got many more career dives. I've basically been diving since 1986, with maybe 100 dives in all those years, always with friends.
Yeah, I know... I was a statistic waiting to happen. But hey, I survived, if only because I was always too fearful of the unknown to leave the side of my certified buddies.
But when I found someone last May who cut me a "deal" on certification, I decided to take the class. This immediately freed up my concerns and I started to really dive.
I've gone a little overboard with it since then. I'm basically in the water at every opportunity, and I've blown many hundreds of dollars getting more and more dive education. I've been online here, on this board, since that time, and some of you may have noticed a little bit of a change.
It boils down to this... I found out about DIR and the tenants of the style soon after I earned my Open Water, but sorta "dismissed" them as silly and militant. I even used the "N" word. I found that while serious cave divers may need the tenants of DIR, I was more concerned with the real basics, like keeping my mask on and breathing properly. Heck, I was an "Open Water" diver, right? I figured that it'd be years before needing to concern myself with anything like DIR.
However, some things have happened to me along the way. Firstly, I seemed to be the only one in my classes concerned with things like proper weighting, trim, really good buoyancy, and air consumption. It wasn't hard to figure the advantages of these things... So why were'nt other people thinking along those lines like I was? I found that by my 10th dive, my breathing rate had dropped to nearly half of what it was when I started. I found myself wanting to simplify my gear immediately, and I quickly became the one diver that everyone could depend on to retrieve their dropped weight pockets, fins, and masks.
I even began to memorize my dive tables, and could generally place my pressure group without having to do the math. I knew a sort of "running tally" of my nitrogen levels, even before doing the math. People would begin to ask me what their pressure group was.
When I took my Advanced class, I think I was the only one who actually read the book, noting the "Advanced Diver's Rig" in the beginning of the book. By the time I took my Rescue class and got CPR and First Aid certified, I was beginning to get really curious about DIR, and finding out more information about it.
In short, from the beginning, I found myself going down the road to DIR... Without realizing that it was the DIR road. I was just looking for a better way to dive. The scary thihg that I was finding was that as I went along, my gear configuration was looking more and more DIR every day.
When it came time to purchase gear, (I'd spent all of my funds on diving, trips, and education), I had to really claim a philosophy on diving first... I mean, was I going to buy a jacket BC for doing shallow open water diving, or should I look at something that could support doubles and stage bottles? Did I need to purchase my own regulator? Could I rent a 7' hose? Did I even like that style of rig? $700 for a light? C'mon!
Curious, I rented a DIR-style rig last weekend, and loved a bunch of things about it... Although I wasn't totally sold. I also picked up the DIR Fundementals book and have decided to take the DIR class. I mean, heck, why not at least learn the stuff? But the more I am around it, the more I am finding that the people involved in DIR diving are more like me... And all the while, I find myself increasingly more frustrated with non-DIR people. I find myself shaking my head, thinking, "How the heck are you supposed to donate air with THAT thing?" "You know, it might help a little if you weren't hung over..." "Hey, that's not a 60fpm (or less) ascent..." "You ran out of air in 40' of water? How do you run out of air in 40' of water? Aren't you at least aware of your air supply?" "Would you please get your fins out of my face again?" The list goes on and on...
I'm not saying that non-DIR divers are bad divers... I'm just saying that I'm finding a level of expertise in these people, because of the tenants that they have been taught, that makes them a huge luxury to dive with... And the more I dive with people who have the DIR-taught capabilities, the more frustrating I find it diving with people who don't have not been taught them.
Case in point: One of the last dives I did, my entire dive was spent waiting on a line for another diver. We were in the water for five minutes before he signaled, "You... Stay... Me... Swim over there..." And that was the last I saw of him. I hung out, at his command, because he was the divemaster that day. Fifteen minutes later he came back, ready to dive, after having fixed some part of his rig. The whole dive was shallow enough that I hadn't depleted my air supply or bottom time, but a huge chunk of dive time was eaten up by some problem that he had. And I don't even want to mention the fact that neither of us were buddied up the entire 15 minutes he was gone. That's simply horrible. And a bad example for a divemaster.
I don't know that it's necessarily DIR that I'm attracted to... It's just the logic and professionalism and respect that I see in that group of divers. Things just make sense, and the more I dive, the more it makes sense.
...So why don't I simply decide to be DIR?
Well, let's be honest here... And it's going to be hard to really tell you why I'm so resistant... But I hope that you DIR guys can relate to this a little and "go easy" on the non-DIR guys next time...
1. The DIR guys seem to be pretty hardened. At least here on this board, a lot of the DIR stuff appears to be ego-driven, not unlike what you'd expect out of Air Force pilots or Navy Seals. There's a part of me that fears turning into what my perception is, whether it's correct or not. I wrote about that in another thread. Enough said.
2. Thankfully, I haven't spent too much on gear, but I'm afraid of ditching all of the gear I already own. For example, my Mares Quattros: I spent a lot of money and time in them, and I like them quite a bit. Every time I get into another fin, I miss my Quattros. Sure, DIR doesn't preach "no Quattros," but will I, in a year, end up Ebaying my Quattros for fins that I don't like just so that I can look like "standard issue?"
3. I smoke cigars. I love smoking cigars. I smoke about four or five a day. It's a nasty habit, and I know I need to quit while I still have both lungs. And it may seem silly, but I am sure that if I were to go DIR, I'd quit. Seems like a reason TO go DIR, doesn't it? Well... Sure... But I really, really like my cigars. Isn't that horrible?
4. I really, really like bacon double cheeseburgers, fries, and a coke or beer. Going DIR means to adopt all of the DIR tenants, and that means getting into better shape and taking care of my body better, especially through nutrition. I'm not horribly out of shape now, even though it may sound like it with my affection for cigars and cheeseburgers... I'm 6'1" and 220 lbs, and relatively muscular. I only need 6 lbs with a 3/2 mil on... I'm not terribly fat, although I miss my high school wrestling weight. Still, my point is that "going DIR" means a whole change, not just a few gear pieces. In other words, it would change my life... Which is great, right? Of course it is! Now if I could only convince myself of that...
5. I like computers. Computers like me. DIR does not preach "no computers," but they're frowned opon. I like them. I've dove with them before, and feel that they make for a nice backup set of numbers to tell you that you're on track... At least with non-deco diving. I haven't gotten into deco yet... But would like to, and I agree that when deco diving, a computer should be forfeited for a good bottom timer and a more rigid plan.
I dunno... I guess what I'm really saying here is that when I got into diving, I wanted a new hobby... A new sport... A new challenge and new fun. I have that now! I enjoy that now. I wasn't looking for it to change my whole life, but I'm finding that the best diving in the world is DIR diving. At least, that's why my own personal gear and lifestyle alterations (for the sake of diving) have begun to show. Amazing how all of my improvements and all end up right on the pages of the DIR book.
But I wasn't looking for a real lifestyle change. I wasn't looking for a desire which ate me up, every moment of every day. Yet, I have found it in DIR diving.
And so I'm fearful of making the next step. It's so... Committal. So life-altering. Which is good, right?
Hmmmm...
Wish I was in the water right now... And that's all I can think about. The whole DIR debate is so... Political. Yuck. Just put me in the water.
But not without a BC that works as well as a bp/wings, a donor air supply that is usable, a buddy that is aware and alert and capable, and a body that's properly nourished, strong, flexible, and equally capable. Hey, that sounds exactly like DIR!
Ugh.
I wanted a black mask because I didn't like the "shadows" on the inside of the glass caused by light leakage... Not to mention that the black silicone doesn't yellow over time. I also didn't like the annoying curtain of bubbles that were distracting in my periferal vision with a clear silione skirt. But I swear to you, I almost did not buy a black skirted mask because I thought it looked too DIR.
It was all downhill from there.
I'm afraid of assimilation, but I can't help it.
How 'bout if I CLAIM to be DIW, but I still wear a bp/wing, Halcyon gear, black skirted mask, etc,,, Have perfect trim and buoyancy, THINK when I dive, be a reliable buddy who also considers me reliable, and stay in shape by eating right, cutting back or quitting smoking, and never diving beyond my capabilities... Can I do that? Is that "legal?" Can I go and do my own thing and dive the way I want, screw the fact that it's DIR, and still be classified as DIW?
What happens if I accept assimilation? :lol:
We... I mean, "I" really do need a secret handshake. I'll start a club called the "DIRSCTBDIW." ("DIR's claiming to be DIW.") Or maybe the "DIRSWCATTDIR." (DIR's who can't accept that they're DIR.")
I dunno.
Just throwin' some stuff out there.
If I go DIR, do I have to wear a Speedo?
And what's it like being vegitarian? The book didn't mention anything about being vegitarian. Yet, I've been thinking a lot about it recently.
I've also actually considered Yoga. Have I lost my mind?
Maybe some martial art... Thai Chi or Karate or something... Just to improve my diving.
Have I lost it?
Yeah, I know... I was a statistic waiting to happen. But hey, I survived, if only because I was always too fearful of the unknown to leave the side of my certified buddies.
But when I found someone last May who cut me a "deal" on certification, I decided to take the class. This immediately freed up my concerns and I started to really dive.
I've gone a little overboard with it since then. I'm basically in the water at every opportunity, and I've blown many hundreds of dollars getting more and more dive education. I've been online here, on this board, since that time, and some of you may have noticed a little bit of a change.
It boils down to this... I found out about DIR and the tenants of the style soon after I earned my Open Water, but sorta "dismissed" them as silly and militant. I even used the "N" word. I found that while serious cave divers may need the tenants of DIR, I was more concerned with the real basics, like keeping my mask on and breathing properly. Heck, I was an "Open Water" diver, right? I figured that it'd be years before needing to concern myself with anything like DIR.
However, some things have happened to me along the way. Firstly, I seemed to be the only one in my classes concerned with things like proper weighting, trim, really good buoyancy, and air consumption. It wasn't hard to figure the advantages of these things... So why were'nt other people thinking along those lines like I was? I found that by my 10th dive, my breathing rate had dropped to nearly half of what it was when I started. I found myself wanting to simplify my gear immediately, and I quickly became the one diver that everyone could depend on to retrieve their dropped weight pockets, fins, and masks.
I even began to memorize my dive tables, and could generally place my pressure group without having to do the math. I knew a sort of "running tally" of my nitrogen levels, even before doing the math. People would begin to ask me what their pressure group was.
When I took my Advanced class, I think I was the only one who actually read the book, noting the "Advanced Diver's Rig" in the beginning of the book. By the time I took my Rescue class and got CPR and First Aid certified, I was beginning to get really curious about DIR, and finding out more information about it.
In short, from the beginning, I found myself going down the road to DIR... Without realizing that it was the DIR road. I was just looking for a better way to dive. The scary thihg that I was finding was that as I went along, my gear configuration was looking more and more DIR every day.
When it came time to purchase gear, (I'd spent all of my funds on diving, trips, and education), I had to really claim a philosophy on diving first... I mean, was I going to buy a jacket BC for doing shallow open water diving, or should I look at something that could support doubles and stage bottles? Did I need to purchase my own regulator? Could I rent a 7' hose? Did I even like that style of rig? $700 for a light? C'mon!
Curious, I rented a DIR-style rig last weekend, and loved a bunch of things about it... Although I wasn't totally sold. I also picked up the DIR Fundementals book and have decided to take the DIR class. I mean, heck, why not at least learn the stuff? But the more I am around it, the more I am finding that the people involved in DIR diving are more like me... And all the while, I find myself increasingly more frustrated with non-DIR people. I find myself shaking my head, thinking, "How the heck are you supposed to donate air with THAT thing?" "You know, it might help a little if you weren't hung over..." "Hey, that's not a 60fpm (or less) ascent..." "You ran out of air in 40' of water? How do you run out of air in 40' of water? Aren't you at least aware of your air supply?" "Would you please get your fins out of my face again?" The list goes on and on...
I'm not saying that non-DIR divers are bad divers... I'm just saying that I'm finding a level of expertise in these people, because of the tenants that they have been taught, that makes them a huge luxury to dive with... And the more I dive with people who have the DIR-taught capabilities, the more frustrating I find it diving with people who don't have not been taught them.
Case in point: One of the last dives I did, my entire dive was spent waiting on a line for another diver. We were in the water for five minutes before he signaled, "You... Stay... Me... Swim over there..." And that was the last I saw of him. I hung out, at his command, because he was the divemaster that day. Fifteen minutes later he came back, ready to dive, after having fixed some part of his rig. The whole dive was shallow enough that I hadn't depleted my air supply or bottom time, but a huge chunk of dive time was eaten up by some problem that he had. And I don't even want to mention the fact that neither of us were buddied up the entire 15 minutes he was gone. That's simply horrible. And a bad example for a divemaster.
I don't know that it's necessarily DIR that I'm attracted to... It's just the logic and professionalism and respect that I see in that group of divers. Things just make sense, and the more I dive, the more it makes sense.
...So why don't I simply decide to be DIR?
Well, let's be honest here... And it's going to be hard to really tell you why I'm so resistant... But I hope that you DIR guys can relate to this a little and "go easy" on the non-DIR guys next time...
1. The DIR guys seem to be pretty hardened. At least here on this board, a lot of the DIR stuff appears to be ego-driven, not unlike what you'd expect out of Air Force pilots or Navy Seals. There's a part of me that fears turning into what my perception is, whether it's correct or not. I wrote about that in another thread. Enough said.
2. Thankfully, I haven't spent too much on gear, but I'm afraid of ditching all of the gear I already own. For example, my Mares Quattros: I spent a lot of money and time in them, and I like them quite a bit. Every time I get into another fin, I miss my Quattros. Sure, DIR doesn't preach "no Quattros," but will I, in a year, end up Ebaying my Quattros for fins that I don't like just so that I can look like "standard issue?"
3. I smoke cigars. I love smoking cigars. I smoke about four or five a day. It's a nasty habit, and I know I need to quit while I still have both lungs. And it may seem silly, but I am sure that if I were to go DIR, I'd quit. Seems like a reason TO go DIR, doesn't it? Well... Sure... But I really, really like my cigars. Isn't that horrible?
4. I really, really like bacon double cheeseburgers, fries, and a coke or beer. Going DIR means to adopt all of the DIR tenants, and that means getting into better shape and taking care of my body better, especially through nutrition. I'm not horribly out of shape now, even though it may sound like it with my affection for cigars and cheeseburgers... I'm 6'1" and 220 lbs, and relatively muscular. I only need 6 lbs with a 3/2 mil on... I'm not terribly fat, although I miss my high school wrestling weight. Still, my point is that "going DIR" means a whole change, not just a few gear pieces. In other words, it would change my life... Which is great, right? Of course it is! Now if I could only convince myself of that...
5. I like computers. Computers like me. DIR does not preach "no computers," but they're frowned opon. I like them. I've dove with them before, and feel that they make for a nice backup set of numbers to tell you that you're on track... At least with non-deco diving. I haven't gotten into deco yet... But would like to, and I agree that when deco diving, a computer should be forfeited for a good bottom timer and a more rigid plan.
I dunno... I guess what I'm really saying here is that when I got into diving, I wanted a new hobby... A new sport... A new challenge and new fun. I have that now! I enjoy that now. I wasn't looking for it to change my whole life, but I'm finding that the best diving in the world is DIR diving. At least, that's why my own personal gear and lifestyle alterations (for the sake of diving) have begun to show. Amazing how all of my improvements and all end up right on the pages of the DIR book.
But I wasn't looking for a real lifestyle change. I wasn't looking for a desire which ate me up, every moment of every day. Yet, I have found it in DIR diving.
And so I'm fearful of making the next step. It's so... Committal. So life-altering. Which is good, right?
Hmmmm...
Wish I was in the water right now... And that's all I can think about. The whole DIR debate is so... Political. Yuck. Just put me in the water.
But not without a BC that works as well as a bp/wings, a donor air supply that is usable, a buddy that is aware and alert and capable, and a body that's properly nourished, strong, flexible, and equally capable. Hey, that sounds exactly like DIR!
Ugh.
I wanted a black mask because I didn't like the "shadows" on the inside of the glass caused by light leakage... Not to mention that the black silicone doesn't yellow over time. I also didn't like the annoying curtain of bubbles that were distracting in my periferal vision with a clear silione skirt. But I swear to you, I almost did not buy a black skirted mask because I thought it looked too DIR.
It was all downhill from there.
I'm afraid of assimilation, but I can't help it.How 'bout if I CLAIM to be DIW, but I still wear a bp/wing, Halcyon gear, black skirted mask, etc,,, Have perfect trim and buoyancy, THINK when I dive, be a reliable buddy who also considers me reliable, and stay in shape by eating right, cutting back or quitting smoking, and never diving beyond my capabilities... Can I do that? Is that "legal?" Can I go and do my own thing and dive the way I want, screw the fact that it's DIR, and still be classified as DIW?
What happens if I accept assimilation? :lol:
We... I mean, "I" really do need a secret handshake. I'll start a club called the "DIRSCTBDIW." ("DIR's claiming to be DIW.") Or maybe the "DIRSWCATTDIR." (DIR's who can't accept that they're DIR.")
I dunno.
Just throwin' some stuff out there.
If I go DIR, do I have to wear a Speedo?
And what's it like being vegitarian? The book didn't mention anything about being vegitarian. Yet, I've been thinking a lot about it recently.
I've also actually considered Yoga. Have I lost my mind?
Maybe some martial art... Thai Chi or Karate or something... Just to improve my diving.
Have I lost it?
