DIR-F in Milwaukee, June 18-20th

[Chris H]

Deep Blue is hosting DIR-F June 18th-20th, 2004.

Sign up so I have others in the class with me. ;D

I believe the cost is $325 or $330. Gert, please correct me if I'm wrong.

[FreediveWI]

Here's some more details:

At Deep Blue Adventures in Milwaukee, we are planning a GUE Fundamentals class June 18, 19 and 20. The cost will be $325. The instructor should be Michael Kane.

The following information is directly off of Andrew Georgitsus's website and describes the class much more completely than I can. If you have any questions, please email me or call the store at 414-964-3483.



The “Fundamentals of Recreational DIR” (GUE DIRF) is the first step (and usually the prerequisite) in a series of available classes/workshops that are designed to introduce students to the positive concepts associated with using a DIR platform to help reach your goals, improve your skills, competence and overall increase your enjoyment of diving.

Who this class is designed for?

The “Fundamentals of Recreational DIR” class is designed for any diver that desires to get the most out of their diving. Whether you are a newly certified open water diver or a seasoned veteran many divers have found that by incorporating DIR principles into their diving practices the increase both safety and fun. Photographers and videographers will especially appreciate the detailed training in propulsion & precision buoyancy control that assists you in getting that “perfect” shot!

Class Information

The “Fundamentals of Recreational DIR” class is designed to be taught over a three (3) day period with 4 dives.

Day 1. Typically the class begins with a 3 - 4 hour initial session consisting of introductions, a power point presentation including video tape of the skills to be introduced in throughout the workshop.

Day 2. Following the initial session, the student will then receive 2-3 hours of hands-on equipment fitting, review of gear configuration and a discussion of the pro’s and con’s of various equipment choices. Once the gear in properly fit and configured the class then focuses on the “dry runs” of the skills and some practice before entering the water. Dry runs, allow the student to practice the skills on land, before entering the water, under the watchful eye of the instructor(s). Skills include improving diver trim, proficiency and precision buoyancy control, perfecting propulsion techniques (including learning how to kick backwards), fine-tuning equipment configurations, refining underwater communication, utilizing a team diving approach, and effective dive planning. Students then have two dives putting these skills and concepts into actual practice while the videographer captures the in-water session for later review. We conclude the session with a video review and a few more hours of lecture.

Day 3. The third day is stylistically similar to the previous day wherein the student will commence with dry runs on land practicing additional skills and improving on the prior days performance, then two more dives which will again be video taped for subsequent review. The class will conclude with video review and a final lecture session.

All 5th D X classes are videotaped for educational and review purposes only as we believe this is invaluable for students to visually focus on their individual in-water skills, situational awareness, communication, and team diving. Learning to self evaluate is an important aspect of the class. You will leave with a blueprint of what to focus and practice and not just a C-card. Our focus is the complete dedication to your diving skills, knowledge & in water practice. You will be evaluated during the class or at a later date (After you practice) to obtain the GUE DIRF certification card. In our F.A. Q.'s section and our Learning Center you can find out more information about the class, the equipment and skills you will be learning about.

Requirements

Minimum age of 16
Completed 5tD X registration process
Open water certification
Participants must be nonsmokers
All participants must be able to swim at least 200 yards
All participants must be able to swim a distance of at least 40' (15m) on a breath hold
The use of prescription drugs must be authorized prior to the onset of diver training by a physician
Getting Started

Check the Schedule of classes in your area
(If you are interested in coordinating a Fundamentals of Recreational DIR in your area, please contact us)
Check the Pricing Schedule
Register Online (Click here for registration)
Submit your class deposit to reserve your spot
Click here for some helpful suggestion on getting ready for a class

Guidelines

All dives are to maintain a working PO2 of no greater than 1.4
No Decompression dives, with the average depth during class of 20ft (6m) - 30ft (9m).
No Deco or Stage bottle needed
Air or Nitrox
Single or Double tank configuration
Long hose primary, and necklace style backup regulator hose configuration
Instructor to student ratio maximum 6:1 in open water, adjusting downward for environmental conditions.
Equipment Specifications

DIR's equipment configuration is designed to be simple, efficient, and consistent. To get the most from your class it is advisable that you take the course in a complete DIR style system. To better assist you in preparing for class, we have listed below our suggested equipment lists for the class. Please check out our Learning Center or consult with us if you have further questions about your equipment needs.

Back plate BC System
SS or Aluminum Back plate w/ web harness and hardware
Back inflate style wing.
At least one depth-measuring device
At least one time-keeping device
Fins: non-split variety
At least one cutting device
X-notes or Wetnotes
One spool with 100 feet of line
One surface marker or lift bag
Exposure suit appropriate for the environment you will be diving in
Regulators & DIR Hose Configuration
5 or 7 ft. Primary Regulator Hose
22 or 24" Necklace Regulator Hose
24 or 26" SPG hose
Suggested Accessories (not required, just nice if available for you):
BC mounted canister dive light w/ Goodman handle or long hose catch such as a knife pouch.
Cylinders
Single tank configuration with K, H, or Y valve (need 2 per day of diving)
Double tank configuration (1 per day of diving)
No stage or decompression bottle is necessary for this class.

[JacobsonC2]

i was kinda wanting to take a dir f class but i m going to wazee for dui demo days that weekend. is deep blue or anyother LDS in this area offering anyother one this summer?

[FreediveWI]

THey offred them a couple of different times last year and there's a club up in Minnesota that's offering one as well. Check out the MNSCUBA board for other dates, or call up Deep Blue for information on their class for the fall.


Jon

[Chris H]

So, is anyone else taking this or are you all scared?

There are only 3 signed up as of Friday and I think the limit is 6 students per instructor.

[divegeek]

Now that's the way to win friends

[Vtach]

I'm scared.................oh wait, that was last year when my gear configuration was a nightmare and I had multiple failures at once in 100 feet of water( :o, fried egg eyes). I have not taken the the DIR-F class YET but really looking forward to it probably in the Fall. In the mean time I have adopted the gear configuration and many of the ideals during Gert's Deco Procedures course which reflect DIR philosophy. For those still "just thinking about it", I would recommend it.

[Deep Blue]

Chris,

Kahlil will also be taking the class, so you won't be alone. Also, anyone that has taken the class in the past from us is welcome to attend for no charge. You just need to register with the store. So for those of you that had a hard time last time through, this may be the time to show Mike that you can pass muster now.

We also have several other people that have verbally committed, but are having committment issues. I think there are only 2 spots left.

If there is any interest, we could set up a Lannon Quarry dive to sharpen everyone's skills next Sunday morning prior to Mike Kane and his infamous video debriefs.

[Chris H]

First night is down (all lecture) and so far the class is very good.

All cool-aid or whatever BS aside, there is a lot of great information that is being presented in this course, and on at least one occasion the little light in my head (I stress little) went on and I thought "Huh, now I see why that is like that. That makes a lot of sense." I hope and suspect there will be more lights in the 12 hour day scheduled for tomorrow.

Don't be intimidated by the hype, the DIR marketing, whether you like George Irvine or not, or whatever other sort of preconceived ideas you have about the class. You will learn something, and you might become a better diver because of it.

[Chris H]

Saturday: We spent the morning going through equipment, testing the fit, or lack there of, on our dry suit insulation and then the dry suits. We then were shown how to properly adjust the back plates, and then headed to the quarry.

Visibility was horrible, and we managed to silt out Lannon Quarry so badly that we didn't get any skills video taped at all, and we managed this "Charlie Foxtrot" on three separate tries. We needed help, but the vis didn't help our cause. We were all pretty frustrated and went back for more lecture. Saturday was 9am- 9:30pm.

Sunday, needing to find better vis that was convenient for all of us, we met at Pearl Lake @ 8am and spent a little over an hour underwater (42min and 23 minutes) attempting to do the skills we wanted to do Saturday. We then watched the video taped attempts and hopefully know what we need to work on in the future.

That is obviously a very brief overview. As I alluded to in my post on Friday night, this class is so much more than the majority of the BS you see people argue about on forums like this. The instructors couldn't care less if you don't have a single blue H on any of your gear. They focused on why things work, not what brand it is. If you come into a class like this with an open mind, you will learn something. Check your ego at the door, because it isn't about that. It really is the whole package, not just a BP/wing or a long hose, but the whole thing. After seeing Mike and Brando in the water on video next to the rest of us goobers; why wouldn't I want to dive like them?

None of us “passed”, but we missed half of the dives because of the conditions. I still don’t know that any of us would have made the cut, but I’m truly convinced that it isn’t about that. There will hopefully be another Milwaukee class in the early fall. You can bet I’ll be back.

mmmmm…Kool-Aid