Equipment

I bet your diving pursuits started just like mine. In my beginner scuba class and first few years in the water, I used a traditional jacket-style BCD with a standard regulator system. Years later, I was introduced to the DIR “Doing It Right” philosophy, and it brought such a significant improvement in my diving that I made leaps and bounds in terms of my progress and abilities. Mind you, the DIR system is NOT just equipment, as people often mistakenly believe (or are told). The DIR system, as taught by GUE, is a whole philosophy of diving built on Equipment, Education, and Experience.

Where did this equipment system and diving philosophy come from? In the late 1980s and early 1990s, an intrepid group of divers was making great progress and breakthroughs in the exploration of north Florida’s underwater caves. But they became limited by equipment shortcomings and different backgrounds in their training and procedures. So they started from scratch and examined everything that they were doing. They created unified standards, reinvented their equipment to maximize safety and performance, and thereby pushed forward to greater achievements in exploration and discovery. This was the start of DIR and Global Underwater Explorers, and the evolution continues today. A common thread that most divers appreciate is that everything in the DIR system has a good reason behind it. In other words, there is always an answer to why things are done a certain way, and it makes solid sense.

Some key advantages to the DIR equipment configuration are:

  • Minimal pieces; ultimate streamlining: promotes ideal body posture (trim and buoyancy), less likelihood of failures and entanglements, and low drag in the water.
  • Ideal fit: each diver’s backplate and harness is fitted exactly to him/her. There is no typical range of XS - XXL sizes to try and fit into.
  • Unified team: with everyone equipped the same way, problems can be solved in the safest and most rapid manner. Everyone knows exactly where everything is on their buddies, and safety procedures, communication plans, etc. are the same.
  • Interchangeability: the DIR scuba kit works in all environments and for all levels of diving. Whether on a warm, calm, shallow reef, or deep on a wreck in cold, dark, swift water (should you care to go there), the equipment structure is the same.

I would like to point out that I am not a zealot out to “convert” everyone who dives to the DIR philosophy. And the term “Doing It Right” does not imply that everyone else is doing it wrong. In years past, some felt that the DIR system was too militaristic and those who advocated it were single-minded tyrants who looked down upon anyone who didn’t dive their way. I certainly recognize that everyone has a choice in how they dive and how they arrange their equipment. But as a professional who teaches, I believe it is my obligation to share my best knowledge with students who spend their valuable dollars and time in my classes. Therefore, based on my experience, it is easy for me to recommend this equipment configuration and diving philosophy for those who want to have the most fun, make the most progress, and be the safest they can be under water. Think about professionals like firefighters and pilots. They embrace common systems and procedures because it makes them as safe and efficient as possible in demanding situations. That same kind of thinking makes sense to me in the underwater world.

If your scuba experience so far has been in a traditional equipment configuration, I strongly encourage you to try a DIR set-up. For $50 per day, I can provide you with a complete DIR rental kit consisting of a Halcyon Eclipse system, a regulator set with proper hose lengths, a full tank, and a wetsuit. I will also provide you with the basic knowledge to get out there and have fun with the kit.
If you want to learn more about the history and details of the DIR system, check out these links:

You should also read the book Doing It Right: The Fundamentals of Better Diving. You can purchase it at the New Horizons Diving Center or directly from GUE.

Of course, feel free to contact me about equipment selection, especially if you are going to be a student in one of my courses. No question is too small or simple. I have access to a wide variety of quality equipment sources, and I will be happy to help you pick the best gear for your scuba pursuits.

Click here to get the comprehensive required equipment list for the GUE Fundamentals of DIR course.

Equipment Service

If your regulators are due for service, or if you need a problem solved, you can send them to me. I am a certified repair technician for Scubapro, and a Master Technician for Aqualung and Apeks. I am also a trained technician for several other equipment manufacturers. I do all the work at the New Horizons Diving Center, an authorized dealer for these brands and more. When I do the service on your regulator, you get a full tear-down, ultrasonic cleaning, oxygen-compatible Christo-lube, and genuine manufacturer parts. Your regulator will be tested and tuned properly. No matter where you are, you can ship it to me and the work will be completed in a professional and timely manner. Contact me for more information, pricing based on your regulator, etc.