In the latest issue of either Rodale's or Dive Training (sorry, can't 
remember which, but I think it's Rodale's), it says that 45% of tests on 
BCDs show that they float the wearer face-down, regardless of the design of 
the BC and I believe that it says (or implies) that 45% of the time ANY 
GIVEN BC will float the wearer face-down...

At 10:23 AM 04/28/1999 , Eric Rosenkrantz wrote:
>Perhaps - I don't get it - I teach Rec scuba and wear a stainless steel 
>plate, wings and breath the long hose . When my students ask about this I 
>show them
>the simplicity and value of the rig. I also explain the origins in WKPP 
>and cave diving. The owner of the shop will not sell a plate and wings to 
>a new diver
>because of the belief that it will keep them face down in the water on the 
>surface ! Many of my dive buddies however are switching and  going DIR.
>I think that an early exposure to the DIR concepts is very appropriate.
>
>
>Eric
>
>
>On Wed, 28 Apr 1999 04:04:17 -0700 (PDT), Kevin E. Harris wrote:
>
>>Sean:
>>
>>We all had a mentor who showed us the ropes early on.
>>As it is I'm moving in a Hogarthian direction today.
>>
>>I have only just started diving doubles and YES in 35F
>>water I can reach my manifold and turn the valves.
>>
>>My early influences used home made back plates and
>>home made Bungeed wings (1990).
>>I didn't (I'm not worthy attitude) mainly because I
>>was interested in bottom time, animal life, not depth.
>>I did go for the "latest and greatest" - YES the
>>ZEAGLE. Why you ask, dive shop owner gave it to me at
>>a KEY price so he could order enough stock to gain the
>>local dealer ship (1994). 5 years of diving (w/a
>>zeagle) and frustration- nothing fit together! I was
>>constantly re-organizing never satisfied.
>>
>>"Divemastering" on a small charter boat I was busy
>>catering to new divers. The past couple of years my
>>interest was peaked as a few divers who had previously
>>boarded using a "traditional" BC, 80 AL and PONY for
>>the "deep" stuff had evolved with "new" gear and a
>>long hose wrapped around there neck.
>>
>>I have searched out sources of info on alternative
>>dive equipment which to my surprise was getting back
>>to basics. Technology (new)does not equal TEC DIVER
>>(better) as I'm sure you would agree. Many pieces of
>>the DIR (Hogarthian) equipment are from the early
>>years in diving (fins/spring strap/neckless Back up
>>second/~harness/steel banded tanks/~manifold/metal
>>buckles)I'm sure I'm not telling anyone on this list
>>anything new (no positive). I just see an opportunity
>>to get my 2 cents in and maybe help make a difference
>>in a new generation of divers.
>>
>>Granted technology, available materials and human
>>error have changed some of this (equipment) however
>>the basic concept still prevails - KISS!
>>
>>You could influence your students by exposing them to
>>Hogarthian concept as it relates to entry level diving
>>(knowledge is power). Just don't do it by showing them
>>the DIR or DIR II tape - too harsh too early! Give new
>>divers the tools (knowledge) to fight the "DARK SIDE
>>of THE FORCE".
>>
>>A mentor once told me: "The true predator of the DEEP
>>is the DIVE SHOP OWNER" and he was an owner!
>>
>>Example: look at the old DACOR style back pack with a
>>small set of wings! Alternative to the "NORMAL BC" And
>>at least start a new generation earlier down the
>>simple is better path.
>>
>>Early exposure in a non-technical environment may make
>>a difference. If nothing else it may keep an advancing
>>diver from asking the same old questions when they
>>jump into so called technical diving Arena.
>>
>>http://www.divedacor.com/accessories.html
>>Single cylinder deluxe soft band - 6817-00
>>
>>My .02 "Non-Tec diver exploring the ropes"
>>
>>PS: I would say you can see no "strokery" in the
>>recreational community since being a stroke implies
>>knowledge of DIR correct!?
>>You may however see a lot of clutter and dangling!
>>
>>
>>--- "Sean M. Cary" <SMCARY@MI*.CO*> wrote:
>>> 99.9% of my regular customers will (thankfully)
>>> never Tech dive.  To sell
>>> them all backplates and harness's would be extreme.
>>> I use and dive a
>>> Halcyon backplate and wing, wear a dangly and dive a
>>> long hose on every
>>> dive. Students and others see this and ask why I do
>>> it, and I explain that
>>> it is a carry over from my technical diving.  I have
>>> a ratio going of about
>>> 9 backplates to 1 bcd's sale...so I guess my wearing
>>> one is rubbing off.
>>> But I sell the customer whatever they want, based
>>> upon the type of diving
>>> they do.  Someone who will never venture past 60' is
>>> going to be fine in a
>>> normal BC.   In the early 90's when I was wearing a
>>> Dacor Caribbean and Al
>>> 80's, diving in warm, relatively shallow waters,
>>> that was the best setup for
>>> me.  Now that I do tech, I wear what I wear all the
>>> time, and never have to
>>> change my config to meet the requirements.  The
>>> whole point of my post was
>>> the nature of this list, and TheNerds comment that
>>> he doesn't have the cash
>>> to do the dives properly...
>>>
>>> And as I said before...If you can't afford to do the
>>> dives with the right
>>> equipment...DON'T DO THEM.  All we have to do is
>>> apply Rule Number One...
>>> I'd say we have more to worry about in the so called
>>> "tech" community then
>>> the "rec" community.  I see far more strokery on the
>>> tech trips I go on,
>>> then the rec trips I do each weekend.
>>>
>>> My .02
>>>
>>> Sean
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>===
>>Kevin E. Harris
>>
>>Life is like a grindstone,
>>Whether it grinds you down or polishes you up depends on what you're made of!
>>Author Unknown
>>_________________________________________________________
>>Do You Yahoo!?
>>Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
>>
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>
>
>
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