Cherry picking the best bits.....

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill

I heard about the recommended change to the standard and thought 'bollox - what can possibly be wrong with one tiny bloody boltsnap on the back of my torch when it is clipped off. It hangs below me by all of two inches maximum and I only have my torch stowed like that if I am ascending so what's the problem? Entanglement hazzard my arse!

I was right. Until I went into a cave and my light failed. Clipping it off, I swam out of the cave and clipped myself to the line three times in one day.

I wss looking at this and the threads relating to it only last weekend, I need to do a bit of Cherry-Picking from Mr. Allen as I can't find any pictures

It's no secret that I'm not the most DIR diver in the box, because of my box, however when dive OC, I'm very DIR. Having said that, since you can't be 'a bit DIR' or 'mostly DIR' then that makes me by definition 'not DIR'.

The one thing that I have resisted is the move, intended or otherwise, to exclusivley DIR buddies.

DIR is cherry-picked from other diving and divers, and it would be silly IMHO, to not keep checking out what others are up to.

Re: the finger tight 2nd stage, IIRC it was on one of GI3's first videos, but had been dropped, another example of the fact that although from the outside DIR appears static, it's not.

r
Paul

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Lou

I am guilty of extraneous use of bungee too - Mal told me off for the very handy bungee loop on my backplate that my torch cannister slots into to just keep it in place ....

He didn't seem to mention my use of bungee

[JAG]

I have cherry picked many parts that I believe help me. There are two things that still keep me from embracing completely. I don't think I can ever 100% rely on the team to get me out of the sh1t if the need ever arises. I'm into being self sufficient. I know all about if the team does it right then there won't be a problem. Example, Garfs thread about the incident at Scapa. As far as I have been told in the past the team don't need to each carry a spare mask, a spare smb, etc.. so long as there is redundancy within the team. Garf kicked off Johns mask in panic and looked for an exit pronto. What if John had lost the mask and Garf was carrying the spare? As much as I enjoy diving as part of a team, I'm prepared to rely on myself.

Second is the attitude thing. Whatever anyone says it still exists with some, maybe not so much publicly but off board it most certainly does.

[Conor]

Semantics semantics its always the same old antics.

Have I cherry picked anything from DIR? erm no.

My cylinders, regs, and various other rbits of my kit and diving conform with DIR.....but I haven't taken anything from DIR. In the same way as my car hasn't taken anything from the MOT.

In the same way as I don't think I have taken anything from Catholicism, but I still don't steal. I don't think I have taken anything from Bhuddism but I try not to cause harm.

DIR is, to me, the mind set, that there is an definite optimal and right thing, and in its place is a great system, and it produces technically great technical divers. Good on them, luv you all

So when we say what have you cherry picked from DIR? I do go with the 'little bit pregnant' perspective, you can't cherry pick from DIR.

You may however use kit or techniques that were introduced to you via DIR divers, texts or techniques. (I can't even say I've done that)

A ford fiesta has four wheels, an engine etc....my car has four wheels and an engine......its NOT a ford Fiesta, nor, to my knowledge, has it borrowed from a ford Fiesta.

On the other hand I could tell you a couple of things that other agencies could learn from GUE

Nothing in life is new....

[neilh]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Why Not ?

You don't find them useful because you have embraced the system, ...

Exactly - like I said personally I don't find those discussions useful because I've already accepted them as part and parcel of DIR. That's not to say that those discussions are not useful to other people

Originally Posted by Fiona

I am struggling here to express what I am trying to say without sounding like I have closed my mind, I haven't but some people are easier to chat to than others.

...and it's not easy to express yourself on t'internet either! Don't worry about it!

Originally Posted by Fiona

You probably had the benefit of coming in to contact with DIR types early on in your diving, I didn't and probably stuck in my ways.

I did indeed and I've had a good experience so far - but it does mean that I haven't had much exposure to other types/styles of diving to compare it to. You're on the outside looking in, I'm on the inside looking out

From the sounds of it you're only "stuck in your ways" because you've developed a way to dive that you're comfortable with and suits you. I'm doing the same thing, just finding that the ways I'm becoming stuck in are DIR

Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill

The lesson I took away with me is that sometimes we don't understand the finer points of the system purely because we haven't come across them in our own diving yet

That's certainly the case for me in many areas and why I enjoy the discussions by people who have the experience and can put across different points of view.

Originally Posted by Woz

What is very scary about DIR, though, fine system that it is, is that people are turning up at my local tech service place with twin 12's asking them to detune their Apeks regs to 8 bar "cos I read it on the Internet".

You entertain me greatly Woz, but I have to take issue with this statement! That isn't a reflection on DIR, that's a comment on discussing things like detuning regs on the Internet and the folk that will follow it without question. How much should we avoid discussing (from any agency) in case someone just tries it without appropriate training?

Originally Posted by Woz

but people need to be aware that you don't become a DIR diver by reading about it on the internet then getting your credit card out and waving it at Nackers.

Agreed - no matter which agency you choose you'll end up handing over cash to knackers

[Woz]

Originally Posted by neilh

You entertain me greatly Woz, but I have to take issue with this statement! That isn't a reflection on DIR, that's a comment on discussing things like detuning regs on the Internet and the folk that will follow it without question. How much should we avoid discussing (from any agency) in case someone just tries it without appropriate training?

Ah but this bloke was a BSAC Ocean Diver, had no idea why he was doing any of this stuff and was off diving with the club with no idea how to properly use his kit. But that's not a DIR thing- anyone can do that, in any sport. I've seen divers with 70 dives panic and lunge for the nearest working reg on their buddy rather than use one of the 4 second stages strung around their body- simple mistakes that proper training addresses. It's people who have "all the kit- still shit" that are scary.

Hang on- I've just re-read your post. We're not arguing- we're agreeing! Maybe we're just arguing with ourselves like a pissed tramp. Aaaaaaaaaargh your my mate you are. I love you. Bloooooargh. Sorry mate- your shoes'll wash up just fine. 10p for a cup o tea? No? OK how about a tenner for some cheap cider?

[neilh]

Originally Posted by Woz

Hang on- I've just re-read your post. We're not arguing- we're agreeing! Maybe we're just arguing with ourselves like a pissed tramp. Aaaaaaaaaargh your my mate you are. I love you. Bloooooargh. Sorry mate- your shoes'll wash up just fine. 10p for a cup o tea? No? OK how about a tenner for some cheap cider?

I bloody love you too mate, now pass that can of special brew - it's my turn

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by Conor

A ford fiesta has four wheels, an engine etc....my car has four wheels and an engine......its NOT a ford Fiesta, nor, to my knowledge, has it borrowed from a ford Fiesta

I agree wholeheartedly but can't green you!

I got into technical diving a loooooooooong time ago, it's amazing that things that have either been done for a very long time (breathing the long hose) or generally is the normal way to dive (using upright twins, attention to detail) are now perceived as DIR.

There is very little in DIR that is either unique to DIR (except for maybe the hairsplitting small details) or new. It's as much a mongrel as any other. It is however the most rigid and easiest to describe mongrel there is.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Woz

... twin 12's ...how many dives this bloke had done?

10

Ridiculous.

...The majority of the diving in the UK can be perfectly safely done in a single and stab. But when you are pushing the boundaries going deeper, or longer, or both, that's where kit and training (and more than that-experience) makes the difference. ....you don't become a DIR diver by reading about it on the internet then getting your credit card out and waving it at Nackers.

Hurrah for Woz, hurrah for Woz

Dude its friday - quit with all this prodoundly intelligent commonsense stuff. Friday is knob jokes...

Chris

[Conor]

Originally Posted by Woz

.......you don't become a DIR diver by reading about it on the internet then getting your credit card out and waving it at Nackers.

Cos they'll only come around and tarmac your drive and what would that achieve?

Oh, the other dive knackers? Sorry

Spot on post though......anyone want to buy twin 12 heisers?