Central to the DIR diving system is the concept of a unified team. This system pairs divers of similar capacity within an environment that they are properly prepared for. Teams of individually capable divers produce a level of safety and efficiency beyond what is capable while diving independently.
Preparation
For DIR, preparation for diving involves five primary components. These are: pre-dive preparation, mental focus, physical fitness, diving experience and dive planning.
Streamlined Equipment
The elements comprising a standard DIR equipment configuration have been endlessly discussed and are now well known.
Balanced Rig
The DIR rig is a carefully weighted rig; one that ensures that while a divers is not overweight, s/he is able to hold a decompression stop in the face of a catastrophic gas loss.
Cylinder Labeling
DIR embraces the uniform practice of marking cylinders with the Maximum Operating Depth (MOD) in a clear and easily identifiable manner, and utilizing only this data to identify bottles.
Standard Gases
DIR promotes reliance on standard gases for all phases of diving. Standard gases help to insulate divers from the risks of inappropriate gas ratios, provide a common platform for cylinder marking and gas mixing, ensure team symmetry and vastly simplify decompression logistics.
Conservative Gas Parameters
DIR promotes conservative gas parameters for all phases of diving. Among these are ENDs of <30m, working PO2s of 1.4 and less, PO2s of 1.6 and less for decompression. To offset the toxic effects of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, DIR recommends the liberal use of helium together with the conservative use of oxygen.
