what is DIR

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by tonhil

The video of George Irvine and the body bag as an essential piece of kit for non DIR divers could have come across as slightly arrogant :-)

Some DIR types have a LOT of dives.

I remember being a little despairing when I came across a bunch of "DIR types" well kitted out for cave penetration but without the skill base to deal with a 15m open water bimble.

However the whole idea is sound and you owe it to yourself as a diver to look into it as some of the ideas and procedures are great - a revelation.

To my mind, it's a shame that so many references get made to George Irvine since I think his approach and style obsfucates the key DIR messages around safety and enjoyment. I don't know anyone who is like that now though....those I talk to have rational arguments for why they do things the way they do. You also make a valid point about looking the part .... but that's true of all sports I think.

Part of the thinking behind the Discover DIR days is to help de-bunk those myths and give people a chance to meet divers who try to be DIR and see whether the system has anything to offer them in their diving.

At the Gildy day there will be a range of DIR divers from the Fundamentals level, cave and tech trained and Instructor level .... it's quite a broad church .... hey even the Dude would be welcome

Mal

[Woz]

DIR is just another, teccie way of diving. It has pulled together some great ideas into a cohesive lump that work well.

However to "have a go" at other ways of teaching that have a "user base" of millions and millions of safely executed dives every year is a bit silly. I think that DIR is past that now and keen to promote the DIR system and good for them too. Just watch out if you get on a boat full of "fundamentalists" who sit there tutting at your kit. Rarer these days but it sadly used to be the case.

[tom]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

even the Dude would be welcome

but only as a visual aid for the 'know your enemy' seminar

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I would also be interested in what you find in DIR to be against.

You are all FFM haters for a start. "Diving is a priveledge not a right." You continually use that "holistic" word. I dislike dogma. You do all seem reasonably proficient and I hate you!

In essence it's a system of diving designed to generate safe diving practices through training divers to a high level of proficiency.....

Elitist?

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Bottle Maker

My experience of DIR is lots of WE ARE BEST then when I have talked to the divers with all the black kit they do not have a great deal of dives under there belts, however I am prepared to listen an possibly change my opinion. Unfortunatly I can not make Stoney as I am weather depent diving out of Eastbourne.

Graham.

Oi!!!! They nicked the black stuff off the rest of us!!! Anyway, I would have thought DIR would be all dayglo colours to make team diving safer?

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I don't understand why that is regarded as elitest or politic. They have a rationale for holding those opinions so I think it's really good to look at why they hold those opinions and then people can make up their own minds ... to me that's a worthwhile debate.

I agree the debate is good if people can avoid getting personal about things.

As to George Irvine .... well..... I would strongly recommended reading the stuff by Jarrod Jablonski .... his style is so much more conducive

Mal

According to DIR about 90% of divers don't deserve to be diving?

And what is this fixation with using spools?

[Finless]

Oh, one other thing that concerns me as an ignorant outsider is that how can you develop one kit config to cover all types of diving? That must involve compromise?

We haven't had a good DIR debate for ages and I would interested to see if I can spot any changes since GUE has seemed to distance itself a bit from the DIR name ........... or, at least, the GI bit of it?

[Garf]

Originally Posted by Finless

Oi!!!! They nicked the black stuff off the rest of us!!! Anyway, I would have thought DIR would be all dayglo colours to make team diving safer?

100% agree with this. If DIR was all about finding the ultimate peak in safety practices, then we would use luminous yellow drysuits and hoods for easy visibility from the boat.

Whilst I would defend the configuration and practices until someone comes along with a better one, I think any DIR diver that denies there is a part of him that thinks "ooooh shiny, want, want" when they see something black, silver, or white, is lying to themselves. We particular colour choice of kit is done because we think it looks cool. Anyone that tells you otherwise is a stroke and is going to die. soon. There. I used the "S" word. Arn't I naughty

[Woz]

That's why they all have white cylinders rather than the more common yellow ones.

A bit sad, isn't it?

Still- not as sad as when knackers started selling those unpainted ones and everyone went "ooooooooo" and bought one and now has a very manky looking rotting ally clyinder. *snigger*

And the number of DIR divers buying a suit with a red upper half has suddenly increased. Honestly. It's like school kids. If JJ put little rolly wheels in the bottom of his fins you would start seeing them too...

[Garf]

Originally Posted by Woz

That's why they all have white cylinders rather than the more common yellow ones.

I'll defend that one. Heisers and ECS cylinders only come in white, and we use them becuase they have better buoyancy characteristics than Fabers.

Still- not as sad as when knackers started selling those unpainted ones and everyone went "ooooooooo" and bought one and now has a very manky looking rotting ally clyinder. *snigger*

I'll defend that one. Err, ok, no I won't. I'd liek to enter a plea of guilty at this time