DVD Review and Summary : DIR 2004

DIR 2004 DVD Review

About the DVD (from the manufacturer)

"The most comprehensive overview of the "Doing It Right" system ever available on video.

When Jarrod Jablonski and George Irvine set out to develop a replacement for the very-popular (but somewhat dated) DIR video series, their goal was to provide a complete head-to-toe presentation of how they configure their own dive gear to conform to the DIR standard. By the time they finished filming, the project had grown in scope to cover not only essential DIR concepts like team procedures and dive planning, but advanced topics like gas mixing and Gavin Scooter maintenance.

Encouraged by their results in covering the DIR basics, George and Jarrod then sat down to an extensive series of interviews that provide a fascinating history of the development of DIR diving within the Woodville Karst Plain Project and the logistics of exploring Wakulla's deep cave system at the extremes of dive technology and practices. To cap the project off, George and Jarrod narrate a complete dive within the Wakulla cave system. It's the first time that anyone outside the team has been able to listen in as the WKPP's lead explorers review the results of a project dive.

DIR 2004 is essential viewing for anyone interested in applying DIR concepts to their diving. It can be seen as a supplement to the successful DIR Fundamentals book or to a DIR Fundamentals class, but it also stands alone as a document of the evolution of safe diving practises at the cutting edge of underwater exploration."

Pricing and Purchase Locations

• US - Global Underwater Explorers - $44.95

Packaging

First impressions are promising : the DVD collection is in a normal DVD case with a nice cover, on the front a nice diving scene, on the back is the DVD contents (detailed and summarised below). Inside the three DVDs are secured firmly to the casing.

Disc 1 Summary

The first disc is aimed purely at the equipment you carry as part of your rig and starts from a blank twinset right up to a fully equipped rig. There are the following chapters on this DVD:

1. Introduction - 9 minutes
2. Tanks - 11 minutes
3. Wings - 10 minutes
4. Backplate & Harness - 17 minutes
5. Fitting a backplate - 21 minutes
6. Lights - 31 minutes
7. Regulators and hoses - 27 minutes
8. Balanced rig - 10 minutes

Starting the DVD I get a quality impression, there is only one menu to allow you to select which chapter you wish to watch or watch all sequentially. I think the menu looks very nice, the imagery in the background is beautiful, the audio is nice and crisp and the menu is exceptionally easy to read and navigate.

DVD #1 - Main Menu (from DIR 2004 DVD)

Pressing "play all" starts the DVD and will run through all of the menus visible without requiring intervention.

Introduction - Summary

In the introductory section Jarrod Jablonski (JJ) and George Irvine the Third (GI3) talk very briefly about the origins of underwater exploration and the emergence of recreational SCUBA diving. GI3 then touches on that whilst diving as any sport has risks, he felt that unnecessary risks were being put into the sport.

Introduction - (from DIR 2004 DVD)

JJ explains a key point of DIR. There will always be a special configuration that is better for a particular situation. But JJ explains that the key feature of DIR divers is the skill of the divers are better because of the standardisation and optimised gear, responses and team work. JJ also explains that the background of DIR was founded from technical diving, however their experience is that the skills are the same for the recreational diving area.

Unfortunately at this point JJ and GI3 highlights that they will talk about the more typical recreational, single tank rig. But at no point in the DVD collection does this happen. GI3 does highlight how the gear used by the technical diver and the gear used by the recreational diver are actually the same.

Tanks - Summary

Moving onto the equipment configuration of a DIR rig, JJ introduces and will use a manifold twinset (doubles) of Aluminium 80 cuft cylinders. While talking about the materials available for pressurised SCUBA tanks, JJ highlights the concept of a balanced rig. GI3 explains the basic principle of the operation, what a manifold is, and the reason why a manifold is used, as well as the basic process of manifolding two tanks. Although I must admit, his way of building a manifold twinset sounds far more complicated and awkward than I've used!

GI3 continues to explain another feature of the manifold : it shouldn't be a solid structure it should have some flex in case of hitting objects during cave or wreck penetrations as an example. GI3s explanation of the manifold is a bit jumpy in that he went from talking about the burst discs to then why we have an isolator manifold. JJ then does step in to explain about the operation and gas glow when using a manifold.

GI3 then returns to the conversation to resume talking about the twinset building process. An important point he does raise is that the top band needs to be at the break of the neck of the tanks, i.e. the highest point. Continuing his explanation of the twinset, he explains that soft rubber knobs are ideal, again to prevent damage to your life support system.

Manifolds (from DIR 2004 DVD)

Buoyancy Compensator - Summary

In this section, JJ and GI3 together fit a Buoyancy Compensator (BC) to the twinset. At this point I think they let themselves down as they are both required to do it - a bit of planning and scripting would have meant that one could have talked while the other attached the BC. JJ and GI3 are using a Halcyon Explorer 40 wing. A horse-shoe shaped wing.

GI3 explains that historically the WKPP had a lot of trouble finding equipment that suited their needs, shape, material, inflator location were never right. JJ explains that the wing being demonstrated is made from a Ballistic Nylon exterior for protection of the bladder which is made of cordura inside.

Buoyancy Compensator (from DIR 2004 DVD)

JJ explains about how the inner bladders used to be very vulnerable and required protection, but now doesn't need the same level of protection. GI3 then explains that the lift capacity required by your wing needs to be enough so that the fully assembled rig can be floated in fresh water by itself so that if you need to get out of your rig, e.g. if you are RHIB diving you would take your set off first, it will float.

GI3 explains the wing vs jacket-style BC. The traditional jacket style BC causes the upper body to be compressed and adds bulk, the ideal system is smooth and hydrodynamic. The design of the wing also means it will put forward the least profile in the water keeping drag to a minimum. JJ explains how the wing style also helps the diver to achieve a horizontal profile in the water, whereas the jacket style BC causes the diver to be more heads-up/feet down in the water which causes drag but also risks coral and silt disturbance

Backplate and Harness- Summary

Demonstrating with a simple aluminium backplate and harness, GI3 shows how clean and simple the system is for the diver. With the jacket style BC, the inflation bladder is on the front of the diver, with the wing system this has been moved to the back and what remains is a very clean, clutter free harness for the diver.

GI3 continues to explain that the backplate bolts securely to the twinset. He also continues to demonstrate how clean the rig is, he talks about how bulky a "tech BC" would be - it would be good to see it in comparison.

JJ explains how quick release buckles are generally not necessary because it sacrifices stability and security against a misconceived perception that there is a difficulty getting into a harness on the surface. He also demonstrates that the wing inflator is stowed using a bungee which keeps it stowed neatly.

JJ also recommends that divers use the kidney dump as opposed to the corrugated hose because this keeps the diver in the horizontal position. Finally JJ points out the minimalist approach with the rig, particularly pointing out that there are only a few D-rings on the rig.

GI3 states how the crotch strap is extremely important because initially it keeps the rig down on your back, but also in a DPV dive, the crotch strap is used as the towing point which makes it a structural part of the rig. GI3 also explains that without the crotch strap your waistband will ride up your body. I can personally attest to this, on my first holiday to Malta, my crotch strap came apart and I dove the rest of the holiday without it - it did make some things more difficult.

JJ concludes by summarising some key points of the rig, webbing should be semi-stiff so that it resists wear. A knife is also worn on waist band too. Rubber o-rings, or snoopy-loops are also stored on the harness under the chest d-rings for the storage of back up lights.

Fittting a Harness and Backplate - Summary

JJ explains how the strength of the harness and backplate system is the almost infinite adjustable and the clean rig for the diver. The first thing the diver should look for is the waist passing through the crotch strap loop. The option is there if you want to use the main buckle to retain your canister light. But generally a second buckle to retain the light is the preferred. That way if you de-kit in water, you won't lose your light - something GI3 and JJ forgot to highlight. The buckle will be on the left waist strap to conform with the left hand release.

GI3 explains that another benefit is that you could use the same harness in combination with a single tank adaptor so that you can dive a single tank system instead.

JJ starts explaining about d-ring location and how its a balance for high for stage bottles, but low enough to be in line with the armpit approximately. Regarding the fit, there should be enough room to get out comfortably, but snug enough to prevent equipment rolling about on your back.

GI3 explains how the crotch strap is used as a tow point for towing a diver, but also you can have some space for helping you if you are struggling to reach your valves to push up the cylinder. At this point JJ explains how he would use a second buckle for retaining the light, but by having the primary buckle go right around it means that you can still retain your light if you forgot that buckle.

The harness should be set up in the thickest undergarments you will be wearing. Ideally fitting this in your drysuit.

JJ moves on to explaining about the crotch strap, the front d-ring (the ring at the bottom as it hangs down) is used for towing and shouldn't be used for carrying gear as it will hang straight down. The rear d-ring can be used for clipping reels to. The location of the d-ring is described.

Setting up the crotch strap (from DIR 2004 DVD)

The location of the left hip d-ring is explained. Again it would be nice if they covered each feature in turn. So the fitting of the harness first, then d-ring location, the crotch strap, its a little jumpy. GI3 explains how some adjustment is counter-intuitive i.e. raising the plate involves lengthening the crotch strap.

JJ challenges the view that quick release buckles are not necessary and that the difficulty of getting out compared to the jacket style BC is a misconception. GI3 does re-iterate his view that quick release are a potential hazard.

GI3 and JJ start to explain the process of webbing a harness : starting from the back and then making the straps.

Lights - Summary

JJ explains that divers very often think of lights as an illumination tool, the DIR system uses the light as a communication means which helps keep a team together. JJ shows a primary (canister) light and a backup light. Batteries for a canister light would be rechargeable whereas disposable batteries are the preferred choice for back up lights.

GI3 explains about the history of off gassing batteries and the rationale behind the surface sealing o-ring. GI3 explains that a key feature of of the light is that there is a switch guard to protect the switch from accidental switching. JJ shows a few of the key signals that can be made using the light.

GI3 continues to explain that the light has been an invaluable communication tool, ironically in clear water. He then goes on to show the mounting position of the light and how it adds zero drag because of the position under the arm. The clip for the light head is shown and usage explained. GI3 also reminisces about his first cave dive.

JJ explains how the Goodman's handle is used to allow the diver to continue to use his hand. JJ then explains why he thinks the head mounting of lights is a bad idea.

Back up and primary lights (from DIR 2004 DVD).

GI3 explains how he doesn't condone the head storage over the head because you then cause a problem if you need to donate.

Regulators and Hoses - Summary

In this section, GI3 explains the configuration of the hoses and regulators between the two first stages. He starts by explaining that the starting point is the back-up regulator. He recommends a slight mentality change - the regulator is a backup (to compliment the primary) as opposed to an octopus. The backup regulator is hung around the neck on a piece of bungee. This means that you always know where it will be and not need to search for it.

While GI3 is sorting out the hose routing so that the back up regulator goes under the corrugated hose, JJ explains that he is demonstrating the routing based on a non-swivel regulator and hints that he will explain other types - but never does.

Going back to the regulator, GI3 explains that you want a simple 2nd stage because you will want to be able to disassemble the regulator underwater. The backup regulator is de-tuned to keep the performance low to prevent free flows. A back up that can be de-tuned is desirable. The wing goes behind the hoses.

Hose routing of the left post (from DIR 2004 DVD)

JJ and GI3 explain that all hoses should go down to keep them streamlined. The backup regulator hose is approximately 24" long. The SPG hose is a similar length. GI3 explains about the potential roll-off of the left post and how the splitting of hoses has been done to share resources between the posts.

Moving to the right post, GI3 explains that the hoses go behind the wing. The wing inflator hose is on the right post too and goes through the bungee loops on the wing inflater hose.  He then demonstrates the correct routing of the long hose and explains why the right post is the only choice for the long hose. He then also demonstrates the long hose deployment technique.

JJ explains the options for drysuit inflation depending upon your dive, GI3 explains the mounting and mounting choices.

Balanced Rig - Summary

GI3 explains that the balanced rig is a fundamental part of the DIR system. He tries to explain that the mentality of using a BC as back up buoyancy isn't how it is intended, it is intended for fine tuning. He explains that the process of working out your weighting requirements is to get in the water with just a small amount of gas so that you can breathe, but effectively empty tanks and empty wing and minimal gas in the drysuit. This gives you one extreme of your weighting - the worst case scenario that you are low/lost your gas - you want to be able to stay at 6m to do any deco/safety stops.

The other end of the extreme is that at the start of the dive when you have a full twinset you can still get up - this may involve dropping lead however - hence why you need a distribution of weight and not all in the form of v-weights for instance. The explains that the difference in weight from the former situation will be purely the weight of the gas.

You will need enough removable weight so that you reduce your negative buoyancy to no more than what you could potentially swim up against. A diver needs to remember that they can use their equipment such as lights as part of their weighting system.

Balanced Rig (from DIR 2004 DVD)

JJ and GI3 both explain the merits of the balanced rig : streamlined and minimalist approach in the water as well as easier diving, by having the minimal gas volume in the wing, it means less gas is expanding during the ascent.

Disc 2 Summary

The first disc is aimed at the fundamental / core equipment that you need as a diver. Disc 2 on the other hand covers the secondary / additional equipment you may need such as stage / deco bottles, scooters, drysuits etc.

There are the following chapters on this DVD:

1. Exposure equipment - 10 minutes
2. Additional equipment - 9 minutes
3. Stage bottles - 26 minutes
4. Gas mixing - 16 minutes
5. Procedures - 55 minutes
6. Gavin Scooter - 38 minutes

Exposure Equipment

GI3 explains about exposure suits (wetsuits and drysuits) whilst in his garage. He explains how wetsuits are ideal for warm, shallow diving, but the problem with thick wetsuits is the compression of the suit. I personally have seen this. Whilst in Malta in February I was diving in a 7mm wetsuit. I remember tying on my depth gauge to my wrist as tightly as I could whilst kitting up in the van. Upon jumping in the water and descending just a few meters the suit had compressed massively and was at risk of having the gauge slide off my arm.

Exposure suits (from DIR 2004 DVD)

With neoprene drysuits suffering the same buoyancy swing as thick wetsuits he does not recommend them. Moving on to the trilaminate drysuit he shows his DUI suit off. The benefit of the trilaminate suit is constant buoyancy, all the lift is coming from the insulation and assuming the diver maintains the suit pressure.

GI3 explains that the key features of a drysuit are self-donning ie. front entry and the zip must have a zip guard. The inflater should be a swivel. The exhaust valve should be on the arm. Pockets should be on the side of the legs and not on the front so as not to cause extract drag.

Finally GI3 explains that he has a custom fit suit as this helps the suit fit well and avoid excessive bagginess. He shows how his feet and legs are also as snug as possible. A telescopic torso helps with flexibility.

Additional Equipment

GI3 explains that a computer isn't used - a depth gauge and bottom timer is used and placed on the right wrist this is because if you move into DPV diving, the display will always be there and easily visible and illuminateable by your light in your left hand, a compass is on the left wrist.

Computers are not condoned because they believe that the computers never generate accurate decompression.

The Scuba Pro Jet Fin is the typical and recommended fin because it gives you good thrust. When you move into multi-equipment diving you need a stiff fin to put the power into the water. Heavy fins are also helpful to keep drysuit feet down. JJ explains how split fins are very difficult to use and make some techniques very difficult, almost impossible. GI3 explains how spring straps are used to prevent breakage.

Masks need to be very comfortable and of low-volume to make it easy to clear. Slap straps, stretchy straps also keep it close to your head to prevent catching on debris in the water.

The head dissipates massive amounts of heat so a good quality hood helps a diver to keep warm and stay comfortable.

Stage Bottles

GI3 starts by explaining that only MOD is written on the bottle. Luxfer aluminium 80 cuft cylinders are recommended because of the buoyancy swing from full to empty. The goal is to have a neutral cylinder as this makes diving with them easier.

DIN valves are used on stages and this minimises risk of losing o-rings. In the same way as the twinset valves, the stage valves need to be rubber and of good quality - an easy turning valve, this allows you to feather a valve in a case of emergency.

Stage bottles (from DIR 2004 DVD)

JJ also confirms that minimal stickers are to be on the bottle, the only information you need to know on a bottle is that its safe to breathe at depth. Nitrox labelling is useless. He continues to explain about the rigging kit and how it affects bottle positioning in the water.

GI3 explains how rubber bands are used for stowing the regulator hose against the tank. JJ then explains about regulators and the hose routing. A short piece of cave line in a loop is used to keep the SPG on the short hose stowed neatly. A bolt snap on the stage reg is used as it means that you can clip the stage to the bottle for quick stowing if needed.

JJ and GI3 do explain about procedures for stowing the regulator and the hose and some issues that can arise.

Gas mixing

Returning to GI3s garage to explain the very loose procedure for gas blending. GI3 explains how gas blending is critical part to gas diving because breathing the wrong gas could be fatal. GI3 starts by showing how two pieces of tape are used to summarise the blend records.

GI3 is blending a gas and is adding 80 psi of oxygen. Once happy that the correct amount of oxygen has been added. The tank is turned off, but the whip is still left attached. On the first piece of tape, the amount of oxygen that has been added and the date is recorded.

He explains a good practise when using a cascade blending system is to keep a running tally of the pressure inside a tank. The helium is now added to the mix. The helium added is then also added to the first piece of tape.

Gas blending (from DIR 2004 DVD)

GI3 explains about some of the challenges facing blenders i.e. reduced density of helium vs oxygen, heating of gases during filling, implications of using partial pressure blending on the mixing of the gas. Once the air has been blown on, the analysis of the tank contents is done and recorded on the second piece of tape.

He finishes by explaining how the bottle and the mix is handled after the dive.

Procedures

GI3 and JJ are on the sofa talking about emergency procedures. The discussion starts by talking about the team approach to diving. GI3 is quick to encourage that any macho "I can take care of myself attitude" needs to be dismissed. When a team member has a problem, that person should become the focus of the team.

Procedure discussion (from DIR 2004 DVD)

GI3 and JJ are keen to continue to emphasise that problems in the team are problems of the entire team. JJ then explains that even a good team needs to manage problems effectively to prevent problems accumulating.

GI3 and JJ are firm believers of aggressive problem solving. The discussion tends to based in the cave environment, but GI3 explains issues appearing in cave and open water diving.

JJ explains how the team would be behaving and responding if diving in a team of three and one diver lost their gas. GI3 gives a situation of a cave or wreck dive where you lose your primary light. They then use an example of team work about losing the line in a cave. JJ also discusses the situation of a gas failure and light failure and how the team would behave. GI3 also continues to explain how stages are used.

The two continue to talk about different scenarios and experiences that they have had.

Gavin Scooter

Returning to GI3 and his garage to talk about the scooters used. Starting by discussing the battery packs and particularly talking about the long-range scooter dive scooters. GI3 emphasises the importance of knowing the battery condition by using a burn tester. The burn tester is an array of resistors that mimic the load of the motor that the battery would see and then record the time taken for the battery to drop from 24v to 20v.

Post dive maintenance involves opening the lid to inspect the motor. There are three primary components to the scooter, so its very easy to fault find any problems. GI3 recommends measuring the current draw of the motor occasionally.

The Gavin Scooter (from DIR 2004 DVD)

GI3 goes into detail to explain the features of the motor and why the design is what it is.

The Gavin Scooter section actually has several sub-sections in it. The next section discusses the motor in detail and the sub-assemblies. GI3 explains the difference between the motor in the Gavin and Aquazepp. The next section covers the clutch assembly. GI3 is showing the clutch assembly, unfortunately he is spending a lot of time looking down working with components in his hands. He then shows you assembling the clutch and propellers and assembles the back end of the scooter. He talks about how you should manage the pitch of the propeller to manage speed.

The next section discusses a vacuum test to find leaks.

The next section discusses about finding a reed switch failure and he explains that you can quickly trace the fault as the sub assemblies are extremely simple. He shows this by quickly changing out the motor.

The next section is about the trigger wheel. The trigger wheel is there because if the trigger cable breaks you can hold the wheel to drive the scooter. GI3 then goes on to strip down the prop assembly.

Disc 3 Summary

The final disc covers the history and founding of GUE and some of the exploration sites and techniques used.

There are the following chapters on this DVD:

1. Getting started - 27 minutes
2. Diving & DIR - 54 minutes
3. Planning extreme dives - 50 minutes
4. Decompression - 52 minutes

How did you get started into diving?

GI3 and JJ start having an extremely informal chat about their first introduction and experiences into SCUBA diving.

GI3 and JJ talk about their introduction to SCUBA diving (from DIR 2004 DVD).

After talking about how they discovered SCUBA diving, they move on to talk about how they got into cave diving and describe their first cave dive and give some advice about building up cave diving experience. They then reminisce about their first dive in WKPP and Wakulla.

GI3 talks about the start of the WKPP and how when the team were asked to support a wreck diving course, they reviewed the equipment set up to make it universal.

Diving and DIR

Initially GI3 and JJ are asked if DIR is all about an equipment configuration. GI3 goes into the detail of describing it. JJ talks about how DIR is a difficult diving technique and receives a lot of grief, mostly directed at the equipment. GI3 supports this and says how his experience has always been pro-DIR dive systems. GI3 and JJ are both supporters of the idea that people need to prepare themselves for diving i.e. keeping fit.

DIR Diving (from DIR 2004 DVD).

GI3 explains that in particular the DIR equipment system works for any situation, but there will be environmental specific equipment. He goes on to explain that its more than just the equipment. The discussion then moves on to standardisation and the power that it offers. At this point, you can tell that JJ does express some frustration that he has been challenged about the DIR equipment configuration, he expresses that once someone has done 300, 500, 1000 dives, then they are qualified to challenge and try to improve their rig.

When asked about GUE and DIR GI3 and JJ both support both ventures. And the biggest challenge that faces the diving industry is the mis-information that is available. GI3 goes on to explain why he gets so angry with people on the Internet. He actually believes that there are people intentionally misdirecting people. JJ even defends that GI3 has been an overall positive influence.

JJ and GI3 continue to talk about the issues they have found with the dive industry, dive industry attitudes etc.

Moving on the discussion changes to what it takes to get into big cave diving and how it appeals to them.

Planning a big dive

GI3 explains how historically they used to log how much equipment, time and gas they had at any one point. But they now take the view of what do they need when at the end of the line. JJ explains that they use a team approach to support the diving.

GI3 and JJ laugh about how when they reach the end of the line and they chuckle to themselves. Hitting the end of the line, JJ is usually the one to lay the line whilst GI3 performs the survey and at the same time they are using the Minimi scooter-camera combination.

When asked about how far they think they can go, JJ believes there isn't really a limit. GI3 says that he thinks that the equipment is no longer a factor.

When discussing the scooters, GI3 discusses all the key elements and explains how he believes its all balanced out perfectly. Talking about carrying all the gear, they explain about how they achieve it.

When talking about dangers and risk, GI3 explains that the decompression is the most dangerous part of the dive. JJ explains about his view of using elevated levels of oxygen in terms of both the bottom gas and the deco in some parts.

GI3 talks about his opinion of decompression. He explains how the current decompression models are flawed. He explains about how they re-shaped the deco shape to get better decompression. JJ even mentions that you can force bubbling in your body to accelerate decompression - although he doesn't condone it. They do some quick comparisons between the deco that traditional algorithms propose versus what they actually do.

Is Decompression an exact science?

JJ explains that there is a desire that decompression can be modelled for all divers but he believes it won't happen. He introduces some of the things that they did such as removing the usage of air. GI3 gives an example of diving at Indian springs and looking back they see how their performance was reduced because of the narcosis.

GI3 explains how he thinks there isn't an awareness of PFOs. And how they had to change the mentality of the attitude to deco i.e. re-shaping the deco curve based on the experiences they were seeing.

When asked about using helium in shallower depths, GI3 explained how JJ was running the alternative mix while GI3 was running the traditional mixes.

When asked about 100+ foot air dives GI3 believes that it comes down to educating divers about the real physiologic impacts. JJ supports this by explaining about how a person would be compromised and also dismisses the view that people can learn to manage narcosis.

When asked about if GI3 is being irresponsible pushing their decompression beliefs. GI3 believes he is trying to challenge the mis-information, and he believes that the decompression theory they use will "hold water" and can't be defeated easily. The other half of his explanation comes down to the fitness of the diver as well. GI3 also believes that the decompression algorithms out there at the moment actually have very little solid evidence.

Woodville Karst Plain Project

A short 17 minute video, narrated by JJ and GI3 discussing the WKPP. During the commentary maps show the area and the cave survey. Eventually the video shows the cave passages and highlight how that could connect to the Leon Sinks cave system. JJ and GI3 explain how the core goal is to help protect the environment from the urban sprawl.

Some of the equipment such as the scooters, rebreathers and vast number of stages required is shown. They talk about the decompression and how they stage food and drink.

Overall Summary

The DVD is presented in a very relaxed format, some of the discussions are done on a sofa and are very casual with some light hearted jokes in there too. Unfortunately video production does let it down. Whilst there is no need for overly elaborate video production, the poor audio is apparent at times with several "standing-in-front-of-the-mic" situations, and especially when things go outside into a garage.

This DVD has taken a significant amount of grief, (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-107088.html) and I think most of it is undeserved, but I can see how some of it has been earned. As a DIR diver of about 5 years, I can now really listen in to what GI3 (in particular is saying) and I can filter out the "strokes" statements, but it is because I have this experience and knowledge which means I can hear the truth in it. Giving this DVD to someone who is a diver with 50 dives to their name, won't be able to pick out the true gems of knowledge, this is what lets the DVD down I think, so if a new DVD was produced it would have to be ultra-carefully scripted to make the key points more obvious and not hidden by personalities.

The DVD is actually aimed at DIR-aware and pro-DIR divers, whereas I think they actually wanted it to be a DVD that any diver could watch. Unfortunately it took a lot of interrupts by JJ to do some background explaining (particularly with respect to the equipment). If a new version was made, I think they should have a typical diver configuration can show the trade-offs and presented in such a way that means you don't need to be experienced to truly understand it.

Personally, I think the DVD collection is brilliant and is an easy introduction into DIR and I would recommend it, what I would say is that it does pique your interest, and gives you enough information about DIR to make you want to know more (and sign up for a course).