pdhenry
Contributor
OK, so help me understand my error. One advantage I may have is that I've read the PADI OW manual and several computer manuals within the past week.Your profile says you are not certified. Your comments seem to back that up.
The context of this thread is the rec diver, whom I assume is using a rec computer, and the point I was replying to was whether the diver on a computer had the same expected actions as a diver using a table. The RDP has the diver follow one of two decomp profiles depending on whether the NDL was exceeded by less than or more than 5 minutes. That's all it's designed to do. Since it's one size fits all (two, actually) the decomp from the RDP will be conservative. When the computer notes that an NDL has been breached it doesn't have to require the diver to follow Decomp A or Decomp B - it can adjust the decomp time and profile more finely than that and still provide a safe decomp. The ones I've reviewed will tell the diver that decompression is required, and will show the depth and duration of the first (or next) decompression stop. It's not as cookie-cutter as the table's dictates.
Training with Tables: An 8 minute decompression stop at 15 feet is mandatory for breaches < 5 minutes with no diving for 6 hours; a 15 minute decmpression stop at 15 feet is urged (air permitting) for breaches > 5 minutes with no diving for 24 hours .
Training with computers: Do what the computer tells you to do, including stop depths and times.