The Cobra 2 and Cobra 3 have a setting where you can attenuate the RGBM to 50% thus making it less conservative.
Here's what the Cobra 2 manual says:
5.8.7. Setting the RGBM values
For certain divers and diving conditions, it may be desirable to set the attenuated RGBM
mode. The selection is displayed during the DIVE mode startup. The options are full RGBM
effects (100%), and attenuated RGBM (50%).
Read on, MacDuff...
"The three-step Personal Adjustment Mode is available, if a more conservative dive plan is desired. For very experienced divers, a two step adjustment for attenuating RGBM effect on repetitive dives is available."
Why does Suunto make a very clear distinction between "adjusting the level of conservativeness" and "attenuating RGBM effect on repetitive dives"?
Because they are two different things.
So, what does it mean to "attenuate" the RGBM effect? >>>
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The advantage of Suunto RGBM is additional safety through its ability to adapt to a wide variety of situations. Suunto RGBM addresses a number of diving circumstances outside the range of just dissolved gas models by:
• Monitoring continuous multiday diving
• Computing closely spaced repetitive diving
• Reacting to a dive deeper than the previous dive
• Adapting for rapid ascents which produce high micro-bubble
(silent-bubble) build-up
• Incorporating consistency with real physical laws for gas
kinetics.
The SUUNTO RGBM algorithm adapts its predictions of both the effects of micro bubble build-up and adverse dive profiles in the current dive series.
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My understanding is that changing the RGBM to 50% allows "more experienced divers to accept a little more risk of developing microbubbles" when the conditions within a repetitive dive series include one or more of the situations listed above, by not unduly penalizing them with more (or longer) required stops and/or decreased NDL times on subsequent dives. However, if the ACTUAL dive series does not include one or more of the above situations, reducing RGBM from 100% to 50% should have NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER on conservativism.
I don't have my Vytec DS handy, but there's a simple way to confirm this:
With the RGBM effect set to 100%, use PLAN mode to plan a dive to 100ft, noting how much NDL time the Suunto gives you. Then change the RGBM effect to 50% and plan the same dive. If my understanding of the model - and the Suunto - is correct, the two NDL times will be the same. (Perhaps I'll grab mine tomorrow and try this.)
In short, while attenuating the RGBM effect
MAY prevent the Suunto from unduly limiting your NDL on
CERTAIN dives where
SPECIFIC situations are encountered while doing
REPETITIVE dives...this is NOT the same as "reducing the level of conservativism."
Either way however, modifying the RGBM setting on the computer isn't really something a diver should do - or recommend - if they don't have a thorough understanding of exactly what that means.