Confessions Of A DIR Virgin

**Howard Payne** · December 3rd, 2005, 04:16 PM

Was due to do the Kyarra with Clare (Gledders) and a bunch of the fundies guys on Weds but as you may have read elsewhere - we got weathered off at the last minute. I'm starting to wonder if that wreck is a figment of my imagination judging by the number of times I've had dives cancelled on it this past season.

I persuaded Clare to come down to the NDAC at Chepstow instead and give myself and Arne my regular dive buddy a taster of what DIR is all about.

We've both been diving about a year and we're currently doing a PADI Divemaster course together. I want to continue on from that with technical diving for the more challenging stuff like deep wrecks coz I'm a complete rust bunny.

Having done my homework on the internet and various other places - I feel that DIR is the way forward but with several reservations:

-It gets a lot of flack from the diving community in general - particularly tech divers - bordering on animosity and hatred in some cases.

-From the "outside in" its seems a bit anal and pedantic and like no-ones having any fun!

-It seems to be something of a dark art shrouded in mystery with impenetrably high standards.

Well we had a great time diving with Clare on Weds and being the little chocolate powered force of nature that she is - a lot of those preconceptions have been changed. I thought it might be helpful for other DIR wannabees like myself to get some feedback on what a DIR Try Dive is like, these are my observations:

- Assuming Clare is indicative of DIR standards in general (and as Tech 1 - I'm sure she is) - these guys are phenomenally good in the water. The trim, buoyancy, finning techniques and the subtle, effortless interaction with the equipment is deeply impressive. Recreational and even many tech divers just do not look like this in the water. When you see it - you will want that level of skill for yourself.

-DIR is extremely team orientated. You get some idea of this, but only when talking to Clare about it did I realise just how inter dependent DIR divers are on each other. Most recreational divers think that a buddy is that person floating around over there somewhere who might just get you out of the sh*t if it all goes wrong and most tech divers are solo or in loose groups. DIR is all about shared task loading and team problem solving at its heart, which I love, but if you're a bit of a "lone wolf" - you may not.

-The DIR bar is set very high - if you've passed - you've really earnt it! Or perhaps more correctly - everyone else's is set too low (I have no direct experience of BSAC - I'm sure they're a bit better than PADI but probably not a lot) I've been marching through PADI courses like they're going out of fashion this year, trying to find a challenge, which with the exception of the DM course - they haven't been. You pay up, turn up, put up and if you don't completely cock up - you walk away with a card feeling like a hero. Armed with said card and in the certain knowledge that you're now the b£stard love child of Sheck Exley & Billy Deans, you then throw yourself into dives that you're really not up to and if you're lucky enough to survive them, the experience teaches you more than the course ever did. It's an education I suppose - but its far from ideal and it's killing a lot of divers.

- The follow on from this is that although you may feel you're not worthy - my conclusion is that you're much better starting "Doing It Right" early on before the bad habits have set in and the rule of Primacy has etched them into you subconscious. The trouble with this is finding DIR trained guys to take you under their wing and "coach" you for fundies. I know that Clare has been doing a lot of this and her "wings" (Evolve wings - cow) are pretty full right now. Maybe the time has come for a few others to follow her lead and take on some "paduans" and mentor them through to fundies and beyond. I think this would remove a lot of the "dark art shrouded in mystery with impenetrably high standards" issue that I mentioned earlier. DIR-F is not impossible from a standing start from what Clare was saying - but I reckon this works better and makes it more accessible to people.

- The kit is expensive - but when you see the quality of it - how well thought out it is and how beautifully it works as a whole - it starts to look like value. Like many divers I already have the "cupboard of shame" full of all sorts of expensive snake oil nonsense that will never be used again. In one year alone I've been through more fins than a Helsinki brothel. Just do exactly what the GUE website equipment guidelines say, buy it once only and watch it last. Clearly as your reach extends - you buy new equipment, but you don't keep replacing the basics coz they don't do the job

- DIR as a concept now makes sense to me. Before it was - of course you want to "do it right" - who wants to "do it wrong". As a result of Weds - I've come to understand that what it really means is unless you accept every aspect of the system and its disciplines as whole - there's no point in diving DIR because you're only as strong as the weakest link you've omitted or overlooked. Sods law says that the one small detail is what fails and causes you problems. It holds a different light on the apparently anal attention to detail - there really is a good reason for doing everything in such a specific way

We stopped off for coffee with Clare on the way home and from the conversation we had about diving in general and specifically with her team (Alastair & Fraser) it became obvious that whilst they take their DIR diving very seriously indeed, contrary to popular belief: they don't take themselves too seriously at all. So to end my ramblings - I guess what I'm saying is if like me you're interested - just hook up with one of the guys on the board and go for a dive. I can't imagine that anyone, whatever their skill level or experience, wouldn't come away having learnt something and I'm sure, like us, you'll have a load of fun.

Mal Bridgeman in another thread discussed the idea that "You don't know what you don't know" and its very true. Looking back over some slightly brown adrenaline moments in my first years diving - I think its perhaps more appropriate to say "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then". I hope that 2006 and fundies will lead to a few less of those moments! :D

wilbo · December 3rd, 2005, 04:46 PM

howard,

I was one of the four other there: Neil, Rob and Gareth being the other three.

I agree with most of what you have said here.

I too feel that as a new diver to this whole system, it does come across as a dark art and somewhat shrouded in mystery.. I also can see why the system and its divers are sometimes attacked on the other forums - I think this is partly because its new and unknown, plus some of its divers dont do themselves any favours. Then again, I suppose you can say that for any section of the sport.

I totally agree with the appeal to existing DIR divers to act more as 'mentors' to people wishing to get into this style. Those people can then in their 'pre-assimilated' state help to convey the word and increase interest. For the DIR style of diving to increase I think this will need to happen to some extent anyway..

Hey - isn't that what this site is starting to do anyway..

?

**Howard Payne** · December 3rd, 2005, 04:49 PM

Were you the guy with the force fins! lol

wilbo · December 3rd, 2005, 04:57 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Howard Payne)

Were you the guy with the force fins! lol

how VERY dare you..

er. no. I was once of the othree brothers.. in the white van.. as per my profile pic..

Divingniknaks · December 3rd, 2005, 05:18 PM

Howard,

That is without a doubt one of the top ten posts I've ever seen as to why DIR makes sense.

Glad you enjoyed the day out, and a big up for Clare yet again giving up time to help people along.

There are others out there who will do the same stuff, in fact there's quite a few. I wouldn't have got here with Davey Willo for one and Jen Cowling for another.

It's people like them and a lot of others on here who make the UK DIR world what it is, a great bunch of people who will selflessly give of their time and knowledge to help nurture others along.

Cheers

GLOC · December 3rd, 2005, 05:22 PM

I was the one with the Force Fins much to Clares disgust! Although I am trying to source a pair of Jetfins from work via some dodgy black outfitted people I know

Well done Howard, you summed my thoughts very well and have some silver for it.

aki · December 3rd, 2005, 05:31 PM

Excellent post. I'm also doing a DM course and looking to take Fundies as soon as I can find a place and instructor. I've dived with hogarthian kit for a bit less than year now and like it a lot.

--
Aki

Little Pete · December 3rd, 2005, 06:09 PM

Great post Howard!

I'm always happy to dive with people wanting something DIR. I'm at university in Norwich but live near Plymouth in holiday times so happy to get together with people either here or there.

One point I would make is that I haven't got the same level of ability and such as Clare, Al, Frase, Bob Cooper etc etc etc. I think it can be an advantage for people to be shown things by someone more advanced in training and experience though you can pick up a lot from most DIR folks. Having said that, I've got the back kick properly sussed now so with any joy I can teach that :p

Rob Dobson · December 3rd, 2005, 07:07 PM

Great post Howard. You've summed my own experiences up very nicely, from the cupboard full of purchasing mistakes, through the PADI turn up and pass routine to actually seeing a Tech 1 diver in the water.

The DIR/GUE approach makes a lot of sense to me and I wish I'd started down this road earlier (less bad habits to unlearn and less wasted kit money). It's not going to be to everyone's taste but I don't see the problem in that.

Gledders has done a lot to break many of the misconceptions surrounding DIR by making it more accessible and by generally acting as an ambassador for the cause.

ellisn · December 3rd, 2005, 07:35 PM

Great post Howard and it was good to meet you for a little chat at the coffee bar. I think you have echoed the thoughts of many.

I know exactly what you mean about the 'old' DIR image. I adopted hogarthian rig a few years ago and used to get mistaken for a DIR diver (until they saw me flapping about in the water) which I used to be quick to deny, it was actualy this that stopped me getting jet fins a couple of years ago even though I wanted them. But I think things are changing and there is less embarissment attached... And I now have jet fins

No other training will force you to really exam your trim, bouyancy, team work and rig set up like DIR training which can only be a good thing. I think most people who have the luck to dive with a good DIR diver will realise there is a lot of work they could do in these areas.

Well done Clare for spreading the word, but don't be fooled she only does it for choc donations.

Neil

December 3rd, 2005, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Howard Payne(Offline) Never Knowingly Underfabu Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,198	Confessions Of A DIR Virgin Was due to do the Kyarra with Clare (Gledders) and a bunch of the fundies guys on Weds but as you may have read elsewhere - we got weathered off at the last minute. I'm starting to wonder if that wreck is a figment of my imagination judging by the number of times I've had dives cancelled on it this past season. I persuaded Clare to come down to the NDAC at Chepstow instead and give myself and Arne my regular dive buddy a taster of what DIR is all about. We've both been diving about a year and we're currently doing a PADI Divemaster course together. I want to continue on from that with technical diving for the more challenging stuff like deep wrecks coz I'm a complete rust bunny. Having done my homework on the internet and various other places - I feel that DIR is the way forward but with several reservations: -It gets a lot of flack from the diving community in general - particularly tech divers - bordering on animosity and hatred in some cases. -From the "outside in" its seems a bit anal and pedantic and like no-ones having any fun! -It seems to be something of a dark art shrouded in mystery with impenetrably high standards. Well we had a great time diving with Clare on Weds and being the little chocolate powered force of nature that she is - a lot of those preconceptions have been changed. I thought it might be helpful for other DIR wannabees like myself to get some feedback on what a DIR Try Dive is like, these are my observations: - Assuming Clare is indicative of DIR standards in general (and as Tech 1 - I'm sure she is) - these guys are phenomenally good in the water. The trim, buoyancy, finning techniques and the subtle, effortless interaction with the equipment is deeply impressive. Recreational and even many tech divers just do not look like this in the water. When you see it - you will want that level of skill for yourself. -DIR is extremely team orientated. You get some idea of this, but only when talking to Clare about it did I realise just how inter dependent DIR divers are on each other. Most recreational divers think that a buddy is that person floating around over there somewhere who might just get you out of the sht if it all goes wrong and most tech divers are solo or in loose groups. DIR is all about shared task loading and team problem solving at its heart, which I love, but if you're a bit of a "lone wolf" - you may not. -The DIR bar is set very high - if you've passed - you've really earnt it! Or perhaps more correctly - everyone else's is set too low (I have no direct experience of BSAC - I'm sure they're a bit better than PADI but probably not a lot) I've been marching through PADI courses like they're going out of fashion this year, trying to find a challenge, which with the exception of the DM course - they haven't been. You pay up, turn up, put up and if you don't completely cock up - you walk away with a card feeling like a hero. Armed with said card and in the certain knowledge that you're now the b£stard love child of Sheck Exley & Billy Deans, you then throw yourself into dives that you're really not up to and if you're lucky enough to survive them, the experience teaches you more than the course ever did. It's an education I suppose - but its far from ideal and it's killing a lot of divers. - The follow on from this is that although you may feel you're not worthy - my conclusion is that you're much better starting "Doing It Right" early on before the bad habits have set in and the rule of Primacy has etched them into you subconscious. The trouble with this is finding DIR trained guys to take you under their wing and "coach" you for fundies. I know that Clare has been doing a lot of this and her "wings" (Evolve wings - cow) are pretty full right now. Maybe the time has come for a few others to follow her lead and take on some "paduans" and mentor them through to fundies and beyond. I think this would remove a lot of the "dark art shrouded in mystery with impenetrably high standards" issue that I mentioned earlier. DIR-F is not impossible from a standing start from what Clare was saying - but I reckon this works better and makes it more accessible to people. - The kit is expensive - but when you see the quality of it - how well thought out it is and how beautifully it works as a whole - it starts to look like value. Like many divers I already have the "cupboard of shame" full of all sorts of expensive snake oil nonsense that will never be used again. In one year alone I've been through more fins than a Helsinki brothel. Just do exactly what the GUE website equipment guidelines say, buy it once only and watch it last. Clearly as your reach extends - you buy new equipment, but you don't keep replacing the basics coz they don't do the job - DIR as a concept now makes sense to me. Before it was - of course you want to "do it right" - who wants to "do it wrong". As a result of Weds - I've come to understand that what it really means is unless you accept every aspect of the system and its disciplines as whole - there's no point in diving DIR because you're only as strong as the weakest link you've omitted or overlooked. Sods law says that the one small detail is what fails and causes you problems. It holds a different light on the apparently anal attention to detail - there really is a good reason for doing everything in such a specific way We stopped off for coffee with Clare on the way home and from the conversation we had about diving in general and specifically with her team (Alastair & Fraser) it became obvious that whilst they take their DIR diving very seriously indeed, contrary to popular belief: they don't take themselves too seriously at all. So to end my ramblings - I guess what I'm saying is if like me you're interested - just hook up with one of the guys on the board and go for a dive. I can't imagine that anyone, whatever their skill level or experience, wouldn't come away having learnt something and I'm sure, like us, you'll have a load of fun. Mal Bridgeman in another thread discussed the idea that "You don't know what you don't know" and its very true. Looking back over some slightly brown adrenaline moments in my first years diving - I think its perhaps more appropriate to say "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then". I hope that 2006 and fundies will lead to a few less of those moments! :D Last edited by Howard Payne; December 3rd, 2005 at 04:46 PM.*

December 3rd, 2005, 04:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 872	howard, I was one of the four other there: Neil, Rob and Gareth being the other three. I agree with most of what you have said here. I too feel that as a new diver to this whole system, it does come across as a dark art and somewhat shrouded in mystery.. I also can see why the system and its divers are sometimes attacked on the other forums - I think this is partly because its new and unknown, plus some of its divers dont do themselves any favours. Then again, I suppose you can say that for any section of the sport. I totally agree with the appeal to existing DIR divers to act more as 'mentors' to people wishing to get into this style. Those people can then in their 'pre-assimilated' state help to convey the word and increase interest. For the DIR style of diving to increase I think this will need to happen to some extent anyway.. Hey - isn't that what this site is starting to do anyway.. ? __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

December 3rd, 2005, 04:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 872	Quote: (Originally Posted by Howard Payne) Were you the guy with the force fins! lol how VERY dare you.. er. no. I was once of the othree brothers.. in the white van.. as per my profile pic.. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

December 3rd, 2005, 05:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Howard, That is without a doubt one of the top ten posts I've ever seen as to why DIR makes sense. Glad you enjoyed the day out, and a big up for Clare yet again giving up time to help people along. There are others out there who will do the same stuff, in fact there's quite a few. I wouldn't have got here with Davey Willo for one and Jen Cowling for another. It's people like them and a lot of others on here who make the UK DIR world what it is, a great bunch of people who will selflessly give of their time and knowledge to help nurture others along. Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

December 3rd, 2005, 04:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Howard Payne(Offline) Never Knowingly Underfabu Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,198	Were you the guy with the force fins! lol

December 3rd, 2005, 05:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,950	I was the one with the Force Fins much to Clares disgust! Although I am trying to source a pair of Jetfins from work via some dodgy black outfitted people I know Well done Howard, you summed my thoughts very well and have some silver for it.

December 3rd, 2005, 05:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
aki(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 63	Excellent post. I'm also doing a DM course and looking to take Fundies as soon as I can find a place and instructor. I've dived with hogarthian kit for a bit less than year now and like it a lot. -- Aki

December 3rd, 2005, 06:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Little Pete(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 509	Great post Howard! I'm always happy to dive with people wanting something DIR. I'm at university in Norwich but live near Plymouth in holiday times so happy to get together with people either here or there. One point I would make is that I haven't got the same level of ability and such as Clare, Al, Frase, Bob Cooper etc etc etc. I think it can be an advantage for people to be shown things by someone more advanced in training and experience though you can pick up a lot from most DIR folks. Having said that, I've got the back kick properly sussed now so with any joy I can teach that :p

December 3rd, 2005, 07:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 534	Great post Howard. You've summed my own experiences up very nicely, from the cupboard full of purchasing mistakes, through the PADI turn up and pass routine to actually seeing a Tech 1 diver in the water. The DIR/GUE approach makes a lot of sense to me and I wish I'd started down this road earlier (less bad habits to unlearn and less wasted kit money). It's not going to be to everyone's taste but I don't see the problem in that. Gledders has done a lot to break many of the misconceptions surrounding DIR by making it more accessible and by generally acting as an ambassador for the cause.

December 3rd, 2005, 07:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
ellisn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon Posts: 89	Great post Howard and it was good to meet you for a little chat at the coffee bar. I think you have echoed the thoughts of many. I know exactly what you mean about the 'old' DIR image. I adopted hogarthian rig a few years ago and used to get mistaken for a DIR diver (until they saw me flapping about in the water) which I used to be quick to deny, it was actualy this that stopped me getting jet fins a couple of years ago even though I wanted them. But I think things are changing and there is less embarissment attached... And I now have jet fins No other training will force you to really exam your trim, bouyancy, team work and rig set up like DIR training which can only be a good thing. I think most people who have the luck to dive with a good DIR diver will realise there is a lot of work they could do in these areas. Well done Clare for spreading the word, but don't be fooled she only does it for choc donations. Neil