AI question - dive time remaining

[flots am]

This makes some sense - can anyone confirm that they do this with reserve?

The Galileo will get you back to the surface with your pre-programmed reserve, including any safety or deco stops, assuming you ascend when/where is says to.

I like mine, although the more I dive, the less I care whether I have a computer or not.

flots.

 

[N2DeepInAz]

Yes, the Oceanic Atom 2 has a 300 psi minimum setting for this purpose.

 

[The Chairman]

Although the wireless technology for AI computers has improved significantly in recent years, it's still not as reliable as the analog SPG.

My personal experience tells me the exact opposite. I have seen more dives ended due to corroded o-ring spools, leaky HP hoses and stuck SPGs than I have seen ended due to synch issues with a wireless AI computer.

The tool is here and if you like the tool: learn to use it.

 

[ianr33]

Yes, the Oceanic Atom 2 has a 300 psi minimum setting for this purpose.

How's that work out if your buddy gets a freeflow at 130 feet?

 

[DiveNav]

This makes some sense - can anyone confirm that they do this with reserve?

most of the new (and less new) dive computers for which we are creating classes have reserve. Additionally they have programmable alarms (time and/or pressure) to remind you - in case you forgot to check - that is time to go up

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[fnfalman]

How's that work out if your buddy gets a freeflow at 130 feet?

How's a regular dive computer with SPG would work out under that situation?

 

[flots am]

All DC's will give this info, AI or not. The only advantages of AI are the “value adds”, and not all will agree on this either.

Selective quotes to prove your point are not appreciated. I said:

"An AI computer will tell you how much no-deco (or deco) time you have remaining as well as when you'll run out of gas."

Non-AI computers can't tell you when you'll run out of gas (Remaining Bottom Time)

flots.

 

[vladimir]

Although the wireless technology for AI computers has improved significantly in recent years, it's still not as reliable as the analog SPG. I have heard that underwater camera strobes being fired in the vicinity can cause a loss of the wireless connection (but I've never actually witnessed this).

It certainly used to be the case that strobes firing would interrupt the signal. It happened reliably with my US Divers Monitor 3. My more recent AI computers (Uwatec Air X, Air Z) rarely lost the signal. I have never caught my Suunto D9 in a signal lapse in about 300 dives. So I agree that the technology has improved quite a bit. I'm not so sure about your assertion that it's still not as reliable as an analog SPG, but that's what I'd expect.

 

[FritzCat66]

So I'm still having random thoughts - if the expense of AI is really worth it.

How useful (in the real world) is having the dive time remaining feature that considers stops, current consumption, etc..?

Less clutter with one less hose (wireless AI).
Convenient to read.
My PDC never gets narced.
Alarms if I exceed ANY limit (depth, time, gas, PPO₂).
Records my SAC during the dive.
Convenient to download all info into my work PC.

I do find it nice to see my tank pressure converted into minutes of diving at that depth, but it's not why I dive a wrist mounted AI PDC.

I went straight from tables to a full AI computer, so I don't really know what diving is like with a non-AI computer.

I have a hosed (non-wireless) AI computer (quick-disconnect so it's still easy to download to my PC) and find it really simplifies diving for my style, which is strictly recreational limits - single-gas, no deco, depth typically no deeper than 100'. So in addition to NetDoc's points, I like AI because:

1) Just one instrument to deal with
2) Dive time remaining (DTR) display takes into account not just time at current depth considering remaining gas or no-deco times, but also takes into consideration ascent times (presuming mid-range ascent speeds), safety stop time (newer models even include consideration of a deep stop), my preset reserve, even how hard I've been breathing on this particular dive
3) Non-wireless, hose-attached AI also has an advantage of having one less component to fail compared to wireless, and they are typically consoles that are large and easy to read

After much use, I've learned the DTR is remarkably accurate - you just have to remember that it can't anticipate planned depth changes, so if you descend the DTR will go down, and if you ascend the DTR will go up.

That's what I appreciate most about the AI - it maximizes my dive time with the least amount of hassle, so I can spend more of that time and energy photographing and otherwise enjoying the reef.

I'm wondering if this is so much more advantageous in deciding when to turn the dive than traditional planning.

At least on mine, the turn alarm is simply pressure-based, and it's up to you to set that pressure, so I'm not sure how much more useful that is over non-AI. I usually leave that alarm disabled and estimate it myself based on the particular dive - but 80% of my dives are drift, where there's no "turn" to be worried about anyway.


Again, I kind of skipped the whole non-AI computer stage and went straight from tables to AI, and I've only been using one AI model since, but I can say that it wonderfully simplifies diving and fits my style extremely well. You still have to learn your computer and its limits, of course - I think it's even more important to learn it in and out when it's such a do-it-all device. But I know I wouldn't want anything less now.

 

[D_B]

I would use that turn alarm for my minimum gas to start ascent from the planned dive depth (rock bottom) .. it would give you meaningful time remaining to that amount based on you present consumption rate.
Couldn't you look at that time remaining to that pressure at the start of your dive once reaching the planned depth, divide that in half and that would be your turn time ... say it was 20 minutes, you go out for 10 minutes, then return to the ascent line or starting point ?
The rock bottom pressure would not be accurate if your dive depth changed by 10 feet , but you can recalculated it in your head with a quick rule of thumb anyway