Here's and edited transcript between a newbie and an old salt. The question boils down to, "Why would a old salt want to dive with a newbie?

Lydon wrote:

I looked at some of those pictures and you guys look like you certainly know how to dive! I have a few questions for you? I see in those pictures the majority are running doubles which I have never used before. Second, those scooters look awesome and I bet they are fun! I may just end up getting one if I like them. I’ve never used that kind of scooter before either, only the dumb downed doughnut scooters. Also, are you sure the other team members won’t think I'm a hindrance because of my skill level?

Matt Wrote:

I hope you can see the irony in this story.

I've been FAT all my life. I've recently lost over 40lbs the past 6 months. I've been going to LA fitness and taking the 1 hour cardio classes. The kick box cardio is my favorite and I've made friends with the instructor. He keeps telling me that I need to hit the free weights to build some muscle. I keep telling him I don't have the time or knowledge and I don't like any of the coaches enough to pay $40 for 30 minutes.

He said that he works out after the kick box class. Today we worked out together. He has been so impressed with my dedication to learning and doing everything he says in class, he see's in his mind how he can make me more of a physical success.

1 year of gym membership and I've never set foot in the "free weight" section of the gym. I didn't feel like I was worthy to hang out with "those guys". I don't know anything about working out with free weights. After an hour of working out I see the truth. Those fucking slobs don't put the god dam dumbbells back on the racks! :)

My friend also showed me how to see the "real" guys from the fakes. Anyone can have big gun arms and legs. That is easy. Very few have good abs and core because that is the hardest part. The abs are also usually covered by a shirt so it’s the hardest to show off.

From my limited first impression, I think you have the right core. We can build on the rest easily.

Lyndon’s Reply:

You are spot on with your analogy! I guess you are right with the concept of doing it the right way and in which is the most proficient and crucial to form a great foundation. I can’t agree more with the guys who throw up big weight to get those beach muscles but couldn't do a solid core routine if their life depended on it! Its true. Most people lift and lift so they can make up for something they don’t have rather than working out to be healthy and fit. You will notice the guys with huge arms have pencil legs!! They don’t want to put in the extra effort simply because they don’t care. Picking out a dedicated workout warrior than the jalopy doing only heavy bicep curls groaning and grunting loud so everyone can see them is comical!

I know that diving DIR is all about team work and becoming a more proficient diver while maintaining a safe attitude. What are some of the key things I should concentrate on while diving?

Matt Replied

What separates DIR from regular diving is awareness, that’s the abs or the core to great diving. You need to dive you gear enough that you forget about it and melts into your body. I'm sure football pads feel like a knight in body armor at first and now you don't feel them at all.

Next are the drills. We run the drills so much that heart no longer jumps at the thought of an Out of air drill (OOA). When you yawn in between donating the long hose and popping your back up in your mouth, you are ready for fundies.

Your buoyancy will come when you stop holding a full breath of air in your lungs and exhaling just a little between breaths. When the fear of drowning leaves the back of your head you'll breathe out of the "bottom" of your lungs and keep them empty. Just sip gas from the tank instead of hovering (Hoover the vacuum cleaner) it.

You awareness will be such that when you check your depth gauge you’ll know how much you've changed from your ears. When you check your bottom timer you'll know how much gas you have left in your tank. When you check your pressure gauge you'll know how long you have been down and how much time you have left.

We'll teach you how to "follow the fish" to the nearest wreck and how to know when your close to a wreck or out in open sand. You'll learn to read the wreck and see how it sunk and guess how long it has been down by how its falling apart.

Read the NOAA weather reports starting Thursday before the weekend. Then make note of the actual conditions. Its amazing how often it is wrong.

http://a1aweather.com/

During the dive, make notes on what you are going to write in your dive reports. Write the dive reports with the good and not so good, mistakes, and what your learned. Post them to E-divers and other sites. Be humble and non-defensive when the comments come flowing in. If you are humble the comments will be calm. If you are proud, arrogant and defensive the crap will keep flowing until you give up. :)

http://www.miamiwreck.org/reports/111503.htm

You and I are the most dangerous kind of divers. You don't know anything and I know everything, but I stop following rules because I think I know better. Together we become the safest divers because I will role model ideal diving and you'll follow it. You'll be aware of any mistakes and call me on it and not let me slide. Cutting corners and letting experienced divers slide is a called a "trust me" dive.

When I get to arrogant, someone will cut me down to size. All my sins are published on the internet for any who remembers or care to research. That keeps me humble at all times.

I’ve had many, many, many dive mentors over my 11 years of diving. Names like William, Ed, Eric, Lesley, Brian, JC (no not that one, the other one), Jody, Buck, Charlie, Robert and all those I can’t think of right now.

Best regards,

--Matt

Stopwatch vs. Bottom Timer, Why The Stopwatch Is A Better Way?

I've read arguments and debates on whether to use a stopwatch or bottom timer when timing decompression in technical diving. After over 75 dives experimenting both ways I offer an argument why the stopwatch is a better way.

First, my reason has nothing to do with decompression theory. Since there is no real benefit in accuracy or measurable difference in stops.

The advantage of the stopwatch is that it allows the team to more accurately follow their dive plan. The closer the plan is followed the more clarity is offered in making decisions and determining problems. The faster a problem is identified, the faster it can be fixed.

When preparing a dive plan, limits are placed on distance, bottom time, gas consumption. The ascent and decompression is agreeded upon. All tasks are identified and assigned to the team before jumping into the water.

The Stopwatch allows the team to more closly follow the decompression. If the team determins 25 minutes of decompression is appropriate, that is what should be done.

With the team setting their stopwatches after the gas switch, there are all on the same page. Any deviation from the ascent plan can be identified in less than 30 seconds. Quickly being alerted to the issue allows the team to question if there is an issue? Usualy the person timing deco gets distracted and all continues as normal. If there is a serious issue now it can be worked out. Perhaps there was an change in deco plan or the person is not feeling well.

The real benefit is a better dive. The more black and white the plan, the less time during the dive are you distracted by the shades of gray in predicting what is going to happen next? Once you know everything is planned, any small deviation from the plan will be questioned, you can relax and take comfort in your awareness and of your teammates.

The less you think about the dive, the more your enjoy the dive.