DIR Details

[Deep Blue]

I know that DIR doesn't advocate the use of computers, although I do believe that they have their place. That place is in no decompression diving. Most people are not going to be willing to track their exposure and a dive computer is a reasonable tool to use in this environment. (I have outlined the computer/dive table issues in an earlier thread in this forum.)

When it comes to decompression diving, I don't think the only computer that has a place is the one that you use BEFORE the dive to plan. I take that back, the one that sits on your shoulders is pretty important during the dive also .

As far as the wing debate, no I do not feel that using a double wing automatically makes you an unsafe diver, it simply means that you are not being as efficient as you could be in the water because you are setting up your dive kit for possibilities that will not realistically happen during the dive.

When I am looking for a buddy, their gear says a lot about them. If their gear is in good repair and set up properly, this indicates a certain mind set. While equipment is not the be all end all of a DIR diver, it is a place to start. You can determine the rest by a short discussion before the dive.

Your dive equipment setup should address any REASONABLE contingency that may occur DURING the dive. Carrying a double wing on every dive because a wing failure may cut a trip short is equivalent to wearing 2 drysuits just in case you may lose a few dives over a weekend if your tear a seal. In fact, following this line of reasoning, you may be better off with the extra drysuit on every dive, since drysuit seal failures are much more common than wing failures.

Now how about some discussion on hose routing/length?