Air integration

[tursiops]

That's too bad. It's a really useful feature to know how much dive time remains based on the most limiting factor.

Exactly, which is why knowing both factors is helpful. If all you see is the smallest number, you don't know what is limiting you so cannot adjust your dive plan to compensate.

 

[Belzelbub]

Looking to replace an old computer. As a recreational diver mainly shallower than 30m, is air integration worth the money or is it most effective for tech divers? Any advice, please.

I'm probably not a good reference as my first computer was air integrated, and I've been diving air integrated ever since. Is it necessary? Absolutely not. However, I do find it useful for a few reasons.

I dive wrist mount computers. All the info I need is in one place. By just looking at my wrist I can see my depth, the dive time, NDL, GTR, SurfGF, and whatever else I want to look at.
I also like the real-time gas consumption after the fact. If my SAC rate is higher than expected during a dive, I can look at the download and actually see what points of the dive were worse than others. My backup DC also has heart rate, so it's easy to make sense of why.

That's too bad. It's a really useful feature to know how much dive time remains based on the most limiting factor.

Actually, I prefer it that way. I had Oceanics in the past that had the DTR function that would show remaining time based on whatever was the limiting factor. However, it didn't really tell you which was the limiting factor. On my Shearwater I can look at NDL and GTR. Whichever one is lower is my dive time remaining, and it's simple to see what is the limiting factor.

 

[PatW]

I have found air integration to be reliable on some computers and very unreliable on others. I have a backup SPG and it failed on my last trip. It was the hose. But it had a pot load of dives. I dive with an air integrated computer. My current one is very reliable. I dive with a backup computer not air integrated. And I have an SPG.

I find air time remaining to be unreliable. I ignore it, if it is displayed. I would advise redundancy. An SPG is cheap and a back up computer can be had for little also. Having them can let you do your dives if the primary fails.

 

[TostitoBandito]

I've used wireless/horseless air integrated computers since I got certified in the early 2000's.

First was an Aeris/Oceanic computer, which was fine for it's day 20+ years ago. It used an MH8A transmitter which was mostly fine as well. I think the transmitter did really die once where I had to send it in for replacement, and a few other times it cut out during dives intermittently (could've been on the computer, the transmitter, or both), but 99% of the time worked fine.

A few years ago I bought a Shearwater Teric and initially used my old MH8A transmitter with it, which worked ok, but eventually bought a Shearwater Swift transmitter just so I wasn't diving a 25 year old transmitter which might die at any moment. Haven't had any air integration issues or dropouts with the Teric+Swift combo over probably 80ish dives.

I do still dive with a small like 2 inch diameter analog SPG and high pressure hose clipped to my left chest as a backup, but ditched my big console long ago.

Anyways, I highly recommend air integrated computers. I've always loved the convenience of having my pressure at a glance on my wrist, and the additional air consumption data logged in your dive logs is also nice. The modern ones are very reliable, and much cheaper than they used to be when considering inflation. I think Shearwater was selling the Peregrine TX with transmitter for like $800 or $850 earlier this year, which is a screaming deal when that comes along again.

 

[Nemrod]

My computer, Peregrine TX, has AI capability and I have no interest in using it. I rarely need to check my air more than three times per dive, going in, turn or mid point, near end of dive. I do not want all of that data, have no need for it. I like my SPG, it does all I need, no more, nor less.

 

[tursiops]

My computer, Peregrine TX, has AI capability and I have no interest in using it. I rarely need to check my air more than three times per dive, going in, turn or mid point, near end of dive. I do not want all of that data, have no need for it. I like my SPG, it does all I need, no more, nor less.

Do you use its compass?

 

[hammet]

Knowing your (more or less) instaneous rate of air consumption is an amazing biofeedback tool which allows you to extend your diving time (if gas limited as a opposed to ndl limited) significantly by having an indicator of your exertion level.

 

[Maolli]

I've used wireless/horseless air integrated computers since I got certified in the early 2000's.

He said horseless

 

[Maolli]

I had Oceanics in the past that had the DTR function that would show remaining time based on whatever was the limiting factor. However, it didn't really tell you which was the limiting factor. On my Shearwater I can look at NDL and GTR. Whichever one is lower is my dive time remaining, and it's simple to see what is the limiting factor.

Often you can tell because, for example on a deep repetitive dive with a big tank you could have 1500 psi remaining yet a 3 minute DTR so the NDL is obviously the culprit. The more diving you do, the easier it becomes to figure it out even when the differences are more subtle. And when it's that subtle, does it even matter?

In the end regardless of which it is, all you can do to change it is to shallow up.

 

[DutchDiverDude]

Worth it? To me yes. Hands free pressure check vs having to grab and look.
All info in one place is convenient.
GTR is nice. On Shearwater it calculates minutes on current depth until 50 bar, so if you're trying to extend your dive to a certain duration it helps. For other purposes it is practically useless though, since it is dependent on depth, which tends to change.
I carry a backup Suunto Cobra air integrated computer set to Gauge mode. Neither computer has failed, but I had a HP hose failure last week (on the surface). But since I carry a redundant system (2 computers, both air integrated) it was a simple matter of removing the backup and plug the HP port. Dive saved. If my Cobra fails, I still have everything on my Shearwater, and if Shearwater fails, I still have the Cobra set to Gauge mode. With some top-of-the head ratio deco / ndl calculations I can still dive and surface safely.

Is it needed? Definitely not. Depending on how much you dive, the investment for added luxury / convenience may or may not be worth it. I do 50-100 dives per year. Well worth it to me.