DIR section

[DRE]

Will,

Jarrod Jablonski is the CEO of both Halcyon and GUE, and there is somewhat a conflict of interest there. However, almost any GUE instructor will tell you that there is a wide variety of brands that can be used within the DIR system, some needing minor modifications. For example, if I remember correctly you dive a DR Trek wing. I used that same wing for my DIRF class diving double AL80's. I removed the bungees and cut of all the tabs, and lined the inside of the wing with rubber innertube. I changed out the pulldump for a straight elbow and removed the little ball on the bottom dump. The only thing that is needed to make the wing truly DIR is to replace the inflator with a slowblowing inflator instead of the high powered one that comes standard on the DR wing.
One of the big things about DIR, however, is that it's not all about the gear (which is the most commonly made mistake). It's also about using the correct gasses, proper technique, team based approach and a healthy lifestyle.
Before I took the DIRF class I thought I knew what DIR was all about from doing my research, but after taking the class I realized that, although I had a pretty good knowledge base, there were still a lot of details I wasn't aware of. That's why taking a DIRF class was such an eyeopener and why I can recommend to everyone who is truly interested in DIR.