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You want flame? You got it. No canister light? I don't know about you, but I LIKE to see what I am looking at when I ocean dive. If you like pawing around like a blind man that's fine but a 50watt light does wonders to find goodies and to enjoy the wild coloration that even Atlantic diving provides underwater. Why anyone would dive in the Atlantic with a lousy 15watt light is really stupid. So you think that penetration needs DIR, eh? How the hell do you know what is going to be awaiting you down there? I guess if you dive one or two wrecks only during the course of the diving season you might know. But in VaBch you have dozens of wrecks to choose from and us experienced divers like to be prepared for poor vis, penetration or whatever. What makes you think that a lift bag prevents you from DIR? Where in DIR does it say "oh, and no lift bags allowed"? It's lame groundless rhetoric from old timers like you who like to act like something as trivial as adding a lift bag makes you non-DIR. Wrongo, Von. Steel tanks are FINE, Von. You just need a drysuit for your secondary buoyancy. You dive with a wetsuit in the North Atlantic? If so you are either a stroke or an idiot or you don't deco dive. And why anyone would use steel stages when AL stages are so much easier to manage I have no idea other than bone-headed stupidity. Again, shoe me where DIR states that a jon line and a spare mask is not acceptable. You idiot. Why do you old-timers fight DIR to the death (literally)? Try it, Von, you'll like it. Jim Sender: bigvon@be*.ne* Date: 8/8/99 1:14 PM > > >Date: Sun, 08 Aug 1999 14:09:04 +0000 >From: bigvon@be*.ne* >Subject: Modified DIR-Ocean > > > >George >Here is a brief summary in answer to your posted question. I have heard >all the pro's and con's to each of the modification I >have made. I have found in 27 years of diving in the ocean and as a >maritime attorney and observing accident reports, experts >on the stand, commercial diving contractors, etc., these modifications >work. > >The following parameters apply for the Modified DIR : > >Open Ocean - Decent visibility - No overhead penetration - No >scooter > >Most dives in the ocean are from a vessel. > >The visibility off shore is usually very good. There is no need for a >canister light. >Obviously in a limited vis or no light situation one would need his >canister light. (East Coast). > >If penetration were involved then it would be treated as an >overhead/cave dive and DIR would be appropriate. I doubt that the >majority of ocean dives involve penetration. > >I also assert that the majority of ocean divers do not have Gavins and >further that most dives are free swimming dives without a >scooter. (Gas supply related) > > >Modified Equipment: > >5' hose. >All you need since no canister light, and a longer hose can become >dislodged at the worst possible moment, (in wave surge >upon entry or exit, or swimming among snags on bottom) No need to swim >single file so the 5' is perfect in the minimalist >philosophy. > >Redundant bottom timer or computer. >This has been beaten to death. BUT if for ANY reason, unintentionally, >intentionally, act of god, environment, current, visibility, >heart attack, etc. a diver becomes separated from his buddy (yes he >violated DIR rule#2) and has a substantial decompression >obligation, he better have a backup way to tell time, depth and >schedule. (BT/Tables or computer). > >Lights >As stated before a canister light is usually unneeded on ocean dive. AS >such, no NEED for primary and multiple secondary >backup lights. (Bring one if you want to as a tool.) > >Lift Bag and real Reel >The purpose of a lift bag is obvious. I also advocate for the ocean, a >reel with heavier line than cave line knotted every 10 or >20 feet. Cave line will cut too easily on a wreck's sharp edges. Knots >might serve to tell distance on a dive or in an emergency >deco situation. > > >Surface Signal >Since the ocean can change so quickly one must be prepared in the event >he is swept away past the boat or surfaces away >from the vessel. The easiest is to use the lift bag (provided it is a >bright contrasting color) as a signal. I also bring a signaling >mirror which I have seen save the day. A whistle also helped locate >three divers who were swept off the Monitor in 1995. >These items are relatively small yet provide a huge safety margin. > >Steel tanks >Let me say right off the bat that while I understand DIR uses aluminum >tanks (and a weight belt), that is just not sufficient gas >for a swimming deep gas dive with a sufficient reserve. Maybe a 10 or 15 >minute bounce dive, but our bottom times are >routinely 20 to 30 minutes at 200 to 350'. A scooter could change this >but most are not scootering. >Double steel with aluminum back plate (light) and aluminum stages are >needed. >With this weight comes the need for redundant lift. (Here comes the >flames) >Two separate Halcyon or Diverite wings with a wet suit, or only one with >a dry suit. > >Decompression stress >In order to provide the maximum safety margin while using high ppo2 deco >mixes (with breaks of course) and to ease diver >exertion on deco a Jon Line is essential. >The best option, if available, would be to arrange a free floating deco >line before hand. But if this is not available a Jon Line is >an efficient tool. > >Spare Mask >Since the ocean has no floor or ceiling like a cave, a spare mask is >essential. > > >Flame away fella's!!! > >Bill > >PS. I would be interested in hearing from any other ocean divers who >have any suggestions, as there is always room for >improvement. > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn About Trimix at http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/trimix.html -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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