Myth 1: DIR has had no fatalities or accidents. Reality: Bobby
McGuirre, a WKPP/DIR diver, died while diving DIR in a cave, and
represents at least one accident DIR cannot deny.

Myth 2: DIR is useful for cave diving, but can be applied to ALL
forms of diving. Reality: Very few people use DIR outside of cave
diving, because the system is inflexible and impractical. In fact
DIR teaches using NO COMPUTER, only a bottom timer, hardly a practical
recommendation nowadays.

Myth 3: DIR uses safe procedures, both in and out of the water.
Reality: DIR uses procedures that do not comply with guidelines
established by NOAA and the U.S. Navy, including flying only three
hours after a deep deco dive, in-water recompression for decompression
accidents, diving well beyond recreational limits and simultaneously
striving to shorten decompression times, exercising heavily shortly
after diving, plus others which are hardly safe.

Myth 4: DIR is practiced by the BEST divers in the world. Reality:
The BEST divers in the world are too busy diving and conducting
research to be sitting around posting to Techdiver, Rec.scuba, the
GUE list, Rodale's, or any other newsgroup in cyberspace. The BEST
divers in the world, with few exceptions, are conspicuously absent
from these lists.

Myth 5: DIR is a new movement in Scuba that will grow and someday
surpass other systems. Reality: Tech diving will continue to grow,
but the training agencies that will attract the most students are
the ones with time-honored teaching skills, including respect, patience,
and avoidance of name-calling such as DIR's infamous "stoke."

Myth 6: DIR is a system based on experience and proven facts. Reality:
Although many DIR divers have experience in technical diving, there
are many among them who extrapolate facts to the point of distortion,
confusion, and lack of truth. The message soon becomes lost in all the
noise.

Myth 7: DIR is a system for everybody. Reality: Personal preference
is the system for everybody. You have the right to choose DIR or the
right to choose another system, or to incorporate useful parts of any
system that suits your needs. No single system will ever be the panacea
for everybody.

MJB


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