Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
We use "Drop Kick!" Over here down under. Jeff Swann of Darwin. The water is 31C. At 14:27 18/01/00 -0800, you wrote: >Scott, > >The DIR term is stroke. We don't need a new name. > >Walter > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Scott <scottk@hc*.co*> >To: Michael J. Black <mjblackmd@ya*.co*>; Aquanaut Mail ><techdiver@aquanaut.com> >Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2000 10:52 AM >Subject: Re: on DIR divers > > >> Let me take a moment to clarify here. What I was saying has already been >> blown out of shape in several different directions. >> Claudia was raising a very valid point of discussion, that I think would >be >> well discussed here. If not here, then where? >> >> The basic issue is that people buy all the neato gear, DIR down to the >> o-ring on the SPG bolt snap, and are not only *not* competent divers, but >> mistakenly think the gear makes the slightest difference. Its what is >> between your ears that makes you DIR or not. Trout, George, feel free to >> light me up any time. (I like the old George better, no bullshit) One of >my >> favorite dive buddy's dive an Atpak with independent doubles. He can dive >> with me anytime, anywhere, and I know if it gets deep, he will be there to >> cover my ass. >> >> Definitions in context to *my* thinking and vulgar vocabulary: >> >> 1) The Problem, or, the "Cheesedick Syndrome". Cheesedick is an old term, >I >> first heard from a military man. It refers to the FNG, fresh out of boot, >> who has some training, the uniform (usually very new), and the weapons to >go >> to war. What he doesn't have is the *experience* to make those decisions >> that only allow microseconds for decision making. The term Cheesedick >refers >> to an individual who has all the stuff, the desire, the ability, but not >the >> experience, but, perhaps is a little big for his britches, or simply has >no >> respect for his elders, or is flat arrogant. Such people can be seen as >> everything from promising and amusing, to downright dangerous and deadly. >> Probably every diver reading this could have been called, accurately, a >> Cheesedick at some point in their education process. >> >> 2) The term "Technical Diving" is one that has been defined and re-defined >> into oblivion. To me, Technical diving isn't simple Nitrox, doubles or a >> single stage and a little (<20 minutes or so total) deco time. Technical >> diving is the type of diving where your life is hanging on your knowledge, >> skill, and problem solving ability. The type of diving where, if you fuck >> up, or have a problem with your equipment, you either fix it, deal with >it, >> or you die. The best thing that can happen is a chamber ride. The worst is >> that they never recover your stiff. Surface supplied deco dives, Sat >dives, >> and monster dives like the AD, Britannic and the insane shit GI and the >boys >> do is Technical Diving. Diving a pair of doubles on nitrox, and diving by >> your nitrox computer and SPG is *not* Technical Diving, IMHO, it is simply >> advanced recreational diving. We do it for fun, and because we want to >stay >> longer. CC rebreathers, and the Halcyon unit are Technical Diving. Use of >> He02 mixes, and monster deco on 02 is Technical Diving. IMHO, DIR and the >> GUE boys have the *best* handle on this type of diving. These are *my* >> opinions and definitions, no one else's. So, if there is any flaming or >> blame to be laid, lay it on *me.* >> >> Having laid this foundation, let me now say that so many divers get into >> what they perceive to be Technical Diving, because they think the gear >looks >> neato. Its gadget envy. These people will take a set of doubles and a pair >> of 50% and 02 stages to do a dive that can be safely and easily done on >air >> and a single stage of 50%. They are the type of diver that will turn a >> simple, no bullshit dive into a dangerous clusterfuck. As far as I know, >and >> have gleaned from reading here, deco on 02 should be avoided if at all >> possible. Its the most dangerous part of these type of dives, and its >where >> a lot of people get bit on the ass or killed. >> >> A Cheesedick will insist on, plan and do staged 02 deco dives in all >> circumstances and dive profiles just because it looks cool. >> >> A Cheesedick will buy all the bitchin Techy looking gear, and be unable to >> keep his feet off the bottom. >> >> A Cheesedick will resent being told, kindly or not, by older, wiser, more >> experienced divers that what they are doing is wrong. >> >> There are *lots* of Instructors out there who are confirmed Cheesedicks, >and >> in heavy denial. >> >> A Cheesedick can be helped, but only if they realize they are a >Cheesedick, >> and want to change. >> >> Fortunately, counseling is available. And its free. You get it right here. >> Now, these guys here, who invented DIR and take time out of their lives to >> help all of us Cheesedicks learn to DIR, have another word for this >> phenomenon; "Stroke". Its their word, I try not to use it. I believe its >the >> same phenomenon, however labeled. >> >> Now, go look in the mirror, and give yourself an honest evaluation. Do you >> burden yourself unnecessarily with excessive gear, to do simple dives? Do >> you burden your self and your body with 02 deco profiles, when you could >do >> them within minutes of the same time with a safer (50%) gas or back gas? >Do >> you get offended when people try to point out the errors of your ways? >> Do you dive a double bladder 100# bondage wing? If you answer yes to any >of >> these questions, you are a Cheesedick. >> >> The only question left to ask is simple; Do you want to change? If the >> answer to that question is yes, then all you have to do is ask questions, >be >> tough enough to listen and (here's the hard part) *think* about the >answers >> you will be given. >> >> I am a Cheesedick in recovery myself. I have a 2 PADI C cards, and two >IANTD >> shingles, and ZERO logs of my dives. >> I plan dives on my computer, and infrequently dive by tables, but, mostly, >I >> dive with my experience, my wrist mounted computer, and my SPG to guide >me. >> No stages, no He02. Nitrox if I can get it, air if I cant. I know what I >can >> do, but, more importantly, I know what I *cant* do. >> >> Scott >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: Michael J. Black <mjblackmd@ya*.co*> >> To: Aquanaut Mail <techdiver@aquanaut.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2000 7:41 AM >> Subject: Re: on DIR divers >> >> >> > "Scott" <scottk@hc*.co*> wrote: >> > > She went diving with an FNG who had all the right gear, but was a >total >> > > cheesedick. >> > >> > Regarding Claudia's question about experiences with DIR divers, one >would >> > almost get the impression from Scott that they are arrogant and >insulting, >> > not exactly the way you'd want others to regard you, especially if you >> > have a useful system for other divers to learn from. MJB >> >> >> -- >> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >> Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. > >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. > -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]