So you want to purchase a Decompression Computer...

[Bombay High]

Aha PDC = Personal Dive Computer ?
Curious as to which one you use Steve ? PM me if you would rather not say on the board.

 

[James R]

I plan deco dives in GAP with a good bit of conservatism built in. I print & laminate the table for the dive as well as the bailout/lost gas/etc. We run the dive plan per the tables we cut for the dive. We make sure we hit that plan as well as ensure all computers are clear before we end the dive.

 

[Wookie]

I use a computer, in gauge mode, as a bottom timer. I use another computer in air mode as a bottom timer. I use a computer, I know the algorithm, I apply conservatism, I use it to back up my tables. I cut tables for every dive, I use those tables conservatively to plan and execute my dive. I no longer cut tables for 10 feet deeper, or 5 minutes longer, because I carry a computer to back up my tables, so I no longer need to fill a wrist slate with useless dive tables. I was taught to cut tables, it's still how I dive.

 

[Doppler]

Aha PDC = Personal Dive Computer ?
Curious as to which one you use Steve ? PM me if you would rather not say on the board.

LiquiVision Xeo

 

[Superlyte27]

I can't answer the poll, because none of the answers fit. I plan my dives using Ratio Deco. I wear a Liquivision X1 running V-planner, which is VPM-B, with the conservativism set at +3. This generates profiles that are fairly similar to my RD profiles in total stop time, although the X1 usually wants more time shallow. At any rate, if the dive is executed as planned, the computer is happy. I figure the gauge is a last-ditch piece of insurance against either a dive that for some reason is completely different from what I planned, or a dive where something has reduced my processing power to where I need to lean on something else to do the math. (It's also kind of interesting to look at it on cave dives, where the profiles are often quite odd and one wonders if average depth use is really all that valid.)

It's interesting that you write this. I was eating dinner with a doctor who worked for Duke Diving Medicine who also works for DAN. During our dinner conversation I asked what was the plan used that resulted in most DCS hits. He told me that hits resulting from people who actually were following a deco theory were hit most by a HUGE margin was RATIO DECO, folllwed by VPM-B.

Yah, I won't be buying a VPM upgrade.
But, to answer the question on the table...
My computer uses buhlman, which matches my tables exactly. I have the computer set with a 30/85 gradient factor to add in my conservation. And yes, I understand what that gradient factor means and does.

 

[SailNaked]

I dont own a computer, what is an al gore rythem, like when he plays the saxophone?
I dont own tables we eat on the floor, and I never vote conservative, what is this question even about.

 

[mathauck0814]

It's interesting that you write this. I was eating dinner with a doctor who worked for Duke Diving Medicine who also works for DAN. During our dinner conversation I asked what was the plan used that resulted in most DCS hits. He told me that hits resulting from people who actually were following a deco theory were hit most by a HUGE margin was RATIO DECO, folllwed by VPM-B.

Yah, I won't be buying a VPM upgrade.
But, to answer the question on the table...
My computer uses buhlman, which matches my tables exactly. I have the computer set with a 30/85 gradient factor to add in my conservation. And yes, I understand what that gradient factor means and does.

Ratio is a handy tool for when the world goes tits up. I'd sure rather know how to do it than not, but at the end of the day ratio is a system that's meant as an easy way to generate an ascent plan that is similar to an actual decompression model. So if decompression models are math-based theory that approximates tissue-gas interactions and ratio deco is another math-based model that approximates a decompression model, we shouldn't be terribly surprised that being one step further removed from actual physiology renders even less reliable results.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

It's interesting that you write this. I was eating dinner with a doctor who worked for Duke Diving Medicine who also works for DAN. During our dinner conversation I asked what was the plan used that resulted in most DCS hits. He told me that hits resulting from people who actually were following a deco theory were hit most by a HUGE margin was RATIO DECO, folllwed by VPM-B.

I'm surprised DAN doesn't aggregate and release this kind of data somewhere. It would be much more helpful than informal statements.

 

[scubadada]

I'm surprised DAN doesn't aggregate and release this kind of data somewhere. It would be much more helpful than informal statements.

Agree entirely, a concise staterment would be very valuable. Any useful information from PDE would also be invaluable. Any significant differnces in the risk of DCS by decompression algorithm would be a tremendous advance. I am not optimistic.

 

[mathauck0814]

I'm surprised DAN doesn't aggregate and release this kind of data somewhere. It would be much more helpful than informal statements.

Would be hard, don't you think? Something less than 1% of divers are taught that method (I'm guessing).