Just dive your ass off with your new rig, And it will all come together.
I think it's only like a 1% pass ratio for DIRF for the first time around, I could be wrong. So, beings that you've been diving less than a year, I wouldn't worry about it.
You definitely sound determined to get this, So I'm sure you will.

BTW, How does it work if you fail? Do you have to pay for the whole deal and start from scratch again, Or do you just have to do the skills?