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From: "Ed Street" <blacknet@ph*.ne*>
To: <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Subject: DIR setup
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 01:09:20 -0400
Hello,

I've been looking at the DIR setup for awhile now and I have came to the
conclusion that it's not a good setup and to me it seems like a very
dangerous layout for several reasons.

a) it goes against the majority of diving standards known today.  Like how
many total training facilities in the U.S. (yea I'm in the u.s. and don't
give a flip about non-us stuff here) teaches this concept vs. the total
number of facilities that teaches other theories?

b) A lot of the 'experts' seems to rant and rave on those who doesn't follow
them for what seems, to me, like bad business practices.  It's like someone
who has a different idea or theory is instantly
hounded/harassed/insulted/belittled/etc.. for having their own thoughts or
ideas about things.  One way of looking at this is evolution didn't just
happen, it was a slow gradual step by step and update by update over a long
period of time.  What changes/update/revisions has the DIR system undergone?

c) Most dive outfits doesn't support the dir layout.  Why is this?  Is it
because that it's not that good?  Is it because that there's to many people
turns up DEAD?  Is it because of the above and below statements?  From
talking to many shops about it and a lot of divers about this subject I
gather that if your looking for machoism, egotistical and the like then DIR
is for you.  Scuba equipment is just that, equipment.  It's a tool someone
uses to achieve a desired means.  You don't use a screw driver to turn a
lug-nut.  So why should I use the DIR setup in all cases?  My theory is it's
just ONE of the many tools out there that can be used but isn't useful in
some cases.  If the non-DIR equipment is really that bad then why are they
still being produced?  Why are they no regulations to remove the bad crap
and put the good crap in place?  I seem to recall this being done with some
tanks recently.

D) Isn't one of the rules to not dive with non-DIR divers?  It's like if you
don't follow some rigid standards then your instantly a 'stroke'?  So what
about all these people who die while diving the DIR setup?  Does that mean
since they never surfaced they are a 'stroke'?  It's like the standards are
so high that it's very very difficult for anyone to maintain at all times
but yet expect everyone to maintain them at all times.  This makes no sense.
Human nature dictates that humans are not perfect and makes mistakes all the
time.  The higher the standards the more mistakes will be made.  Sadly when
these mistakes ARE made it cost the person their life.  Now in the
recreational community when these mistakes are made alot of the time the
person will survive (depending on a lot of things) This leads to another
thing.  If you can't dive w/ non-DIR divers and there few and far between in
some areas (like my area) then how the fuck are you expected to do the buddy
system? Or are you expected to do solo and turn your odds up even more of
not coming up alive?

E)  I've talked to some divers who felt that the DIR setup was just totally
wrong for them, their person and their lifestyles.  They felt that it was
out of place and very hard to adjust to it.  I thought diving was all about
the comfort layer that the individual person felt.  How is it that we can
dictate how others must dress and what equipment they must use when it's
what WE use that counts the most?  An example, if diver A feels that the
layout they are using is not right gets in the water then they are at a
higher risk of problems.  Not just equipment problems but physical and more
importantly psychological. So say everyone uses the dir setup and one person
in the group doesn't feel right with the layout but they are putting blind
faith in the layout (I see this a lot) and some problem arises, who do you
think you can least trust?  Say they kept their mouth shut and you don't
even know about their view on this, who then can you trust?  If you put your
trust in them they could end up killing you.  All because people are putting
peer pressure on non-dir divers to dive the DIR setup, which in my opinion
is totally WRONG.

F)  It would seem to me, from a business standpoint, that if you wanted an
idea to flourish then you would cut out all the negativity/hostility that is
generated towards the non-conforming divers and instead have compassion,
understanding and in a caring manner educate the public as to why it's a
'superior' method.  This machoism attitude is depermental to a divers
health.  There is *NOTHING* under that water that's worth your life and to
me it would seem that diving with any machoistic setup/equipment/person
would just endanger my life.  See where this is going?

g) I see a lot of needless deaths cause a lot of people try to imitate what
some groups are doing like the WKPP and enter areas, like caves, and later
the morgue is called.  The reason they die is the diver feels that they can
handle the task, they see the machoism from these groups and one of the
traditional machoistic viewpoints is "you don't ask for help cause you can
do it" so they do do it and they die because of it.  My input here is get
rid of the machoistic front and you'll get alot MORE divers doing your
style.

You can call me anything you like but that doesn't hide nor stop the fact
that I flat refuse to dive any form of DIY simply because my standards are
to high and this method, to me, is nothing but an accident waiting to happen
to good people.  It tends to lead people astray and promote a psychological
separation from one's well being and the image that one presents.

Oh and btw, no flames please.  These are my viewpoints and if you do feel
you need to flame me then that's your egotistical machoistic approach
feeling threatened.  Also flaming is a sign of non-stable and uncertainty on
the flamers part.

Ed

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