Banned from diving for a locked out backup computer?

[Diver Dennis]

Like me?

 

[JeffG]

I disagree. Read the DAN reports on diving accidents. Fit, non-slobs get hit and can have serious issues as well. IMNSHO, your primary computer is your dive plan and your brain. Your backup is your dive computer. There is NO need to have a backup dive computer - period. I'm interested in having anyone show me where there is a valid reason to have 2 dive computers. Only a dive concession would lead you to believe such nonsense.

Jim

Then we will have to agree to disagree. Fit non-slobs get bent because the do dumb stuff. If you are carrying 2 computers and 1 is bent and the other isn't, then one of the computer has been set incorrectly or he was riding on the edge of one of them (if they were different).

Which one was set wrong? The working one...well, you might be bent. (like had it set for 36%, but in fact you were on air)..then you don't dive.

If the locked out one is set wrong (it was set for air and you were on 36%)...throw it in a bag and go dive.

The issue of if someone needs to have a backup dive computer is a different topic altogether and not what he asked.

FWIW...I don't even use 1 computer.

 

[jhelmuth]

Perhaps there is no need to have a back up dive computer but if someone wants to have one and can pay for it, why not?

A legitimate question...

[1] Having 2 computers does not make the dive safer.
[2] Having 2 computers does not satisfy MOST dive ops (so you'll be on SIT while your buddies are in the water should you violate one of them) if one is violated.
[3] It's a good idea to plan your dives and dive your plan - 2 computers seem to indicate that there is no need (or intention) to do so.

I've never known any "but if someone wants to have one and can pay for it, why not?" to be a good answer.


Now... why should anyone dive with 2 dive computers? (oops! that's right, you already agreed on that point).

 

[jhelmuth]

Then we will have to agree to disagree. Fit non-slobs get bent because the do dumb stuff.
....

Well, the guys at DAN (and all other experts I know of will disagree with you on this. The fact is, we still don't know how to prevent DCI/DCS accidents all the time. There are - in fact - divers who get bent that "did nothing wrong". I believe that if you'll ask Mike F here on the board he can personnally confirm that. I cannot, but I trust the data.

 

[Jarrett]

Man, what varied answers Thanks for the input so far. Keep the opinions coming, its very interesting

 

[Damselfish]

If you're going to get a backup computer, I'd be inclined to get one with a similar algorithm (not to mention similar interface.)

If you don't, dive the more conservative one as your primary. Diving the less conservative one is just asking for headaches, like the situation you've described. Aside from that you really don't want to push either that far, it's not much of a backup if you lock one out so what's the point in having it.

I think a fair number of ops have something like that rule, but the assumption is one computer and I've never seen anything stated about backups. I don't think they would/should stop you from diving as long as you have one that's not locked out, but if it happened I wouldn't exactly go out of my way to offer the information either.

 

[Diesel298]

i dive with 2 but one is used as a bottom timer onlt set in gauge mode, and i do my plan as i explained earlier..
i am doing a dive plan and diving it, and then some in the event something should happen and i go deeper than intended or stay loger, it makes me a safer diver because im prepared to deal with problems that occur.
for those purple kool aid drinkin DIR guys...the same throry can be applied but with 2 bottom timers insted.

 

[Diesel298]

Man, what varied answers Thanks for the input so far. Keep the opinions coming, its very interesting

just do it my way and youll be all set.
this is NOT something i just made up.

 

[ChrisA]

That's exactly what I was told from Larry at Scubatoys except dive operation part.
He said, one of his buddies who used Suunto didn't make the last dive while other divers who had Oceanic computer were diving because Suunto was locked out.

Lots of random comments just thing to think about....

1) Notice that Scubatoys doesnt not sell Suunto So take what they say about it with a grain of salt.

2) But he is right. ANY time you have two non-identical computers one of them will be more conservative.

2.5) In my OW training I was taught to to dive the most conservative computer if there are two. I assume everyone was taught this.

3) Why not simply use dive tables as your backup?

4) if you must use two computers why not use the Suunto, it's a nicer computer and keep the old aries in a BC pocket

5) iif you are concerned about the suunto being to concervative or not matching the aries computer why not buy a second identical aries as a backup?

6) Of all the things to backup why a computer. Do you take a backup reg? Pony bottle? How about a lift bag or a spare mask in the leg pocket?

 

[jhelmuth]

i dive with 2 but one is used as a bottom timer onlt set in gauge mode, and i do my plan as i explained earlier..
i am doing a dive plan and diving it, and then some in the event something should happen and i go deeper than intended or stay loger, it makes me a safer diver because im prepared to deal with problems that occur.
for those purple kool aid drinkin DIR guys...the same throry can be applied but with 2 bottom timers insted.

Then you are technically diving only one computer (as the other is only a gauge). You could NEVER then use that gauge mode comuter to dive as a computer without first clearing all the gas loading from the previous dives (more likely to be 24+ hours depending upon the number and type of dives logged).