Do I need gauges if I use an Air Integrated Computer?

[HowardE]

Easily bring an extra is an extra couple of hundred dollars to BUY the extra computer...

You might be made of money? Maybe this guy isn't?

I do dive 2 computers... when I feel its necessary. Most dives I do - it's not.

You'd hate to be on a day 2 of a 7 day liveaboard and have to ask to borrow a computer? I'd hate to be on a liveaboard that the liveaboard didn't HAVE a spare computer to borrow. It's all a matter of perspective.

 

[NudeDiver]

Easily bring an extra is an extra couple of hundred dollars to BUY the extra computer...You might be made of money? Maybe this guy isn't?

Um...the OP said he already bought two AI computers. Then he asks if he needs gauges too. My response is, if he dives with both of the computers, he has plenty of redundancy and he does not need gauges in addition to the two computers.

I'd hate to be on a liveaboard that the liveaboard didn't HAVE a spare computer to borrow.

Yeah - that would suck. I've been on three of them. Good thing I now bring my own

I am definitely...definitely not made of money.

 

[halocline]

I'm almost certain when he said he bought 2 of them, he meant one is for someone else.

Here's a novel idea, he could get a mini-spg like the ones for ponies. He won't be able to see it, but his buddy could check his gas for him. This way there's no extra hose. Wear a watch for redundant time, and use buddy for depth. This would be a viable set up for recreational, OW NDL diving in good conditions, with a trusted buddy. If the computer transmitter fails, he still has the computer's N2 loading, depth/time data, and he can get his buddy to check his gas periodically. If the whole thing fails, he has the back ups described to facilitate a nice slow safe ascent.

I personally don't care much for the hoseless AI computers, because to me it's not much of a burden to look at a SPG a few times throughout the dive and keep it clipped off the rest of the dive. But, to each his own, and if someone wants to drop a few hundred extra on one, fine. Arguing over whether AI computers are "safer" or "more dangerous" in OW conditions is pretty silly. Diver judgement is by far the biggest safety factor in OW, recreational conditions, including buddy selection and behavior. For deeper, repetitive dives, I suspect all dive computers add a certain tiny margin of safety as they won't make mistakes in calculations (unless they fail) and they will alert the diver to problems like too fast ascents, etc. But that's nothing unique to AI models.

 

[NudeDiver]

This way there's no extra hose. Wear a watch for redundant time, and use buddy for depth. This would be a viable set up for recreational...

I thought about doing that before - but I'm out of ports on my reg. I've got 2 HP ports - one is used by one computer, and the other is used by the second computer. If had another port available, I'd be inclined to put a little pony meter on there, sure.

...because to me it's not much of a burden to look at a SPG a few times throughout the dive and keep it clipped off the rest of the dive.

I just really, really, really like the "estimated bottom time remaining based on actual air consumption" feature. Yes, it's just an estimate - but I like it. I use it as sort of a "biofeedback measure" to help me monitor my breathing. Sometimes I will just sit quietly and do different things with my breathing to see the effect it has on this estimate. I find it useful and interesting.

Arguing over whether AI computers are "safer" or "more dangerous" in OW conditions is pretty silly. Diver judgement is by far the biggest safety factor...

Agreed.

 

[scuba&golf]

It sounds like you already have redundancy if you have both transmitters on your HP ports. I dive an AI wireless on a Titan LX and if I lose the transmitter, I will abort the dive. I also carry a spare battery kit for both the transmitter and my computer in my save a dive kit. If worse comes to worse, I will rent an SPG and use my computer if the transmitter quits, or try to find a computer to borrow or rent if my computer goes bad.

 

[FritzCat66]

Just got done diving a week in Cozumel. Guy with analog pressure gauage and non-air-integrated computer had his pressure gauge flood and fail. Computer remained working fine. Luckily, he had a backup gauge and boot, so he just moved his computer over to it. But so much for the idea that analog = reliable and digital = fragile. Fact is, either can fail, and will tend to do so at the most inconvenient time.

Do you need redundancy? Up to you.

I use an air-integrated Sherwood Wisdom and it has been a wonderful computer for a recreational diver like myself. I carry a spare battery and o-ring for it in my bag, but like another poster said, today's computers will give you PLENTY of warning way ahead of the battery dying.

>*< Fritz

 

[RAWalker]

Wow, this thread is making me think!
I also use 2 AI computers but with just 1 tramsmitter.
My thinking was as others mentioned just thumb the dive and replace the battery or transmitter. (I have the second transmitter) With just 1 computer working my nitrogen load data is safe and I can continue the days diving after the repair.
Using the second high pressure port for either a second transmitter or a valve mounted pressure gauge would allow the dive to continue.
If I were relying on my buddy for pressure readings I'd be glued to them at that point. So the second transmitter sounds better.
Even with only 2 HP ports couldn't a hardware Tee be added to increase the port count?
That allowing the 2 individual transmitters and a gauge.

 

[Reg Braithwaite]

If I were relying on my buddy for pressure readings I'd be glued to them at that point.

Ummm... You aren't glued to them now?

 

[Lucy's Diver]

Divers shows have a backup depth and backup timing device for certain. I like the simplicity of an analogue gauge that relies on simple physics not electricity to work too.
Then again i really can't see the point of an AI computer what so ever.

Why?

By definition, recreational divers are in NDL. If anything fails (somputer, SPG, whatever) surface at a safe rate. Sure you're done for the day, but most people would rather do that than pay for extra redundancy.

 

[Peter Guy]

but most people would rather do that than pay for extra redundancy.

And your source for that statement is?

Don't you think it would rely on the circumstances of the diving?

For example, (and from real life) if I've paid $140 to do a two tank dive in Maui and my AI 'puter goes south on the 1st dive, I'd REALLY want to be able to say "Look, I have a back up" and be able to do the 2nd dive (or 3rd if it happens to be a three tanker!). Having a simple bottom timer and an SPG wouldn't cost THAT much and would save a LOT of money on many a vacation. (My backup BT is a Suunto Mosquito which is, of course, a full fledged 'puter but w/o the pressure gauge.)