Doing it Right and the Hogarthian Rig
Doing it Right
I tried to locate a simple and quantitative explanation of DIR, but couldn't find one. Many divers just see the visible part of DIR, the modified Hogarthian equipment configuration, but it extends further than that. Drawing on a number of sources:
- DIR divers believe in enhanced dive preparation, fitness and team work.
- Divers train and dive as a team carrying out carefully planned schedules.
- They have a common 'modified Hogarthian' equipment configuration.
- Gasses have a narcotic depth of 30 metres or less.
- Decompression is generally on 50% and 100% O2.
- Serious DIR divers exercise regularly, eat healthy diets and don't smoke.
- DIR divers only dive with other DIR divers.
- DIR is a holistic approach to diving. You can't be 95% DIR, just as you can't be 95% pregnant.
Hogarthian Equipment
The Hogarthian configuration is named after Bill 'Hogarth' Main. It is based on cutting equipment to a minimum streamlined configuration that nevertheless includes sufficient redundancy for extended decompression dives.
- Twin 232 bar steel cylinders with isolation manifold on a stainless steel back plate. DIN fitting valves. No cylinder nets or boots.
- Wing BC without bungy cords or pull string dump valve.
- Harness threaded from a single piece of webbing; no shoulder adjusters. D rings on each shoulder and on the left side of the waist. Crotch strap.
- Aluminium stage cylinders, all on the left side, marked with maximum operating depth only.
- No “suicide” clips with unprotected gates. No ankle weights or leg accessories.
- Membrane dry suit with cargo pockets.
- Light canister on the right side waist strap, light head clipped to right shoulder when not in use.
- Right regulator: wing feed over the left shoulder; primary second stage on a long hose, routed below light canister, across front, behind neck and over right shoulder to mouth.
- Left regulator: suit feed under left arm; standard LP hose to the spare second stage held on a shock cord round the neck; HP gauge clipped to the left waist D ring.
- Dive timer or computer on right wrist - but a computer is only used as a depth gauge and timer, not for decompression.
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