Who disagrees with DIR and why?

[jleech]

I'm far from a DIR proponent, but I have read the book, and agree with a lot of the philosophy.  As for whether breathing off your alternate is better, that has been discussed at all levels of training, with or without the long hose.  For most, it is simply a matter of personal preference.  DIR believes it's the best way to insure that a functioning regulator is given to a potentially stressed diver.  Also, if diving a long hose, it is a good way to stow the hose so that it can be used, and replaced after use.  One of the other options when using a long hose is to store it via bungies to the side of your tank.  This configuration is VERY hard to put back on your own (I know, I dove this way in the beginning of my cave classes)  As whether you use a long hose or not, DIR believes that you need to dive the same gear configuration (or nearly so) for all dives, this is simply familiarity of configuration.  I cave dive and wreck dive where the long hose is a necessity.  I prefer to dive a long hose at other times, so I have practice with it, and in a situation where it is needed, I don't have to think about what my gear configuration is today.

Jeff