Preparedness for dive computer failures

[Fin Finder]

Most of the time it's a wrist-bungie mounted old Suunto Favor as back-up. Small, out-of-the way, always reliable for basic depth-time-NDL info. I even use it as back-up for 200' tech dives (when I need just depth-time info to follow my laminated schedule).

If I'm doing a shallow dive sometimes I don't take a back-up. If I ever have a computer failure I'd just bag the dive, or hang tight with my computerized buddy... if I trust him. When I'm traveling, or on a local boat, I always have a spare in my dive bag for the next dive.

Nays

 

[fjpatrum]

No backup for me. Last dive "trip" I was on I ended up diving tables and my buddy's dive computer because I had the wrong replacement batteries for my computer. I always have a watch as a timer and an SPG so I was good to go, though I relied on my buddy's computer and general "feel" for depth. (Bottom was only 30-40 m where we were diving and we stayed in the 20-25 m range as our max depth.)

If my computer died between dives, I'd take an extra long SI and then use tables for my second dive or I'd sit it out. Sitting out one dive isn't going to kill me... making the wrong one without knowing my pressure groups well enough just might.

 

[diversteve]

I have a basic Non-AI wrist computer and a set of mini-gauges (depth/pressure) in a small console. And a watch on the other wrist. So I really don't need the computer as I've been diving over a decade b4 they were commercially available so the tables are pretty ingrained. I use the computer for depth and safety stop timing (mine beeps) mostly. If I lost the computer I could still do a more conservative second dive by switching back to tables.

I have thought about a BUD. I like some of the better Oceanic wrist computers so it would match without adjustment. Maybe if my current computer ever dies.

 

[2airishuman]

Did you ask your instructor these questions ?

My instructor provides the three usual options (ascend and plan a 24 hour surface interval, ascend and then re-plan all your previous dives on paper to arrive at the correct pressure group, or dive with two computers).

I think it's interesting to see how different people approach the problem. How do you approach it?

 

[Freewillow]

I have an old UWATEC sport computor as a possible replacement dive computor but I do not bring it with me for a recreational - or small deco - dive. I am ALWAYS diving with my buddy/spouse and I had only once a dive computor that failed in the middle of a dive ( battery too low ). I continued with the computor of my wife, adding a safety to it: stay farther away from the NDL. I replaced the battery between dives and made a repetitive dive the same day with my wife. We made it sure to stay far away from her NDL in order to make it on the safe side.

 

[HJeffreyM]

I dive with two computers. Primary is an AERIS Elite T3 hoseless AI. Backup is an AERIS Mantis. Both are set to the exact same settings in all respects for every dive. If my primary were to fail, I would end the dive and ascend using my backup for depth/time. I would have an excellent idea of my breathing gas status based on info from my primary before it failed. I would attempt to fix the problem with the primary. Failing that I would swap out the AI transmitter for the SPG I keep in my save a dive trip bag. I could then continue using my backup DC.

I would be minimally inconvenienced by a primary DC failure.

 

[uncfnp]

We both dive with 2 dive computers. On this last trip Eric's Geo 2 flipped out at depth and threw him into deco then violation when he surfaced. We were on the third day of an 10 day trip. Finished out the week with his backup DC and the Geo is headed to the shop.

 

[tbone1004]

no spare computer when open water diving. have a dive watch and a knotted reel for my DSMB. I follow rule of 130 for NDL's, and you checked your NDL before you got in, so you figure it out there. Also can use ratio deco or carry tables with you. For technical diving it is a bit different, but still use tables and my buddies computer as backups. Highly unlikely for multiple petrels to fail on the same dive...

 

[IVC]

I had similar dilemma when deciding on purchasing a DC.

It was appealing to have it all console-mounted, but then there was no redundancy and it just didn't seem right. So I decided to get a basic wrist-mounted DC and an analog depth gauge on the SPG console as a backup. A quick glance at the time of descent (which is part of the five-point descent anyway) either on the DC or your regular watch and you have a nice reference point should your computer fail.

So, a wrist-mounted DC and an analog backup depth gauge give you not only simplicity on the cheap side, but you get the redundancy as well. In case of failure, you terminate the dive, check the time at the surface and look up the tables. (Of course, this assumes you keep the log so you can calculate your pressure groups.) Even better, you can continue to dive on the same trip by going "manual."

Of course, you can get all this with two computers, but we are talking about initial recreational setup where for less money you can get a better setup (from redundancy perspective.) More importantly, you don't want to invest heavily into a DC before you really know what you need and want, much less do you want to invest in two. Personally, I got a Mares Puck Pro and Oceanic Swivl console. Both should serve me well until I need/want something else and both will be great backups afterwards.

 

[Hickdive]

Stay within your NDL, plan/monitor your gas, and stick with your buddy (who also has a computer) and thumb the dive if your computer fails and you will have no problems. These are all things you should be doing as a recreational diver anyway so there should be no need to overthink the problem.

If you're doing more technical diving then your planning will include back-up slates, or back-up computers, and/or team back-up, or uses ratio deco. So again, a failed computer should not be a huge issue.