drrich2
Contributor
When I saw the article, I saw 2 separate issues:
1.) Should you have backup redundancy for your tank pressure gauge, whatever that is?
2.) If so, should that backup device be an SPG, as they are presumably cheaper than having a 2nd dive computer.
The SDI Solo Diver course advised a diver use 2 dive computers. I do this; when I bought an Atomic Aquatics Cobalt (which they later replaced with a Cobalt 2 after the Cobalt has an out-of-warranty pressure failure; kudos to Atomic!), I already had an Oceanic Worldwide VT3.
While having a second computer (in this case, 1 console, 1 wrist) is more expensive than an SPG (unless like in my case you wanted a new computer and already had the old one), there are other benefits.
If your computer craps out, you've got a backup that's been storing your profiles, nitrogen loading, logging the dives for download to your computer (if your model supports that), etc... An SPG doesn't have any of that.
If later, looking at your downloaded dive log, you see data obviously way off due to some unknown glitch, you have another source. On one trip, the VT3 gave me some kind of bizarre reading; on a recent trip, it inexplicably gave data that showed up in MacDive as a ridiculously low starting tank pressure (the Cobalt 2 handled it fine). But the Cobalts are notorious for giving temp. low readings considerably higher than other brands, and the VT3 I trust more for dive temp. lows. By having a console (with a nice, intuitive interface) and a wrist unit (more convenient to consult on the dive), I get the best of both worlds.
If you want tank pressure redundancy, an SPG is an option worth considering, but not the only one, and not always the best for everyone's agenda.
1.) Should you have backup redundancy for your tank pressure gauge, whatever that is?
2.) If so, should that backup device be an SPG, as they are presumably cheaper than having a 2nd dive computer.
The SDI Solo Diver course advised a diver use 2 dive computers. I do this; when I bought an Atomic Aquatics Cobalt (which they later replaced with a Cobalt 2 after the Cobalt has an out-of-warranty pressure failure; kudos to Atomic!), I already had an Oceanic Worldwide VT3.
While having a second computer (in this case, 1 console, 1 wrist) is more expensive than an SPG (unless like in my case you wanted a new computer and already had the old one), there are other benefits.
If your computer craps out, you've got a backup that's been storing your profiles, nitrogen loading, logging the dives for download to your computer (if your model supports that), etc... An SPG doesn't have any of that.
If later, looking at your downloaded dive log, you see data obviously way off due to some unknown glitch, you have another source. On one trip, the VT3 gave me some kind of bizarre reading; on a recent trip, it inexplicably gave data that showed up in MacDive as a ridiculously low starting tank pressure (the Cobalt 2 handled it fine). But the Cobalts are notorious for giving temp. low readings considerably higher than other brands, and the VT3 I trust more for dive temp. lows. By having a console (with a nice, intuitive interface) and a wrist unit (more convenient to consult on the dive), I get the best of both worlds.
If you want tank pressure redundancy, an SPG is an option worth considering, but not the only one, and not always the best for everyone's agenda.