Posted by MHK on October 08, 2001 at 10:42:59:
In Reply to: Re: What? posted by Bill Johnson on October 08, 2001 at 09:45:58:
Guys,
We have been trying for the longest time to help people understand and recognize that DIR is much more than a standardized gear configuration, but we continually get bogged down in threads that disect the gear to the umptenth degree..
To put Goerge's post into context, what George means by RB's not being DIR is that unless you need it to complete the job then it isn't necessary and therefore, by definition, not DIR..
In other words, he recognizes the added complexity and risk associated with breather's and denounces the practice when people use breather's on dives that should be done on open circuit, absent the added complexities and risks..
I know he specifically cites the case of the Nobel prize winner Dr. Kendall who died during the Stone project in 20' of water using a breather. That same unit was sold to Eric, who just died 2 weeks ago on the RB Johnson.. Both of those dives should have been done on open circuit, but yet both weren't, and both diver's are dead..
So let's not parse too much George's language and let's look at the bigger picture.. Unless you have a objective that requires the use of a breather then RB's are not DIR, since they add risk that isn't necessary to complete the objective..
As to 18,000' pushes at Wakulla George and JJ weighed the risks and chances of succes of open circuit -v- RB's, they used specifically designed breather's with scores of support diver's and countless safety bottles strategically placed within the cave system.. The totality of that effort is the very essence of DIR diving and not parsing language to attempt to cast a different light...
In short, we say over and over, if it isn't needed then don't take it.. And a breather for a 20' dive isn't needed and it killed a Nobel prize winning doctor because of it..
Later