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At 10:31 24/10/99 , Dave Sutton wrote: > >The other thing about DIR is it doesn't preclude the use > >of the right tool for the job, be it scooter, sidemounts, > >camera, video lights, sidemounts, airlift, sledge hammer > >or tack hammer. In fact, it makes the use of the tools a > >whole lot easier. > > >Yup. Everyone is saying essentially the same thing. >It's just that when one of the tools selected offends >those who have not thought it through that they get uptight. That's right. You should have seen the blarney over the long hose and why we dive flat wings. And the membrane drysuit - sheesh did that offend the foam gods. It's still hard to get the bungy wing boys to settle down after we point out the problem with their selection. >Same as when a tool is -deleted-. See below. > >Insofar as tool selection: The simple, basic system is -really- >minimal. Here is what some guys don't really get: >Tool selection may include -adding- a tool (IE: a heavier >line for off-anchor deco) or -deletion- of a tool (BC in drysuit >if you choose to, or deletion of doubles in favor of a single >with a dual outlet valve for those dives not requiring added air). >Tool -addition- may be a canister light. Tool -deletion- might be >removal of the canister and carrying a handheld light when that >is more appropriate. To carry -all tools all of the time- is unthinking. >Is it appropriate to dive in the Bahama's during the day with >dual outlet 104's and cave light? Sorry... Is it good to dive >there with a long hose rigged the way most of us do around >the neck? Sure it is. Can a well rigged diver dive in a bathing suit >with a single and a BC? Sure. He can carry the DIR portion of >his gear with him, in a properly rigged regulator system and >BC system. Is that DIR? It sure it. he just selected the -correct- >module for the day. > >To have a modular system built using a thoughtfull philosophy >that allows the selection of the -proper- tool is the key. The -core- >system that I dive is -without question- the same as what ya'll >call DIR. I just gag to call it that since I was around before the >phrase was coined and we just called it keeping yer shit in one bag. Dave, DIR isn't just the gear. And no-one who promotes DIR hasn't acknowledged its genesis. As far as the gear goes, they just point out the differences between the good gear and the bullshit gear. And run interference on the recommenders and promoters of bullshit gear. >Here is my own system for an example: > > >+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > >Core DIR items (always carried): > >Poseidon 5000 regs (2), one with inflator hose and console. >One without and with 5 foot hose. Long hose hogarthian >around neck for me and for sharing. I use a 7ft hose. Bottom of the loop can then be tucked in so the coil stays closer to the body than with a 5ft hose. Less tangle-prone. 7ft is easier to share gas with when coming out through a small hole, too. Not that I've had to in earnest. But the difference is noticeable in practice. >Short(er) hose for me >after partner gets my long one. Console with Orca Edge. >Also has -razor- sharp knife on back. I find a contents gauge on the HP hose sits in tighter than a console - less prone to catching and tangling which I believe is a hazaRD on your NE wrecks. The depth gauge I keep on my wrist & push it up my fore-arm if I want it out of the way but easily in sight. >Harness: Backplate rigged properly DIR style. Used with either >doubles or with single using proper band adapter for singles. I also use a wing - diverite. I can get up and down with just the drysuit but there's two reasons why I prefer the wing as well. - 1) it trims better, 2) it might not just be me that I need to bring up & control. >Rigged for side mounts when needed. Hope to never need >sidemounts again once rebreather is fully comissioned. Is this sidemounts like cave side mounts - off the hips so you can slide through a horizontal slot, or like sling cylinders clipped off on the front? If its sling cylinders on the front, I hated them 'till I started using 40 cu ft alloys. Thin, nice bouyancy characteristics, and they sit up out of the way under your left arm. Better than a pony because they're out of the way, keeps your profile low, you can hand 'em off if they're needed, you can carry two or three. And you can see what you're breathing. You should try the 40's. >Backup computer. I use a Suunto, makes no difference. >This is on surgical tubing on arm > >Mask & fins. (duh.....) > >Second knife someplace. > >Some sort of weight belt (carib diving and wreck diving differ...) > > >That's the entire core asembly. Add a bottle of some sort and go diving. > > >+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > >Add items: (selected for the proper day): > >Drysuit: Viking pro surveyor, with which comes the >balance of 'drysuit module' including underwear & ankle weights > >Wetsuit: A Picasso freedivers 5 mil open cell one. Warmer than >any closed cell suit and -lots- more comfy. Take a look at freediving >gear and you'll see some neat stuff that has not made it to scuba >circles yet. This stuff will be the next hot item. Tell them you saw it >here. Tried that. Disadvantage in non-tropical water is that the spearo wetsuits like the picasso are real soft for conformance. So at depth they compress thinner than the firmer neoprenes and provide little insulation. Nice low volume masks though. I use the membrane drysuit most of the time. Only use a wetsuit on family dives. >Bottles: Dual outlet doubles with OMS or Poseidon valves -or- dual >outlet single depending on how I feel and depth of water. Can't see this dual outlet doubles thing. DO you mean a dual outlet manifold? You mentioned a perfect manifold before. I prefer an isolation manifold because I can then access all the gas through either reg. Which seems to be the point of a manifold these days. > This is going >to go by the wayside here shortly as the entire mess is changed over to >my rebreather. This is another issue, but the balance of the gear >will stay exactly like it is. > >BC: Wings when needed. -Might- use a Buddy Commando BC >in Carib with built-in 1 liter inflation bottle and breathing valve. I got sick of fighting the big British bulletproof stab jacket. I rarely if ever dive a BC. Only if I use someone else's gear. Putting the bouyancy at the front and building outwards on top of it is just, wrong. I travel with a mini-wing, an old plastic bac-pac with a tank strap & cam buckle, and a webbing harness. You wouldn't know its there. I don't like burden on dives, esp. warm water dives. And for a back-up I clip a small sling cylinder off the front - again it can be handed off if someone else needs it, and it's out of the way. >Light. Presently -bright- handheld, soon to be a canister light when >appropriate. You know how you replace a weight with a hammer? Extend your hammer philosophy to a waist-mounted canister light. It too doubles as a weight. And it will give you that extra burn time you're looking for. A goodman handle is a good idea too because then you have full use of both hands - unlike with the hand-held light. Dave - a little follow-through on the thinking you're doing already. See what a difference it can make. >Backup lights as appropriate. > >Reel. Cave divers type when appropriate. Manila when appropriate. Both >sometimes. > >Tools (Hammer and sledge) when appropriate. >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > >See anything there unsafe or outside the loop? I just don't >carry -all of it- when it's not needed. Modular and DIR are not >mutually exclusive. They are entirely complementary. > >Comments? I'd love to see some others lay out yer shit like I have >for comment and critique. Actual choices cannot be faulted >(IE Poseidon V/S Scubapro or whatever...) It's the concept >that counts. > >Open yer bag and show us!! > > >Best to all, (notice how the email threads have to do with >diving and not politics these days??) It comes and goes. Always has, always will. rgrds billyw -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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