I'm new to diving with only 15 dives. I recently outfitted myself with all new top of the line gear, which includes black ice BC, airsource, suunto cobra 3 computer, dry suit, steel tanks, etc.
I have an opportunity to dive with a neighbor who has a lot more experience than me.
My problem is that he is wanting me to forgo the use of my integrated computer for a traditional console setup. Also, he wants me to give up the airsource, for an octo setup. When I tell him I want to use my drysuit, he discourages me from using it and says my 7mm wetsuit should be fine. I tell him I want to use my steel tank because I believe it works better with my bc, he says that I should get use to using an aluminum tank. He says that if I want to dive with him, I need to use the gear that he considers best. He believes in more simplicity in gear. Which I don't totally disagree with him, but I feel he's being a bit narrow?
My dilemma is this, since I've made a big investment in gear and I want to be comfortable using it, I feel that I need to practice with it. But by telling him that I want to use my gear might jeopardize my diving with him.
So, should I stand my ground or should I give in and do it the way he wants it to be done? And just learn what I can from him.
I could use other opinions on this.
I'd tell him to pound sand.
My gears, my dive. If he can't accomodate me, then I can't accomodate him. There are plenty of friendly divers in SoCal. You don't have to settle for some old curmurdgeon.
Hell, I'll go with you for some outings if you don't mind doing boat dives, cuz the brother is too old to be lugging gears and fighting the shore waves.
You can dive half naked with split fins for all I care, as long as you do it in a safe manners and don't mind following some tips on buoyancy skills.
---------- Post added August 3rd, 2013 at 11:25 PM ----------
I do not have a backup SPG yet. On my list.
I have a backup SPG for my wireless air integrated computer too. It sits in my dive bag.
Well over 300 SoCal dives in the past six years with two different wireless air integrated computers. Neither of them have yet to have a transmitter issue. I take it back, one of the transmitter did die on me because I was an idiot and kept ignoring the low battery signal. Can't blame a piece of equipment for operator's stupidity.
---------- Post added August 3rd, 2013 at 11:32 PM ----------
Imagine this... you just splashed and your computer isn't reading your wireless transmitter correctly,
You telling me that you wouldn't check on the surface as part of the pre-dive check list to make sure that your computer links up with the transmitter?
but your depth gauge and bottom timer are still working. Would you want to abort a dive because you don't know how much air you have, or continue using your computer for depth and time and your SPG to know how much air you have.
If you were to check your gear the way it was meant to be checked, then the problem would have been detected AND resolved on the surface ala whipping out and installing the backup SPG then go to town.
Even if somehow that highly improbable case like you wanted all of us wireless transmitter divers to believe were to happen, well, it wouldn't stop me from diving. Depth gauge function still work? Check. Dive time function still work? Check. Let's go diving. Why exactly do you need an SPG? Don't you; as a skilled diver, know your SAC/RMV? Your tank got however much air in it today just like yesterday and the day before that (assuming that you checked the tank pressure with one of those tank SPG thingie). Your breathing rate should more or less be the same; unless you hit current. Then you'd simply cut your dive time shorter.
You DO know that divers have made thousands upon thousands of dives in the early decades in quite safe manners without the use of SPG?
I'd expect wireless transmitter failure to be more common than the entire computer crapping out. If our transmitters crap out, I can finish my dive safely, while you'd be back on the boat.
Yet everybody and their brothers, including the tech diving computer manufacturers, kept coming out with wireless air integrated computers?