Hi all

BDH · November 25th, 2005, 04:08 PM

Hi there

I suppose i'll start by telling you all a bit about myself, my names Barry I'm nearly 33 and have been diving since Feb this year and boy am i hooked, I am PADI AOW at the moment but joining my local BSAC next year to gain more skills and expierance before going for the DIR-F which i'd like to do late next year. I have been slowly building up my equipment, at present i dive with a DIR ZONE single cylinder wing with S/S backplate and one piece harness with 5' long hose and all the other hoses at the correct length, there is still a fare bit of kit i need to complete my setup but that will come when funds are more available.

I have had some exchanges of e-mails with a few DIR divers and all the info and help has been great cheers Dave Willo ( you know me as Tartan Diver)
I've got loads of questions to ask you all so expect some daft ones and some i understand but need a bit of clarifing.

Well i think that should be enough for now hope to converse more soon

Regards BDH

*JohnKendall* · November 25th, 2005, 04:11 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by BDH)

Hi there

I suppose i'll start by telling you all a bit about myself, my names Barry I'm nearly 33 and have been diving since Feb this year and boy am i hooked, I am PADI AOW at the moment but joining my local BSAC next year to gain more skills and expierance before going for the DIR-F which i'd like to do late next year. I have been slowly building up my equipment, at present i dive with a DIR ZONE single cylinder wing with S/S backplate and one piece harness with 5' long hose and all the other hoses at the correct length, there is still a fare bit of kit i need to complete my setup but that will come when funds are more available.

I have had some exchanges of e-mails with a few DIR divers and all the info and help has been great cheers Dave Willo ( you know me as Tartan Diver)
I've got loads of questions to ask you all so expect some daft ones and some i understand but need a bit of clarifing.

Well i think that should be enough for now hope to converse more soon

Regards BDH

Hi Barry,

My advice to you would be to get on a DIR-F course earlier rather than later. You can pick up a lot of bad habbits in a year when you have just started, and these will take a lot of work to break. (Believe me on this, I had to break 10 years of bad habbits when I did DIR-F and before I did it, I thought I was fairly close to DIR)

Other than that, enjoy and ask questions.

J

BDH · November 25th, 2005, 04:26 PM

Cheers John thats a good bit of advise, one of my main Q's was going to be about training, is there a group or agency i can join that will give me some training and advise that would prepare me more for the DIR-f course as my bouyancy and skills need a bit more development aswell as confidence. Which was my reasoning to join BSAC to gain rescue and cpr etc.

*JohnKendall* · November 25th, 2005, 04:37 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by BDH)

Cheers John thats a good bit of advise, one of my main Q's was going to be about training, is there a group or agency i can join that will give me some training and advise that would prepare me more for the DIR-f course as my bouyancy and skills need a bit more development aswell as confidence. Which was my reasoning to join BSAC to gain rescue and cpr etc.

There is a course for that kind of thing, it's called DIR-F. Seriously. You will get a whole load of good from taking the course as early as possible.

I hear a lot of people wanting to train to do DIR-F, but my question is train/practice what? Go on the course. Get the education. Get shown the correct way to do the drills. Then go practice. Let us know where you are in the country. Come along on any dives we plan (particularly inland days) You will get the confidence as your skills improve.

Rescue and CPR are both very good things to have, and I won't try and put you off joining a BSAC branch (as that would be hypocritical, especially since I'm DO of my BSAC branch) However I really cannot emphasise how much easier you will find it all if you do Fundies earlier.

HTH
John

Divingniknaks · November 25th, 2005, 04:42 PM

Welcome Barry, hope the Cub is behaving itself

You'll find two schools of thought on prepping for DIR-F, some say do, some say don't.

I did a few dives with Davey Willo and Jen Cowling more as an asessment thing to be honest, thats when I found out how bad I was

There's loads of people on here who would be glad to do the same for you I'm sure. The "Southern" bunch are diving instead of on here today, but I'm sure they'll be in da house later

As John said, get on Fundies sooner not later, voice of experience here as well. It's a fairly long road you are embarking on and the sooner you start the better IMHO. The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step.

Cheers

BDH · November 25th, 2005, 04:51 PM

Ok I'm convinced (does'nt take much with me) ha ha, I'm based in London my location is on that worldmap it seems there a few near me and it would be good to dive with and learn from others rather than just talk about it.

Cheers chaps

Hey Phil oh yes the cubs a beautie i love it! see you after xmas for a salvo, my credit card company love me at the moment.

B

**neilh** · November 25th, 2005, 05:30 PM

There's some good advice there mate - get on a DIR-F course sooner rather than later. You'll learn a lot and get an idea of what you need to practice.

November 25th, 2005, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
BDH(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Putney, London Posts: 64	Hi all Hi there I suppose i'll start by telling you all a bit about myself, my names Barry I'm nearly 33 and have been diving since Feb this year and boy am i hooked, I am PADI AOW at the moment but joining my local BSAC next year to gain more skills and expierance before going for the DIR-F which i'd like to do late next year. I have been slowly building up my equipment, at present i dive with a DIR ZONE single cylinder wing with S/S backplate and one piece harness with 5' long hose and all the other hoses at the correct length, there is still a fare bit of kit i need to complete my setup but that will come when funds are more available. I have had some exchanges of e-mails with a few DIR divers and all the info and help has been great cheers Dave Willo ( you know me as Tartan Diver) I've got loads of questions to ask you all so expect some daft ones and some i understand but need a bit of clarifing. Well i think that should be enough for now hope to converse more soon Regards BDH

November 25th, 2005, 04:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
BDH(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Putney, London Posts: 64	training Cheers John thats a good bit of advise, one of my main Q's was going to be about training, is there a group or agency i can join that will give me some training and advise that would prepare me more for the DIR-f course as my bouyancy and skills need a bit more development aswell as confidence. Which was my reasoning to join BSAC to gain rescue and cpr etc.

November 25th, 2005, 04:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Welcome Barry, hope the Cub is behaving itself You'll find two schools of thought on prepping for DIR-F, some say do, some say don't. I did a few dives with Davey Willo and Jen Cowling more as an asessment thing to be honest, thats when I found out how bad I was There's loads of people on here who would be glad to do the same for you I'm sure. The "Southern" bunch are diving instead of on here today, but I'm sure they'll be in da house later As John said, get on Fundies sooner not later, voice of experience here as well. It's a fairly long road you are embarking on and the sooner you start the better IMHO. The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step. Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

November 25th, 2005, 04:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,102	Quote: (Originally Posted by BDH) Hi there I suppose i'll start by telling you all a bit about myself, my names Barry I'm nearly 33 and have been diving since Feb this year and boy am i hooked, I am PADI AOW at the moment but joining my local BSAC next year to gain more skills and expierance before going for the DIR-F which i'd like to do late next year. I have been slowly building up my equipment, at present i dive with a DIR ZONE single cylinder wing with S/S backplate and one piece harness with 5' long hose and all the other hoses at the correct length, there is still a fare bit of kit i need to complete my setup but that will come when funds are more available. I have had some exchanges of e-mails with a few DIR divers and all the info and help has been great cheers Dave Willo ( you know me as Tartan Diver) I've got loads of questions to ask you all so expect some daft ones and some i understand but need a bit of clarifing. Well i think that should be enough for now hope to converse more soon Regards BDH Hi Barry, My advice to you would be to get on a DIR-F course earlier rather than later. You can pick up a lot of bad habbits in a year when you have just started, and these will take a lot of work to break. (Believe me on this, I had to break 10 years of bad habbits when I did DIR-F and before I did it, I thought I was fairly close to DIR) Other than that, enjoy and ask questions. J

November 25th, 2005, 04:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,102	Quote: (Originally Posted by BDH) Cheers John thats a good bit of advise, one of my main Q's was going to be about training, is there a group or agency i can join that will give me some training and advise that would prepare me more for the DIR-f course as my bouyancy and skills need a bit more development aswell as confidence. Which was my reasoning to join BSAC to gain rescue and cpr etc. There is a course for that kind of thing, it's called DIR-F. Seriously. You will get a whole load of good from taking the course as early as possible. I hear a lot of people wanting to train to do DIR-F, but my question is train/practice what? Go on the course. Get the education. Get shown the correct way to do the drills. Then go practice. Let us know where you are in the country. Come along on any dives we plan (particularly inland days) You will get the confidence as your skills improve. Rescue and CPR are both very good things to have, and I won't try and put you off joining a BSAC branch (as that would be hypocritical, especially since I'm DO of my BSAC branch) However I really cannot emphasise how much easier you will find it all if you do Fundies earlier. HTH John

November 25th, 2005, 04:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
BDH(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Putney, London Posts: 64	Ok I'm convinced (does'nt take much with me) ha ha, I'm based in London my location is on that worldmap it seems there a few near me and it would be good to dive with and learn from others rather than just talk about it. Cheers chaps Hey Phil oh yes the cubs a beautie i love it! see you after xmas for a salvo, my credit card company love me at the moment. B

November 25th, 2005, 05:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
neilh (Online) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	There's some good advice there mate - get on a DIR-F course sooner rather than later. You'll learn a lot and get an idea of what you need to practice.