Why DIR?
This isn?t going to be an overview of what DIR (Doing It Right) is. If you don?t know already, then go do some internet research and come back later. Rather, this is kind of an explanation of why I found it useful and why I try to adhere to its principles, gear configuration, and gear type.Cave diving has, on more than one occasion, been compared to space exploration. It was even said that cave diving may be even more dangerous. I can?t remember the reason behind the last comment. Could you imagine an astronaut DIMW or DIW because he/she feels a need to express his/her individuality? I could hear it now, ?No, I don?t think I want my air hose to come from this direction, I wanna try it this way.? NASA would tell them to take a hike. Or what about someone in the military deciding he didn?t like the M-16 and decided to use an AK-47 instead. Imagine the problems that would be encountered if one astronaut had to help the other or you had to use this soldier?s AK-47 and it jammed at night. Could you break the gun down and clean it? You wouldn?t instinctively (through repetitive practice) respond in a manner that would solve the problem.
One advantage of DIR is that all gear is of the same make, model, and configuration. So you get used to where everything is on you AND you know right where everything is on your buddy. No time wasted in an emergency. You don?t have to think about what rig you or your buddy is wearing. Your response is the same each and every time. So it becomes second nature/instinctive/automatic. But if your buddy chooses to run his inflator hose and drysuit inflator hose off the same post and has a post failure, then you aren?t going to realize that he now has no buoyancy control unless he does it manually. If it were set up DIR, this wouldn?t be a problem. I have even heard the story of this happening. The person had both on the left post and experienced a roll-off. Although for a brief moment and at the expense of the clay floor, he/she had no buoyancy control until he/she turned it back on. We could talk example after example, but same gear = same response, period.
Another advantage in using DIR gear is that everything works and fits together correctly. You don?t have any odd ball hose routings because a port isn?t available or have to cut up a drysuit hard boot because it doesn?t fit the fin. Yes, I heard of a guy who bought a new non-DIR drysuit and the hard-soled feet wouldn?t fit into his non-DIR fins. So instead of getting the right fins, he had the feet cut out and had soft-soled shoes installed instead. Also, if your buddy needs a spare part for a dive, then your spare part will fit his. No jury-rigging required. My buddy recently borrowed my stage bottle since it was easier for me to get fills than him. Since we were configured the same, we didn?t have to reconfigure the stage rigging or anything. I just gave him the bottle, and he dove it. Actually, there was some tweaking he did that I had to hound him about.
Another advantage is cost savings. Although the brands typically sought out in DIR are more pricy, in the long run it saves you money. How many times have you bought one thing only to outgrow its use and need something else (i.e. scooter, computer, tanks, BC, etc). I know I have made this mistake. But at least I?m learning now, and my wife thanks me for it. Another way it saves money is during repairs. It?s easier to get the parts if everyone uses the same thing or easier to find a service technician who can work on it. I know a guy who had to go to considerable expense to have a reg overhauled because it was an older model.
Yet another advantage is that your dive buddy options aren?t as restricted. Yes, it?s true. There are divers out there who will only dive with a buddy who shares the same philosophy and gear configuration. I know some of them. Some call it closed minded, others call it marching in step, etc. etc. I call it smart and safer. These guys have already ?been-there-done-that? and screwed it up. They know what works and what doesn?t. The best advice I can give is something I heard myself once. If you are just starting out in cave diving. There?s no way you know what does and doesn?t work. Adhere to DIR from the beginning. If you find something you want to change, then at least it?s a conscious choice YOU have to make. This is in direct contrast to having a set-up that isn?t optimal and it causes you problems ? not out of choice, but out of pure ignorance. In my opinion (and on this site, that?s all that matters), DIR is the way to go.