I've finally registered!

Spiros Siouris · June 1st, 2006, 03:22 PM

Hi all,
As few people here, I've been lurking in this forum for a few months now, and I thought why not register and start posting!

I started diving last summer with PADI in Greece and moved on to BSAC OD with the Sheffield uni sub aqua club (now I've got a few drills to do for the SD qualification). I've only done about 35 dives so far (plenty more to come in the next couple of months!) and my enthusiasm for diving only keeps increasing.

I am one of these people that spends lots of time deciding on a purchase, and at some point in my search I came across the acronym "DIR". Being an engineer, I have an inherent tendency to like things that are well thought of/explained, fail safe and efficient, and DIR seems to be focusing exactly in these areas. This got me reading about it more and more and as a result of that, I've made decisions for my diving and dive gear that I am very happy with - no need to sell anything to change to DIR.

Most times I think its a bit funny me being a 30-dive diver trying to be DIR, compared to people with lots of experience in diving, that have not got any problem not being DIR, or that changed to DIR after they've done a few hundred dives. Its probably going to be on my head until I develop good enough skills, but until then I'd still think of me as being a bit funny!
The only thing that's keeping me from doing the fundies is my confidence and level of skills underwater. I'd still like to do a few (tens) of dives, before I take the course, because I want to avoid a situation where I've spent a significant amount of money and didn't manage to take full advantage of it.

Anyway, that's my into. I'm glad to be a part of this community, and I hope I can contribute something here.

Spiros

marine521 · June 1st, 2006, 03:41 PM

Wow another Greek Guy in the Forum, Welcome!!!

Divingniknaks · June 1st, 2006, 10:36 PM

Hey Spiros welcome !

Nice to see you uncloaked yourself at last.

Enjoy yourself you'll have a blast.

Cheers

**neilh** · June 7th, 2006, 01:11 AM

Hey Spiros, welcome to the board! Enjoy!

Quote: (Originally Posted by Spiros Siouris)

The only thing that's keeping me from doing the fundies is my confidence and level of skills underwater. I'd still like to do a few (tens) of dives, before I take the course, because I want to avoid a situation where I've spent a significant amount of money and didn't manage to take full advantage of it.

That's my cue to trot out my usual "if you're thinking of doing it, just get it booked

"!! You'll learn a hell of a lot on the course and your skills will really get exercised. I'd thoroughly recommend just doing it and going into the course prepared to learn. If you do that it's a huge kick start to learning about DIR and whether you get value for money is simply down to what you decide to do after the course.

Course advert over, don't be afraid to ask questions on here or ask whether you can hook up with folk for a dive and a chat

**jb2cool** · June 7th, 2006, 09:24 AM

I did my fundies course a month ago and had 25 dives when i started that. By all means if you want to get more dives down first do so but you have to remember, more dives meand more bad habits and more you have to unlearn.

I'd jump on an do fundies sooner rather than later.

Spiros Siouris · June 7th, 2006, 03:23 PM

cheers guys,

These last few days I've been thinking seriously about fundies and I've changed my attitude from "aiming to pass" towards "aiming to learn", but I still need to sort out a few things before I do it. Watching the 5thD skills, I've changed to the frog kick (or "my version of the frog kick"!) about 10 dives ago, and its only now that I feel really confident with my boyancy and trim, but I haven't had much practice on other skills...

A month ago when I went to Capernwray to do BSAC SD drills, and on the mask removal skill, everything went wrong. I couldn't stop trying to breath through the nose so I had to block it with one hand, while loosing my boyancy and my mask in the meantime... It just went really bad, and after the dive I realised I hadn't practiced any skills since I did my PADI last summer.
When I went diving in Falmouth two weeks ago, I was concentrating/trying during the dives to breathe solely from my mouth, but I could feel my mask pulling in towards my face. This was happening most times unless I was very relaxed and breathing very slow. Any other situation and I could still feel my mask pulling in (ie trying to breath with my nose as well).

The other thing is getting used to my rig as I've only done about ten dives with it. Clipping and unclipping the SPG is getting better, but I'm still struggling. Same thing with the chest D-rings (my harness is adjusted properly, it's just me getting used to it)

I can sort these out on my own because its only practise that's required; I don't think that "learning" (eg fundies course) has a great deal to do with mask removal or clipping and unlipping bolt snaps, and this is what's keeping me from doing fundies right now (I've been shown the right way to clip/unclip the SPG, but it's just not working for me right now). This summer I'll do quite a few dives and hopefully I'll resolve these issues so I can be confident enough with basic skills for doing fundies. Can't wait!

June 1st, 2006, 03:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spiros Siouris(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 38	I've finally registered! Hi all, As few people here, I've been lurking in this forum for a few months now, and I thought why not register and start posting! I started diving last summer with PADI in Greece and moved on to BSAC OD with the Sheffield uni sub aqua club (now I've got a few drills to do for the SD qualification). I've only done about 35 dives so far (plenty more to come in the next couple of months!) and my enthusiasm for diving only keeps increasing. I am one of these people that spends lots of time deciding on a purchase, and at some point in my search I came across the acronym "DIR". Being an engineer, I have an inherent tendency to like things that are well thought of/explained, fail safe and efficient, and DIR seems to be focusing exactly in these areas. This got me reading about it more and more and as a result of that, I've made decisions for my diving and dive gear that I am very happy with - no need to sell anything to change to DIR. Most times I think its a bit funny me being a 30-dive diver trying to be DIR, compared to people with lots of experience in diving, that have not got any problem not being DIR, or that changed to DIR after they've done a few hundred dives. Its probably going to be on my head until I develop good enough skills, but until then I'd still think of me as being a bit funny! The only thing that's keeping me from doing the fundies is my confidence and level of skills underwater. I'd still like to do a few (tens) of dives, before I take the course, because I want to avoid a situation where I've spent a significant amount of money and didn't manage to take full advantage of it. Anyway, that's my into. I'm glad to be a part of this community, and I hope I can contribute something here. Spiros

June 1st, 2006, 03:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
marine521(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Athens Posts: 61	Wow another Greek Guy in the Forum, Welcome!!! __________________ Hellenic Underwater Times: Everything is Different Down Under

June 1st, 2006, 10:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Hey Spiros welcome ! Nice to see you uncloaked yourself at last. Enjoy yourself you'll have a blast. Cheers __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

June 7th, 2006, 09:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
jb2cool (Online) Padawan learner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Posts: 796	I did my fundies course a month ago and had 25 dives when i started that. By all means if you want to get more dives down first do so but you have to remember, more dives meand more bad habits and more you have to unlearn. I'd jump on an do fundies sooner rather than later. __________________ http://jb2cool.bulldoghome.com

June 7th, 2006, 01:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
neilh (Online) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Hey Spiros, welcome to the board! Enjoy! Quote: (Originally Posted by Spiros Siouris) The only thing that's keeping me from doing the fundies is my confidence and level of skills underwater. I'd still like to do a few (tens) of dives, before I take the course, because I want to avoid a situation where I've spent a significant amount of money and didn't manage to take full advantage of it. That's my cue to trot out my usual "if you're thinking of doing it, just get it booked "!! You'll learn a hell of a lot on the course and your skills will really get exercised. I'd thoroughly recommend just doing it and going into the course prepared to learn. If you do that it's a huge kick start to learning about DIR and whether you get value for money is simply down to what you decide to do after the course. Course advert over, don't be afraid to ask questions on here or ask whether you can hook up with folk for a dive and a chat

June 7th, 2006, 03:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Spiros Siouris(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 38	cheers guys, These last few days I've been thinking seriously about fundies and I've changed my attitude from "aiming to pass" towards "aiming to learn", but I still need to sort out a few things before I do it. Watching the 5thD skills, I've changed to the frog kick (or "my version of the frog kick"!) about 10 dives ago, and its only now that I feel really confident with my boyancy and trim, but I haven't had much practice on other skills... A month ago when I went to Capernwray to do BSAC SD drills, and on the mask removal skill, everything went wrong. I couldn't stop trying to breath through the nose so I had to block it with one hand, while loosing my boyancy and my mask in the meantime... It just went really bad, and after the dive I realised I hadn't practiced any skills since I did my PADI last summer. When I went diving in Falmouth two weeks ago, I was concentrating/trying during the dives to breathe solely from my mouth, but I could feel my mask pulling in towards my face. This was happening most times unless I was very relaxed and breathing very slow. Any other situation and I could still feel my mask pulling in (ie trying to breath with my nose as well). The other thing is getting used to my rig as I've only done about ten dives with it. Clipping and unclipping the SPG is getting better, but I'm still struggling. Same thing with the chest D-rings (my harness is adjusted properly, it's just me getting used to it) I can sort these out on my own because its only practise that's required; I don't think that "learning" (eg fundies course) has a great deal to do with mask removal or clipping and unlipping bolt snaps, and this is what's keeping me from doing fundies right now (I've been shown the right way to clip/unclip the SPG, but it's just not working for me right now). This summer I'll do quite a few dives and hopefully I'll resolve these issues so I can be confident enough with basic skills for doing fundies. Can't wait!