Is DIR right for me?

Diver · November 22nd, 2005, 03:45 PM

I am currently a PADI DM having been on the PADI band wagon non stop.

The trouble is since my Rescue course I do not really think my skills have improved much and I want to improve myself not learn how to teach people.

I have heard a lot about DIR and seen some DIR divers who I was very impressed with. Bouyancy control and team work seems to be the DIR forte.

In the future I want to start doing some deeper wrecks and am not sure how to go about it - would DIR work for me? Is it a better approach than TDI training?

Tony

Jonathan · November 22nd, 2005, 04:48 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Diver)

The trouble is since my Rescue course I do not really think my skills have improved much and I want to improve myself not learn how to teach people.Tony

Hi Tony,

this is exactly the reason I went down the GUE route (I haven't got too far yet, granted

).

DIR-F is great for honing your open water skills. And you get to practice them in more realistic scenarios (ie not on the bottom). Do it!!!

Rob Dobson · November 23rd, 2005, 02:03 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Diver)

In the future I want to start doing some deeper wrecks and am not sure how to go about it - would DIR work for me? Is it a better approach than TDI training?

You sound like you're in the same place as me as far as reaching the limits of what a recreational diving outfit such as PADI can offer (after RD the focus seems to shift over to marketing and away from actual diving skills).

I can't think of a single reason *not* to go down the DIR route, it can only help to develop us as divers. My only regret is not doing this earlier - would have saved a lot of money on kit as well improving my diving.

DIR is not incompatible with other tech training in fact in a number of ways they complement each other nicely - especially if you can find a TDI or PSA instructor who can teach with a DIR slant.

I have been utterly blown away by the skills demonstrated by the DIR divers I have been fortunate enough to see in the water and if I can develop anything like that control I would have come a long way from where I am today.

Go for it...

ellisn · November 23rd, 2005, 10:58 AM

If nothing else the fundimentals is a course well worth taking. I did my TDI training with Rich Stevenson of Deep Blue Plymouth, he isn't DIR although uses many of their methods and gear set up but he said the one thing he really likes about the DIR system is the Fundimentals course, it lays a good foundation from which to progress your training. So even if you don't go GUE Tec I recon it is worth doing the DIR-F. My TDI training pushed self sufficiency in deeper stuff but after a certain incident which resulted in a helicopter ride to the chamber I am now a great believer in team work and I don't think any other agency teaches that better than DIR.

Neil

Rob Dobson · November 23rd, 2005, 01:21 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by ellisn)

I am now a great believer in team work and I don't think any other agency teaches that better than DIR.

I couldn't agree with this more. The teamwork element of DIR is what made my decison to embrace this route.

Little Pete · November 23rd, 2005, 02:34 PM

I have to say that my skills have come on leaps and bounds since I got in the situation of having to really work on what I can do for the Fundies course and such.

I think what really got me was that I woke up to the fact I had a number of basic skills that were not properly carried out (mainly due to not practising them). When it came time to practise for fundies I realised how much work I needed done and more importantly ended up going out and finding the people who could show me what were the flaws in my technique (cheers Clare :D )

Anyway fundies is usually touted as one of the best courses people have taken regardless of whether or not they continue with GUE.

Beth · November 23rd, 2005, 03:19 PM

Hi Tony.

Your situation is like mine. I belong to a PADI club so there is no 'technical' training and I have been looking around to find out how best I can proceed.

I read the book Fundamentals of Technical Diving which a friend lent me and it seems to make quite a lot of sense (although I still have a lot of questions). I suppose I've now find out where to ask them.

Beth

*Brian Allen* · November 23rd, 2005, 04:25 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Little Pete)

I have to say that my skills have come on leaps and bounds since I got in the situation of having to really work on what I can do for the Fundies course and such.

I have to agree with this whole heartedly, I thought i was pretty good as a diver. Then I did fundamentals, have never done a course which improved my trim, buoyancy and inwater skills so much.

Now moved to twin 12s and the basic ground work i learnt last year on GUE-F allowed to me to be comfortable in twins from the very first dive.

Tech 1 now coming up in June with Andy K

Brian

November 22nd, 2005, 03:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Diver(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 9	Is DIR right for me? I am currently a PADI DM having been on the PADI band wagon non stop. The trouble is since my Rescue course I do not really think my skills have improved much and I want to improve myself not learn how to teach people. I have heard a lot about DIR and seen some DIR divers who I was very impressed with. Bouyancy control and team work seems to be the DIR forte. In the future I want to start doing some deeper wrecks and am not sure how to go about it - would DIR work for me? Is it a better approach than TDI training? Tony

November 23rd, 2005, 03:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Beth(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 26	Hi Tony. Your situation is like mine. I belong to a PADI club so there is no 'technical' training and I have been looking around to find out how best I can proceed. I read the book Fundamentals of Technical Diving which a friend lent me and it seems to make quite a lot of sense (although I still have a lot of questions). I suppose I've now find out where to ask them. Beth __________________ Beth

November 22nd, 2005, 04:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jonathan(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 215	Quote: (Originally Posted by Diver) The trouble is since my Rescue course I do not really think my skills have improved much and I want to improve myself not learn how to teach people.Tony Hi Tony, this is exactly the reason I went down the GUE route (I haven't got too far yet, granted ). DIR-F is great for honing your open water skills. And you get to practice them in more realistic scenarios (ie not on the bottom). Do it!!!

November 23rd, 2005, 02:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Quote: (Originally Posted by Diver) In the future I want to start doing some deeper wrecks and am not sure how to go about it - would DIR work for me? Is it a better approach than TDI training? You sound like you're in the same place as me as far as reaching the limits of what a recreational diving outfit such as PADI can offer (after RD the focus seems to shift over to marketing and away from actual diving skills). I can't think of a single reason not to go down the DIR route, it can only help to develop us as divers. My only regret is not doing this earlier - would have saved a lot of money on kit as well improving my diving. DIR is not incompatible with other tech training in fact in a number of ways they complement each other nicely - especially if you can find a TDI or PSA instructor who can teach with a DIR slant. I have been utterly blown away by the skills demonstrated by the DIR divers I have been fortunate enough to see in the water and if I can develop anything like that control I would have come a long way from where I am today. Go for it...

November 23rd, 2005, 10:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
ellisn(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon Posts: 89	If nothing else the fundimentals is a course well worth taking. I did my TDI training with Rich Stevenson of Deep Blue Plymouth, he isn't DIR although uses many of their methods and gear set up but he said the one thing he really likes about the DIR system is the Fundimentals course, it lays a good foundation from which to progress your training. So even if you don't go GUE Tec I recon it is worth doing the DIR-F. My TDI training pushed self sufficiency in deeper stuff but after a certain incident which resulted in a helicopter ride to the chamber I am now a great believer in team work and I don't think any other agency teaches that better than DIR. Neil

November 23rd, 2005, 01:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Quote: (Originally Posted by ellisn) I am now a great believer in team work and I don't think any other agency teaches that better than DIR. I couldn't agree with this more. The teamwork element of DIR is what made my decison to embrace this route.

November 23rd, 2005, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
Little Pete(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 509	I have to say that my skills have come on leaps and bounds since I got in the situation of having to really work on what I can do for the Fundies course and such. I think what really got me was that I woke up to the fact I had a number of basic skills that were not properly carried out (mainly due to not practising them). When it came time to practise for fundies I realised how much work I needed done and more importantly ended up going out and finding the people who could show me what were the flaws in my technique (cheers Clare :D ) Anyway fundies is usually touted as one of the best courses people have taken regardless of whether or not they continue with GUE.

November 23rd, 2005, 04:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brian Allen(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London & Plymouth Posts: 594	Quote: (Originally Posted by Little Pete) I have to say that my skills have come on leaps and bounds since I got in the situation of having to really work on what I can do for the Fundies course and such. I have to agree with this whole heartedly, I thought i was pretty good as a diver. Then I did fundamentals, have never done a course which improved my trim, buoyancy and inwater skills so much. Now moved to twin 12s and the basic ground work i learnt last year on GUE-F allowed to me to be comfortable in twins from the very first dive. Tech 1 now coming up in June with Andy K Brian