Personally I keep my backup on my buddy just like he keeps his backup on me. We both jump in with a pre-planned depth and time and any failure turns the dive. I suppose if we were to get into any kind of deco obligation we would write out some bail out plan on our slates and probably bring along a third computer between us but that’s what works for us.
Backup computer position on technical dives
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Both on the right, I can check them out with one glance and not wave my light around in my left
Primary on right (usually CCR controller) backup and slate on left
As an Instructor, I model what I teach my students. They're learning how to navigate and adjust buoyancy. I teach and practice, Compass (mechanical) on the left and Computer on the right wrist. I teach them to ALWAYS dive with a compass. Computer on the right allows them to adjust buoyancy with left hand (deflator/ inflator) while checking depth with their computer on the right.
I use 2 computers on every dive. Suunto D9 AI and a Petrel 2. Both are on the right arm. Compass (mechanical) is on the left. Why not use the Petrel's compass? Because I model to my students that they should have a compass on every Dive. Most of them are on inexpensive computers without a compass. Even if they do have a Perdix, a mechanical compass is still better and faster to use.
On an OC Tec dive, my configuration remains the same. Compass on left. D9 AI and Petrel on the right. Petrel is the primary set to 40/80 or 50/80. D9 is the backup and set to 50% RGBM (low conservatism). D9 is the get out of Dodge computer.
I use 2 computers on every dive. Suunto D9 AI and a Petrel 2. Both are on the right arm. Compass (mechanical) is on the left. Why not use the Petrel's compass? Because I model to my students that they should have a compass on every Dive. Most of them are on inexpensive computers without a compass. Even if they do have a Perdix, a mechanical compass is still better and faster to use.
On an OC Tec dive, my configuration remains the same. Compass on left. D9 AI and Petrel on the right. Petrel is the primary set to 40/80 or 50/80. D9 is the backup and set to 50% RGBM (low conservatism). D9 is the get out of Dodge computer.
For OC: Primary-Perdix AI on left wrist, Petrel and watch on right wrist. Tables/slate in pocket.
For CC: ISC controller and secondary Petrel on left wrist, Hardwired Predator and watch on right wrist.
There are occasions when I’ll dive CC and OC on the same day, most likely I’ll dive CCR during the day, then dive OC for a blackwater drift dive that night. In those instances I rely on my Petrel as my OC primary, (it’s monitored my previous dives), and the Perdix becomes my SPG.
I do not do blackwater drifts on CCR for a few reasons: The creatures I’m shooting are almost all tiny and many are not bothered by exhaust bubbles. Depth changes occur frequently which makes proper PO2 monitoring and adjustment problematic. If I’m fortunate enough to find some tiny creature that will allow me to spend a few minutes photographing it, I prefer to concentrate on it and my camera, as opposed to monitoring my displays. Take your eyes off the subject for even a second or two, and there’s a good chance that you’ll never find it again. The local operators that I use for these dives suggest as common courtesy that dives are limited to a maximum of 90 minutes, and average depths are relatively shallow, thus a single cylinder is sufficient for the task at hand.
For CC: ISC controller and secondary Petrel on left wrist, Hardwired Predator and watch on right wrist.
There are occasions when I’ll dive CC and OC on the same day, most likely I’ll dive CCR during the day, then dive OC for a blackwater drift dive that night. In those instances I rely on my Petrel as my OC primary, (it’s monitored my previous dives), and the Perdix becomes my SPG.
I do not do blackwater drifts on CCR for a few reasons: The creatures I’m shooting are almost all tiny and many are not bothered by exhaust bubbles. Depth changes occur frequently which makes proper PO2 monitoring and adjustment problematic. If I’m fortunate enough to find some tiny creature that will allow me to spend a few minutes photographing it, I prefer to concentrate on it and my camera, as opposed to monitoring my displays. Take your eyes off the subject for even a second or two, and there’s a good chance that you’ll never find it again. The local operators that I use for these dives suggest as common courtesy that dives are limited to a maximum of 90 minutes, and average depths are relatively shallow, thus a single cylinder is sufficient for the task at hand.
jfe
Contributor
IMO there is more to the question as stated above, should ask what is your backup and where do you keep it. I also have comp on right and my "backup" is set to guage mode on left along with my slate with dive plan on it. This is my reference not to solely trust and focus on my computer, and eliminate the conflict in deco settings (primary and backup different make / model).
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Primary on the left (controller), backup on the loop (NERD). But I think that the reason that wearing a computer on the right wrist was originally recommended was that it was easier to look at it if you were ascending and manipulating your wing/BC inflator hose above your head or your butt dump valve (both of which are usually on the left).
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