kit

splodge · September 8th, 2006, 11:04 PM

hi all
looking to buy first set of dir kit,could you give me some idea on what are potentially the right sort of wings to go for as well as set up

cheers.

TobinGeorge · September 9th, 2006, 01:04 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge)

hi all
looking to buy first set of dir kit,could you give me some idea on what are potentially the right sort of wings to go for as well as set up

cheers.

There are currently a number of very good wings available.

Things to look for:

Appropriate lift for your application
Rugged construction
Appropriate lenght inflator hose
Single OPV, lower left, divers side of the wing.
Streamlined profile

Things to avoid:
Long inflator hose
Cable actuated "pull dumps" or "rapid exhaust"
More than one OPV
Drings on the wing
Bungees
Elastic panels

Other thoughts:

If you want to use without a "STA" make sure the wing and backplate are compatible.

Good luck,

Tobin

Rob Dobson · September 9th, 2006, 02:12 AM

Swing by Knackers yard (as you’re also in Birmingham) where you can look at several configs or meet up with a team and see what you like the look of. It's easy to get carried away and waste a ton of cash on stuff that's not quite right so try as much stuff out as possible before you commit to buying it.

Backplate: SS and of a weight that suits you - they are all much of a much ness. Probably end up buying on price.

Wing - twins: Personal choice but I like the Evolve 40lb (easy air migration to the kidney dump) and the DIRZone 20L (really hard wearing). If you're going to buy Faber’s I'd avoid the Evolve - but with ECS or Heiser's the Evolve seems to work really well.

I've owned and serviced 5 twinsets so far and decided that the best cylinders are Heiser 12's, the best bands IMHO are Agir and V4Tec the best manifolds (proper brass slugs with the V4Tec). I've never had that combination but maybe next time...

Wing - singles: Artic cub 15L is really nice, loads of people swear by the Halcyon and I've always liked the look of the Agir one. I have the Artic and love it but I've never heard a bad word said about any of them.

dSMBs: Halcyon make the best dSMBs IMO but the Agir spools rule - bigger holes that are off-set to make clipping off easier.

Spring straps - Agir or Halcyon - V4Tec if you don't do much line work otherwise bit of an entanglement hazard going on.

Regs: Apeks DS4's with Tx50's get my vote for BG and deco regs, but there are plenty of Scubapro fans around. Contents gauges don't vary much but the Uwatec are pretty hit and miss below 50 bar (Agir Brokk, DIRZone, Apeks etc are made at the same place AFAIK and more or less the same).

Lights: Salvo 21 9ah seems to be the current popular choice for a primary and either Hesser LED backups or Photon's with the new LED head when it becomes available. There really is very little between these two except the Photon's probably going to work out cheaper.

HTH

Jonathan · September 9th, 2006, 11:22 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge)

hi all
looking to buy first set of dir kit,could you give me some idea on what are potentially the right sort of wings to go for as well as set up

cheers.

Before you go buying any kit, why not get thee on a fundies course? There you'll learn the whereforsandwhatnots, afterall there's a lot more to those infamous three letters than an unbungied wing and a long hose. Surely it's a good idea to fully understand why we use the kit we do - that's what you'll learn on fundies.

If you speak to Rich Walker he'll be able to tell you what of your existing kit is suitable for fundies (unbelievably, I know, but you don't actually need a gavin, argon, stages, and a DUI drysuit

) and I'm sure you can try a wing and some new hoses (possibly with your existing regs) if you like he'll be only too happy to flog them to you!

Alternatively, if that money is really burning a hole in your pocket, come along to Stoney in Nov and they'll be plenty of people happy to let you have a go with their kit, so you can try before you buy and get a true idea of what's out there, and maybe Rich or Andy will run a taster-of-fundies type workshop.

Hope this helps

Jonathan

**Howard Payne** · September 9th, 2006, 02:24 PM

Have a chat with "Rich Walker" on this board - he's one of the two UK GUE Instructors - very nice easy going guy and he'll let you try stuff out (he's a Halcyon agent) and fit it to you properly which is half the battle. Doesn't say if you're going down the single or doubles route fella? Makes a big difference to the advice you'll be receiving

Mal Bridgeman · September 9th, 2006, 06:41 PM

Splodge

Do you want DIR kit or to dive DIR?

If you want DIR kit I woud recommend either look at loads of photos on 'tinterweb then go to DIRDirect.com or Mr Knackers and buy all the shiney stuff you want. Another good reference is The Fundamentals of Better Diving by Jarrod Jablonski which has a very good section on DIR kit.

If you want to dive DIR then the advice to contact a DIR/GUE instructor (Andy Kerslake and Rich Walker) and seek their guidance first about the kit and the appropriate training, is good.

HTH
Mal

splodge · September 9th, 2006, 06:53 PM

hi
thanks to u all for your advice.mal iam looking to train and dive the dir way as only looking in to it in a very small way at the moment shows a very focused path on training and skills and not on just turning up and gaining a cert.the shiney kit thing has no apeal to me just safe kit that is designed to do the job in hand.at present iam diving on a single tank but have done a try dive with doubles at deepblue diving in plymouth,have also spoken to brian at aquanauts in plymouth who has pointed me in the direction of the fundies course with some good advice on training.i value all these replies and welcome as much fedback as i can get as this will help me in my training.thanks.

Divingniknaks · September 10th, 2006, 06:40 PM

Hi Nigel,

Resisted for so long but can't any more

We're not far off the Stoney Gig in Novemebr now, so one other option would be to get along to that. You will see just about all the combinations there I would have thought.

If you want to try some kit that weekend, you only have to ask. We'll be glad to supply you whatever you fancy a try on. As will Richie Walker I'm sure make the same offer for H kit.

Alternatively call in the shop again and lets have a chat ?

Hope to see you at Stoney if not before.

Cheers

September 9th, 2006, 01:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
TobinGeorge (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 687	Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge) hi all looking to buy first set of dir kit,could you give me some idea on what are potentially the right sort of wings to go for as well as set up cheers. There are currently a number of very good wings available. Things to look for: Appropriate lift for your application Rugged construction Appropriate lenght inflator hose Single OPV, lower left, divers side of the wing. Streamlined profile Things to avoid: Long inflator hose Cable actuated "pull dumps" or "rapid exhaust" More than one OPV Drings on the wing Bungees Elastic panels Other thoughts: If you want to use without a "STA" make sure the wing and backplate are compatible. Good luck, Tobin __________________ http://www.deepseasupply.com

September 9th, 2006, 02:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 687	Swing by Knackers yard (as you’re also in Birmingham) where you can look at several configs or meet up with a team and see what you like the look of. It's easy to get carried away and waste a ton of cash on stuff that's not quite right so try as much stuff out as possible before you commit to buying it. Backplate: SS and of a weight that suits you - they are all much of a much ness. Probably end up buying on price. Wing - twins: Personal choice but I like the Evolve 40lb (easy air migration to the kidney dump) and the DIRZone 20L (really hard wearing). If you're going to buy Faber’s I'd avoid the Evolve - but with ECS or Heiser's the Evolve seems to work really well. I've owned and serviced 5 twinsets so far and decided that the best cylinders are Heiser 12's, the best bands IMHO are Agir and V4Tec the best manifolds (proper brass slugs with the V4Tec). I've never had that combination but maybe next time... Wing - singles: Artic cub 15L is really nice, loads of people swear by the Halcyon and I've always liked the look of the Agir one. I have the Artic and love it but I've never heard a bad word said about any of them. dSMBs: Halcyon make the best dSMBs IMO but the Agir spools rule - bigger holes that are off-set to make clipping off easier. Spring straps - Agir or Halcyon - V4Tec if you don't do much line work otherwise bit of an entanglement hazard going on. Regs: Apeks DS4's with Tx50's get my vote for BG and deco regs, but there are plenty of Scubapro fans around. Contents gauges don't vary much but the Uwatec are pretty hit and miss below 50 bar (Agir Brokk, DIRZone, Apeks etc are made at the same place AFAIK and more or less the same). Lights: Salvo 21 9ah seems to be the current popular choice for a primary and either Hesser LED backups or Photon's with the new LED head when it becomes available. There really is very little between these two except the Photon's probably going to work out cheaper. HTH Last edited by Rob Dobson; September 9th, 2006 at 09:51 AM.. Reason: I was really drunk when I posted this....

September 9th, 2006, 02:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Howard Payne(Offline) The Voices And The Becks Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 1,900	Have a chat with "Rich Walker" on this board - he's one of the two UK GUE Instructors - very nice easy going guy and he'll let you try stuff out (he's a Halcyon agent) and fit it to you properly which is half the battle. Doesn't say if you're going down the single or doubles route fella? Makes a big difference to the advice you'll be receiving __________________ Eastbourne Sub-Aqua Club 0513 Nitrox & Trimix, Club Boat, Plenty of Good Value Diving, Regular Club Trips & Holidays, Rec & Tech Training, GUE / Hogarthian Friendly Come Try Us!

September 9th, 2006, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mal Bridgeman(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 703	Splodge Do you want DIR kit or to dive DIR? If you want DIR kit I woud recommend either look at loads of photos on 'tinterweb then go to DIRDirect.com or Mr Knackers and buy all the shiney stuff you want. Another good reference is The Fundamentals of Better Diving by Jarrod Jablonski which has a very good section on DIR kit. If you want to dive DIR then the advice to contact a DIR/GUE instructor (Andy Kerslake and Rich Walker) and seek their guidance first about the kit and the appropriate training, is good. HTH Mal __________________ Opinions and beliefs are correct at the time of posting but are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the author.

September 10th, 2006, 06:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,040	Hi Nigel, Resisted for so long but can't any more We're not far off the Stoney Gig in Novemebr now, so one other option would be to get along to that. You will see just about all the combinations there I would have thought. If you want to try some kit that weekend, you only have to ask. We'll be glad to supply you whatever you fancy a try on. As will Richie Walker I'm sure make the same offer for H kit. Alternatively call in the shop again and lets have a chat ? Hope to see you at Stoney if not before. Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

September 8th, 2006, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
splodge(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: birmingham uk Posts: 17	hi all looking to buy first set of dir kit,could you give me some idea on what are potentially the right sort of wings to go for as well as set up cheers.

September 9th, 2006, 11:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jonathan(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 215	Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge) hi all looking to buy first set of dir kit,could you give me some idea on what are potentially the right sort of wings to go for as well as set up cheers. Before you go buying any kit, why not get thee on a fundies course? There you'll learn the whereforsandwhatnots, afterall there's a lot more to those infamous three letters than an unbungied wing and a long hose. Surely it's a good idea to fully understand why we use the kit we do - that's what you'll learn on fundies. If you speak to Rich Walker he'll be able to tell you what of your existing kit is suitable for fundies (unbelievably, I know, but you don't actually need a gavin, argon, stages, and a DUI drysuit ) and I'm sure you can try a wing and some new hoses (possibly with your existing regs) if you like he'll be only too happy to flog them to you! Alternatively, if that money is really burning a hole in your pocket, come along to Stoney in Nov and they'll be plenty of people happy to let you have a go with their kit, so you can try before you buy and get a true idea of what's out there, and maybe Rich or Andy will run a taster-of-fundies type workshop. Hope this helps Jonathan

September 9th, 2006, 06:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
splodge(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: birmingham uk Posts: 17	hi thanks to u all for your advice.mal iam looking to train and dive the dir way as only looking in to it in a very small way at the moment shows a very focused path on training and skills and not on just turning up and gaining a cert.the shiney kit thing has no apeal to me just safe kit that is designed to do the job in hand.at present iam diving on a single tank but have done a try dive with doubles at deepblue diving in plymouth,have also spoken to brian at aquanauts in plymouth who has pointed me in the direction of the fundies course with some good advice on training.i value all these replies and welcome as much fedback as i can get as this will help me in my training.thanks.