Doing IT Right - DIR Criticisms and Controversies - Controversy Over DIR Applicability To Local Practices in Diving

Controversy Over DIR Applicability To Local Practices in Diving

Deep cave diving (as in the WKPP) and other types of scuba diving can have significant differences in hazards and environmental conditions. Conflicts exist where local diving practice experts say these conditions are so different that DIR system rationale and practices simply do not apply, and that DIR recommendations actually cause difficulties.

Example DIR rationale for non-usage Local practice rationale for usage
Need for snorkel at surface for recreational diving
  • The snorkel is a hazard in its potential for snagging in overhead environment or snagging on cave guidelines
  • Short surface swims in cave systems make snorkel “excess baggage”
  • Surface conditions are benign
  • A diver on the surface should be able to breath from his/her primary or by swimming on his/her back
  • In certain non-cave diving practises the snorkel proves a very useful item, e.g. due to the long swims involved in California shore diving, divers use snorkels to breathe from until a good start point on a dive spot is located, to maximise air supply for a safer overall dive.
  • A snorkel is useful as an in-water pocket mask, a diving accident victim can be transported and have rescue breathing done as quickly as they might be just transported.
  • In rougher open water surface conditions a snorkel proves a useful safety device in scenarios that require long surface waits or surface swims. BSAC rate the snorkel as "essential safety kit."
Cave diving
  • A helmet (with or without lights) is totally unacceptable – one reason that it can interfere with long hose usage
  • All diving MUST be carried out as a team – solo diving is forbidden
  • The UK’s Cave Diving Group, the longest operative cave diving society in the world, states that because the British cave and sump systems are significantly different in nature than those of the WKPP the practices and configurations of the equipment also need to be quite different.
  • British caves and sumps are often so murky and/or narrow that divers can be concussed unless wearing a helmet
  • The CDG claim that the murkiness of British caves/sumps makes team diving actually dangerous and solo diving is appropriate

Read more about this topic:  Doing It Right, DIR Criticisms and Controversies

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