back up systems

[chuckrt]

I am curious to find out how many people using a computer carry a back up system. This came about from Uncle Pugs discussion on the table use profiles on another thread.

I use an Oceanic Datamax Pro Plus and I am getting an old divng standby of gauges for a backup. I would get another computer but I just bought a Drysuit, ouch .

If your computer failed in water and you have a backup set of gauges would you continue your dive profile as planned or change to a shallower more conservative depth?


chuckrt

 

[Manogr]

I use a Suunto Mosquito and analog gauges...

Manogr

 

[Rick Murchison]

I just don't fit these stinkin' polls...
Sometimes I dive with a computer and gauges, sometimes with two computers and gauges, sometimes with three sets of gauges, sometimes two. Depends on the dive and the gas plan and what works best for the situation. The only thing that's always a constant is my Aqualand Duplex.
Under any circumstances, I'm not into missed dives because of equipment problems, so I strive to always be adequately "backed up" and planned to accomodate any single point failure without it interrupting that dive or the diving day.
Rick

 

[MikeS]

If I am way off base here please excuse my ignorance.

Can you not rely on your buddy for redundancy in such a situation? Doesn’t a computer failure mandate an end to the dive? If so all you need to do at this point is surface safely. It seems this can be done with your buddy’s instrumentation. The only possible shortcoming I can see is that your buddy’s pressure gauge does not tell you how much air is in your tank. But if you maintain proper air management, shouldn’t you always maintain sufficient air to return to the surface, with a safety margin? A faulty computer should never make you run out of air!

For recreational diving, with a buddy and direct access to the surface, it seems to me that the value of redundant instrumentation is of dubious value and results in additional complication and failure points.

The only justifications for redundant instrumentation that I can think of are:
1. Solo diving (no buddy with redundant instrumentation).
2. If you don’t intend to end a dive because of computer failure.
3. Technical diving where you can’t simply surface.

In these cases, a very good case can be made that the backup should be identical to the primary computer.

Mike

 

[NINman]

I put computer only, but my presure is an analog gauge. I rely on my Computer for Depth and Time. I do use a watch for time now. But I don't check it often.

 

[chuckrt]

Mike S you are right about your buddy being a safety and you should always be able to surface, however would you rather surface or continue a dive at a shallower depth because you have not used your tables to plan and your buddy only has gauges as well.

Even with a buddy I need to no what is happening with my system as to air etc.

I do not dive DIR and am not sure of their polices, Uncle Pug or other DIR please advise.

chuckrt

 

[dkerr]

When I first got my computer I thought I would be able to EBAY away my depth guage. Luckily I talked with some people before I did and explained the reasoning for having a back up.
A lot of this stuff makes sense once you hear about it, but it never occured to me before. Of course, I have never been accused of being the fullest tank on the boat...sharpest knife in the drawer...brightest bulb in the UW light...

 

[devilfish]

I dive with a computer. But with consideration that sometimes my video lights battery goes dead, the pc board inside the battery compartment shortens out, my desktop pc crashes, I feel much more comfortable while I dive that I also have direct pressure pushing the needles on my analog gauges and my ol faithful keeps ticking.

 

[Tavi]

I dive a Suunto Cobra. I use a Suunto Mosquito for back up.

The Value of having a back-up is that if my Cobra Craps out the dive is over. But I can put a pressure guage in it's place and dive again that afternoon, instead of waiting the recomended 24hrs. My mossy is the same algorithm as the Cobra, it has the same information except for the air.

This is mostly for dive-weekends and dive trips. If I'm doing just one dive I don't need back-up, If it goes, the dive is over.

Sometimes I do tables just to keep it fresh. On vacation I'm mostly diving my computer.

I was reminded of something by Uncle Pug's line that "Computers rot your brain". I used to know all of the phone numbers for my freinds, family, and coworkers. Probably 70 or more numbers.
Once they came out with these phones that you can program numbers into, and I started using them, I don't remember most of those numbers. :huh:

 

[MSilvia]

I use a three gauge console and replaced the depth gague with a modular Genesis computer. My current configuration is compass, computer, and pressure gauge, but I keep the analog depth gauge in my save a dive kit. In case of computer failure, I abort and go with my buddy's instrumentation as backup.

If I was diving overhead environments, I would of course ensure redundancy, but I haven't done any diving in overhead environments yet.