DIR Equipment Configuration

 "The DIR equipment configuration tends to generate the majority of interest and debate, initiating the common misconception that one part of the system can be adapted and others can be ignored. For example, individuals may endorse the equipment configuration, but ignore essential aspects such as the team-centered approach or physical fitness. DIR is a holistic system and although incorporating parts of DIR into another system is possible, the result is not DIR. The mutation is also likely to be fraught with complications.

Divers using the same clean, well thought out configuration are safer and more able to assist one another. Changes to that system, however seemingly slight, invariably create complications.

The DIR system is amazingly flexible and can be used in caves, in the ocean, in wrecks and under ice. It is ideal for relaxing reef dives at 10 meters, extended penetration cave dives or difficult wreck dives. It is a perfect system for zero visibility as well as crystal clear water. The DIR system focuses on the concept of minimalism. Equipment that does not enrich the dive is considered a liability and should be left at home

The DIR approach need not be modified in order to function in different environments. In fact, the system was not developed exclusively as a cave diving system and the issues that it addresses are far from cave specific. Its flexibility is owed to careful research and development dives in diverse conditions including: the Baltic Sea, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Great Lakes, the Puget Sound, the St. Lawrence Seaway. Cold water DIR divers use gloves and dry suits inflated with argon. In freezing water these divers use dry gloves and thicker undergarments with argon and possibly electric heat. Cold water divers use slightly larger bolt snaps, but otherwise exactly the same system is employed whether the dive is below the ice or in the balmy tropics."

Jarrod Jablonski
President Global Underwater Explorers

The following is a list of the DIR equipment, along with a description of each item:

BACKPLATE
This should be rigid and made out of aluminum or stainless steel (no plastic) with a one-piece, webbed harness. It should have only 5 D-rings: One on each shoulder, one in the left hip, one at the front of the crotch strap & one at the back of the crotch strap. Metal buckles will be used. Soft packs are not suitable.

BUOYANCY COMPENSATOR
This should be back-mounted for streamlined movement and horizontal posture. It should NOT have a dump valve at the top of the corrugated hose. A layer of innertube should be added to the inside of the bladder to avoid punctures. The dump valve at the lower left side should only have one string at the end (no plastic ball). The corrugated hose will have several pieces of innertube so we can route the hose coming from the regulator through there. The length of the corrugated hose should be so it is long enough to operate the inflator, reach the dry suit inflation & reach your nose and mouth with one hand. The inflator mechanism should be pointing inwards. Jacket type BC's are not acceptable. Surgical tubing or shock cord around the BC is also not accepted. No double bladders or multiple BCD will be utilized.

PRIMARY LIGHT
It should be a canister type, with sealed lead acid batteries & it should provide enough burn time to suffice the duration of the dive. It will be hip-mounted. It will be mounted on the right side of the harness and it can be secured with a buckle to prevent it from moving. The cord should be long enough to reach the extended left hand, while mounted on the right side. The light head should have a reflector that allows an adjustable beam. It should also have a Goodman handle that will allow the light to be placed on top of our hand, freeing it for several tasks. Hand held lights are not acceptable as primary lights, since they are quite bulky and will not function efficiently while working with a reel or spool or when dealing with multiple tasks. The lights can be halogen or high intensity discharge (HID). A bolt snap, secured with cave line (# 24 braided nylon), will be added to the light head to be able to get clipped while not in use.

BACKUP LIGHTS
2 backup lights will be used, attached to each of the d-rings mounted on the shoulder of our backplate. Once attached, the lights will be secured with bicycle innertube (threaded in the harness) to prevent them from dangling. Lights that are activated by twisting the light head are preferred, since they eliminate the failure point of having a switch. Rechargeable batteries will not be used for these lights. Ideally you want to have lights that are not bulky. Lights that hold 3 C size batteries (in line) are preferred since they can be secured in a streamlined fashion. The lights will have a bolt snap at one end, secured with cave line (# 24 braided nylon).

REGULATORS
The distribution of the regulators goes like this:  Right Post This first stage will have the primary second stage with a long hose & the BC inflator hose.  Left Post This first stage will have the backup second stage with a short hose & the pressure gauge. If a dry suit is used, it will also originate from this side.

• First Stages
  2 first stages with DIN connectors will be used. The first stages should allow good hose routing. If your first stage is designed with 1 inch port, a plug should be used.
• Second Stages
  2 second stages will be used. One will have a 22-inch hose & the other one will have a 2meters hose. Black long hoses will be used, since the colored ones tend to float. At the end of the long hose (next to the second stage) we will place a bolt snap secured with cave line (# 24 braided nylon). Adding an o-ring between the bolt snap & the hose will place a breakaway point. The second stages should be of a downstream valve type. They also should be able to be taken apart underwater without tools, in case debris gets inside. In the second stage that will have the short hose, a shock cord necklace should be secured by means of a fisherman's knot or securing the cord to the cable tie that holds the mouthpiece in place. Standard mouthpieces must be used, since custom ones might create a gagging effect on another diver while sharing air. The connection between the second stages and hoses should be standard & compatible with the rest of the team.
• Pressure Gauge
  One brass pressure gauge without the rubber boot is used. This pressure gauge will have a 24-inch hose. Next to the gauge we will secure a bolt snap in the same manner we did for the long hose (with a breakaway point).
• Inflator Hose
  The length for the BC inflator hose is 22-inch. If a dry suit is used, both BC & dry suit should have the same type connections.

THIGH POCKETS
One pocket on each thigh will be used. These pockets should be mounted along the side & not towards the front where they will create resistance with the water & present line entanglement areas. On the left side we will have a 3-D or bellows pocket. On the right side we will have a flat or utility pocket. On the left pocket 2 loops of shock cord will be added on the side that is facing the front. Both pockets should have Velcro & not zippers. These pockets should be stitched or glued to the suit to be used. A version of a pocket with Velcro straps to secure around the thigh is also available and acceptable as a temporary fix.

MASKS
A primary mask & a backup will be used. They should both be low volume. They should also be from dark silicone, so the reflection of the light won't be disturbing. For the backup, we will place a double-ended bolt snap to the strap & secure it to one of the loops in our left thigh pocket.

FINS
Power fins, which provide the right strength & length of blade, are preferred. The straps of the fins should be taped or replaced with stainless steel spring straps. No full foot or free diving fins will be used.

SAFETY SPOOL
A spool will be used instead of a reel, since reels can get jammed & we can't afford to be dealing with situations like this while performing an emergency drill. It will be stored in the left thigh pocket (clipped to the shock cord loop).

LINE MARKERS
3 directional & 3 non-directional markers will be utilized. They will be secured to a piece of surgical tubing with a bolt snap at one end. This will also be stored inside our left thigh pocket, clipped to the shock cord loop.

BOTTOM TIMER
One bottom timer is required & a stopwatch can be used as a backup.

KNIFE
It should be small & sharp, mounted on our left waist strap, next to the left hip d-ring. A backup can be mounted on the inside of the Goodman handle.

WET NOTES
We must have a way to have written communication. A slate or Wet Notes can be used. Wet Notes are preferred, since this means you will have multiple pages to write important information, like features of the cave, tables, messages to leave on the line, survey info, etc. The slate or Wet Notes will be stored inside your right thigh pocket. Tables to monitor decompression status will also be stored in the same pocket.

BOLT SNAPS
The bolt snaps should be made of stainless steel or brass. Appropriate sizes should be used & stainless steel is the preferred material.

PRIMARY REEL
The primary reel should have a side handle to allow the use of a reel and a light with a Goodman handle in the same hand. This reel will have 120 to 150 meters of line (# 24 braided nylon).