With the information you have given me over many of your videos, I am now diving with the long hose, tied on my bolt snaps and have never been so comfortable underwater. With the training kit and stab jacket I was not enjoying my dives and could not concentrate on my learning. But now my kit is fitted to me, and I have my own cylinders, dry suit, regulators on a back plate and wing, I can now enjoy the cold water diving of GB. Thank you Achim and ISE for answering all the questions I needed to know, through your videos I have learned a great deal.
He is honest and has the correct attitude....This is the main reason for me watching him.. All the other tech info are well explained in many books and everyone logical can fit to himself..
In the "old days" as a child one advantage we had was clean simple gear, inadequate, but clean. We clunked around kicking up vast clouds of silt and had great fun. When I came back to diving as an adult everything had changed! Vest style BCD's were bulky and confining. I longed for the "old" simple and fun diving. I turned to the DIR style under trainer Ed Hayes and his staff at Scuba Shack in Connecticut drawn by cleaner more accessible gear and learned vastly better technique and safety. And yes, retraining was frustrating (and ongoing) but well worth it.
Hi, would like to say thanks for all of the content that you have provided as I have learned a lot from you with no cost to myself and so do not apologise for being late your busy, the streamlining tips that you have shared have made me a better diver and the tips have consolidated my diving and so keep going and thank you for taking the time and as for the haters, well have them on my site and for the most they add to the hits so all is good, I know it takes time to keep everyone happy but as you know you cannot please everyone as they do nto want to be pleased they want your attention. kindest regards.
To me, can't think of DIR without thinking of George Irvine! Think my first 10' long hose dive was in '97. Glad I did the mixed gas thing, but wish I'd gotten in to rebreathers back in the day.
Currently working as a “training assistant” with folks. Most of whom are adults wanting to go to shallow warm water “destination” locations. They want jacket BC’s with integrated weights. And they are going to do maybe 10 dives a year. I started out with backpack, weight belt, horse collar, before coming back to it decades later. My current configuration is BP/W, Pony bottle. I have a total shoulder replacement which makes it somewhat difficult to use a single webbing system for my backplate. So I’ve done some modifications not exactly GUE. 🙀 Still safe, but not EXACTLY DIR. Since most of the folks I’m helping train have zero interest in GUE/DIR/TEC, are mostly in it for the for the cool selfies on a shallow warm water reef , and I don’t own the shop or control the training cycle, I have developed a single mantra to try and help these folks develop a single skill set that seems to work. What I tell all new divers I work with directly is the following. “fins up, ass up, head down”. If I have to remind them on open water dives multiple times and I know they actually want critical feedback, I may escalate this to include the following statement, “You’re not a fucking seahorse, you’re a diver! Fins up! Ass up! Head down! Dive!” Once they get there, buoyancy and trim come naturally. They have developed a comfortable diving stance, can take the time they need to check gas, depth, and heading. Oh, and also? NO YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR GOPRO ON YOUR INITIAL CHECKOUT DIVE! Selfie culture man. I have been a photographer for decades. I’m currently wrestling a ridiculous large cumbersome rig with extended arms with strobes on the end. I have to control trim and buoyancy on my flipping camera, okay? 🙄 GUE/DIR is a good starting point. But I am not the gatekeeper for all things Scuba. If someone can dive fins up, ass up, head down in a stab jacket, has good trim and buoyancy, and is conscientious about the gear and dives the plan and their experience level? I’m good with that. Because we were told by a group of public safety divers (the agency is actually called “Do It Right Diving)” that the technical group I dive with that would die if we continue to dive our configurations (think sidemount caving guys with decades of experience), we made up a bunch of t-shirts with a skull and crossed scuba tanks like a pirate flag that says “Do It Wrong Diving”. Pisses the DIR crowd off when we show up at sites where they are training. Don’t care. Who got the kids out of the cave in Thailand?
My I suggest a better illustration between diver & gear: keyboard of your computer. EVEN IF someone uses just two fingers, they still don't have to search for the key *after* some experience. Those of us that learned to type *without looking* can almost take dictation.
I would be really interested in seeing how your KISS is set up and how you configure it with 3 stages, I always find that a heavy nitrox stage just sinks on the leash and becomes a liability.
Great video Achim. Why does ISE seem to openly support the use of flex hoses whereas GUI allows them by rule, yet from what I hear, most instructors look down on them? I myself like flex hoses and believe that they are more streamlined and that any of the earlier safety concerns are history.
Hi Scott, I liked them especially for Demo as, due to the colors availabel the routing and handling was better visible on the videos and pictures. Regarding comfort in the water I personally prefer rubber as it is less likely to twist and seems to stay better in position. I agree that the quality issues are history, I never had any issues with the. Keep in mind that there is Miflex and Ultraflex - Ultraflex is more soft and smooth. Cheers
It is good to hear this, as I was wondering the very same thing seeing the setup videos on this channel using flex hoses, I use Miflex hoses only on my short hose recreational travel rig, any of my long hose tec and rec rigs I find the miflex rubs through the neck seal on my drysuit. I have not tried the ultraflex just out of $$$ sake.
4:36 "No weight belts." Can you elaborate on that? With a single tank, thick 7 mil wetsuit, steel BP/W, a balanced rig in this scenario most likely needs ditchable weight, such as on a belt. I could see not needing a weight belt if I had a thin suit or no suit.
Hi. Yes. we cgenerally use neither a weight belt nor a ditchable weigt. Reason for that is: The weight belt - beside not really working well with the crotchstrap of the harness, shifts the weight too much "down" and that makes it harder to maintain proper trim. Ditchable weight is not needed if the rig is "balananced" So in your example thick wetsuit and steel plate the key is the tank you use and its volume / weight ratio. The wing needs to be able to support the rig alone in the water when the tank is full and the rig with empty tank nees to be heavy enough to keep you neutral on 3 meters when the tank is almost empty. This setup make ditchanel weights absolete as you can easily swim this to the surface even in case of a wigng failure. The concept of the ditchable weight is based on overweighted divers which, unfortunatly are very common - most of then adding weight for what they think is comfort (but in reality based on discomfort as the never learned prpoer bouyancy control.)
CoastalDevelopment - InnerSpace Explorers - ISE (Detailed question, hope you can answer in some way) With 7 mil suit/hood/gloves, steel BP & STA, single steel HP100 tank, 32 lb wing, I need 9 lbs of weight to be neutral at the safety stop with 500 psi. If the wing fails at the start of a 100ft dive, I am -18 lbs (6 lbs gas, 12 lbs buoyancy loss from wetsuit compression). I know I can swim up 10 lbs, but haven't tried swimming up -18 lbs. I keep 9 lbs ditchable as "peace of mind", and also it makes the rig easier to lift. Either way, the rig is balanced. Do you have suggested changes to my approach? When diving dry with think undies, I add 12 lbs to the rig but keep the 9 lbs weight belt. If all the lead were on the rig, it would be 30 lbs at the start of the dive, which is "balanced" but only barely.
Dir means these days big money 1 a 2 k per course . Just like tech. But at the end we all love diving. With or without €€ papers. With ccr lungs or witouth swimming certificates
Big Money? THer is an old saying. " the only way to make a little fortune in diving is to start with a big one". As I said before - for how much per hour are you willing to work, take the risk, be insured and keep your gear uo to date.. Big money is something else.
With the information you have given me over many of your videos, I am now diving with the long hose, tied on my bolt snaps and have never been so comfortable underwater. With the training kit and stab jacket I was not enjoying my dives and could not concentrate on my learning. But now my kit is fitted to me, and I have my own cylinders, dry suit, regulators on a back plate and wing, I can now enjoy the cold water diving of GB. Thank you Achim and ISE for answering all the questions I needed to know, through your videos I have learned a great deal.
Sounds really good!
He is honest and has the correct attitude....This is the main reason for me watching him..
All the other tech info are well explained in many books and everyone logical can fit to himself..
No longer a diver. You have excellent videos with outstanding information.
In the "old days" as a child one advantage we had was clean simple gear, inadequate, but clean. We clunked around kicking up vast clouds of silt and had great fun. When I came back to diving as an adult everything had changed! Vest style BCD's were bulky and confining. I longed for the "old" simple and fun diving. I turned to the DIR style under trainer Ed Hayes and his staff at Scuba Shack in Connecticut drawn by cleaner more accessible gear and learned vastly better technique and safety. And yes, retraining was frustrating (and ongoing) but well worth it.
Hi, would like to say thanks for all of the content that you have provided as I have learned a lot from you with no cost to myself and so do not apologise for being late your busy, the streamlining tips that you have shared have made me a better diver and the tips have consolidated my diving and so keep going and thank you for taking the time and as for the haters, well have them on my site and for the most they add to the hits so all is good, I know it takes time to keep everyone happy but as you know you cannot please everyone as they do nto want to be pleased they want your attention. kindest regards.
To me, can't think of DIR without thinking of George Irvine! Think my first 10' long hose dive was in '97. Glad I did the mixed gas thing, but wish I'd gotten in to rebreathers back in the day.
Currently working as a “training assistant” with folks. Most of whom are adults wanting to go to shallow warm water “destination” locations. They want jacket BC’s with integrated weights. And they are going to do maybe 10 dives a year.
I started out with backpack, weight belt, horse collar, before coming back to it decades later. My current configuration is BP/W, Pony bottle. I have a total shoulder replacement which makes it somewhat difficult to use a single webbing system for my backplate. So I’ve done some modifications not exactly GUE. 🙀 Still safe, but not EXACTLY DIR.
Since most of the folks I’m helping train have zero interest in GUE/DIR/TEC, are mostly in it for the for the cool selfies on a shallow warm water reef , and I don’t own the shop or control the training cycle, I have developed a single mantra to try and help these folks develop a single skill set that seems to work. What I tell all new divers I work with directly is the following. “fins up, ass up, head down”. If I have to remind them on open water dives multiple times and I know they actually want critical feedback, I may escalate this to include the following statement, “You’re not a fucking seahorse, you’re a diver! Fins up! Ass up! Head down! Dive!”
Once they get there, buoyancy and trim come naturally. They have developed a comfortable diving stance, can take the time they need to check gas, depth, and heading.
Oh, and also? NO YOU CANNOT TAKE YOUR GOPRO ON YOUR INITIAL CHECKOUT DIVE! Selfie culture man.
I have been a photographer for decades. I’m currently wrestling a ridiculous large cumbersome rig with extended arms with strobes on the end. I have to control trim and buoyancy on my flipping camera, okay? 🙄
GUE/DIR is a good starting point. But I am not the gatekeeper for all things Scuba. If someone can dive fins up, ass up, head down in a stab jacket, has good trim and buoyancy, and is conscientious about the gear and dives the plan and their experience level? I’m good with that.
Because we were told by a group of public safety divers (the agency is actually called “Do It Right Diving)” that the technical group I dive with that would die if we continue to dive our configurations (think sidemount caving guys with decades of experience), we made up a bunch of t-shirts with a skull and crossed scuba tanks like a pirate flag that says “Do It Wrong Diving”. Pisses the DIR crowd off when we show up at sites where they are training.
Don’t care. Who got the kids out of the cave in Thailand?
A nice summary of what DIR is and I do identify with your description of the system as a whole as a rEvo diver!!
My I suggest a better illustration between diver & gear: keyboard of your computer. EVEN IF someone uses just two fingers, they still don't have to search for the key *after* some experience. Those of us that learned to type *without looking* can almost take dictation.
Nice video as is followup, but neither says what DIR stands for. I will assume that it means ‘Doing It Right”. But I am not sure.
Thank you ... excellent!
I would be really interested in seeing how your KISS is set up and how you configure it with 3 stages, I always find that a heavy nitrox stage just sinks on the leash and becomes a liability.
Thanks Jon, it´on the list already. I have a KISS clas coming up the next few weeks and will take the opportunity to make a video about it. Take care.
Great video Achim. Why does ISE seem to openly support the use of flex hoses whereas GUI allows them by rule, yet from what I hear, most instructors look down on them? I myself like flex hoses and believe that they are more streamlined and that any of the earlier safety concerns are history.
Hi Scott, I liked them especially for Demo as, due to the colors availabel the routing and handling was better visible on the videos and pictures. Regarding comfort in the water I personally prefer rubber as it is less likely to twist and seems to stay better in position. I agree that the quality issues are history, I never had any issues with the. Keep in mind that there is Miflex and Ultraflex - Ultraflex is more soft and smooth. Cheers
It is good to hear this, as I was wondering the very same thing seeing the setup videos on this channel using flex hoses, I use Miflex hoses only on my short hose recreational travel rig, any of my long hose tec and rec rigs I find the miflex rubs through the neck seal on my drysuit. I have not tried the ultraflex just out of $$$ sake.
I dive a 3mil wetsuit year round in Florida and the 7' hose doesn't bother my neck. I guess if I had a drysuit the abrasion could be a concern.
4:36 "No weight belts." Can you elaborate on that? With a single tank, thick 7 mil wetsuit, steel BP/W, a balanced rig in this scenario most likely needs ditchable weight, such as on a belt. I could see not needing a weight belt if I had a thin suit or no suit.
Hi. Yes. we cgenerally use neither a weight belt nor a ditchable weigt. Reason for that is: The weight belt - beside not really working well with the crotchstrap of the harness, shifts the weight too much "down" and that makes it harder to maintain proper trim. Ditchable weight is not needed if the rig is "balananced" So in your example thick wetsuit and steel plate the key is the tank you use and its volume / weight ratio. The wing needs to be able to support the rig alone in the water when the tank is full and the rig with empty tank nees to be heavy enough to keep you neutral on 3 meters when the tank is almost empty. This setup make ditchanel weights absolete as you can easily swim this to the surface even in case of a wigng failure.
The concept of the ditchable weight is based on overweighted divers which, unfortunatly are very common - most of then adding weight for what they think is comfort (but in reality based on discomfort as the never learned prpoer bouyancy control.)
CoastalDevelopment - InnerSpace Explorers - ISE
(Detailed question, hope you can answer in some way)
With 7 mil suit/hood/gloves, steel BP & STA, single steel HP100 tank, 32 lb wing, I need 9 lbs of weight to be neutral at the safety stop with 500 psi. If the wing fails at the start of a 100ft dive, I am -18 lbs (6 lbs gas, 12 lbs buoyancy loss from wetsuit compression). I know I can swim up 10 lbs, but haven't tried swimming up -18 lbs. I keep 9 lbs ditchable as "peace of mind", and also it makes the rig easier to lift. Either way, the rig is balanced.
Do you have suggested changes to my approach? When diving dry with think undies, I add 12 lbs to the rig but keep the 9 lbs weight belt. If all the lead were on the rig, it would be 30 lbs at the start of the dive, which is "balanced" but only barely.
Yo I have your watch
😆 A tech diver deals with unknown problems. Forgetting to turn a tank on isn’t one of them.
Dir means these days big money 1 a 2 k per course . Just like tech. But at the end we all love diving. With or without €€ papers. With ccr lungs or witouth swimming certificates
Big Money? THer is an old saying. " the only way to make a little fortune in diving is to start with a big one". As I said before - for how much per hour are you willing to work, take the risk, be insured and keep your gear uo to date.. Big money is something else.