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Back in the early nineties I contacted Billy Deans in Key West about
technical training. I had been diving 1972 and became an OW instructor in
1983. After that Nitrox and double tank dives.
I stumbled across an Aquacorp magazine and saw immediately that there
were others doing technical dives in an organized fashion. I wanted more
training. However while Billy was nice and informative he told me to become
cave trained and then come back to see him. I almost resented that advice but
after cool reflection I did take his advice and became cave certified.
It was incredible! I felt I was back in diving 101 as a novice. We perfected
buoyancy, air management, light and hand signals, reel work, equipment
manipulation, emergency procedures (up is not an option), etc.
Point is ....if every new diver was exposed to this type training he would be
so much more proficient and safe from day one. When I was trained there were
no standards on equipment configuration. We learned from each other. Not the
best way.
Enter Bill Main and WKPP.... They begin to standardize the
configuration. Enter George and JJ.... who refine it further. This was a
needed accomplishment.
Enter GUE....JJ takes cave training and is trying to take it mainstream.
DIR is an exellent system based on traditional cave techniques with a new
standard equipment configuration and safety rules.
DIR is not a radical new approach to diving. It roots date back to the first
cave divers in the late 50's and 60's. We all have learned from the pioneers.
If we did not we would be condemned to repeat their mistakes. DIR is a more
organized approach to technical diving by bringing cave diving principles
into the light of day.
I must admit that when I first switched to long hose etc. I felt a little
awkward, but you soon get in the groove. I must also admit though I am not as
anal about every little detail as some. My letters on my deco bottle are 4
inches not 3. I use bigger clips. God forbid I have D ring on my right hip
behind my light. So what?
Overall the diving community will benefit from exposing divers to the cave
techniques. The more training the better the diver. I know many "other"
agency instructors who have adopted these cave principles in their training.
This is a good thing.
JJ and George deserve credit for being the first to adopt and promote better
training. That does not mean that GUE is the only provider of technical
training base on cave, but it is the first. I will bet that all other
agencies will soon follow suit, NAUI already has with NAUI Tech.
Off the soap box,
Bill Von Hoene
--
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