Bollocks talked about computer algorithms. Aka how to bend an Oceanic VT3

[Centrals]

Can I say bollocks? Never mind…

So we did the dive, nothing untoward, perfectly lovely and relaxing, max 28m, mostly at about 25m. I used the VT3 as a pressure gauge (not having set the transmitter on the default screen of the Perdix yet).

Come the ascent my buddy had a couple of minutes at 6 (his Peregrine having last stop set to 6, and using a richer gas) and I had one at 6 and 4 at 3. The VT3 was showing 14 minutes at 3. We did the time at 6 to 7 for the buddy’s Peregrine and then moved up to 5 for my deco and the the 5 minute safety stop the adaptive mode of the Perdix called for. By the end of that my surface GF was about 73% so a perfectly nice number. The VT3 still wanted 8 minutes. Our max run time at this point was only 5 minutes more so there was no chance I was keeping everyone waiting, even without that I’d not want more time in 9C water pointlessly so we surfaced and bent it.

The B word probably means nothing in USA!
"VT3 was showing 14 mins at 3"
Was it your input for your last stop 3m?
Would it make any difference if you set the last stop at 6m?

There is such a thing as "conservative factor" on VT3. Perhaps the previous owner has set it and you have not changed it. If it is ON then the computer will assume you are diving at 915m(3000ft) altitude.

 

[KenGordon]

I've never had that kind of discrepancy in my simple dives, never more than a minute or two in either direction. I dived my VT3 with a Dive Rite Nitek Q for about 3 years before I bought my Teric, about 2 years ago, so that I could learn Buhlmann. After 5 yrs experience with Buhlmann and DSAT, you'd think I would have experienced a difference like you found, if it were applicable to my simple profiles

Ok, I have a guess.

I set the mix the night before the dive. Last night, for a previous reply, I set it again. This morning it is back to air. What is the behaviour on this? I guess there is a time limit and then it reverts to air. I would swear I was on the boat when I checked the NDLs though, oh well…

I have not figured out how to see the mix in the log entry for the dive that bent it.

@Centrals the conservatism is off. I don’t think there is a choice about last stop depth, it is just 3.

I will be glad if it is user error on my part. It seems like it would be an ok enough computer for people doing ADP without two multi gas computers and it owes me -£30.

Usability issues like these ought to be what people are talking about not NDL times.

 

[Wibble]

Never mind the bollocks, here's the VT3

Sounds like the VT3 is designed by the same Muppets that designed the Suunto computers. Unfathomably complex button presses - like some wizard's spell.

And then there's the Apple of the diving world, Shearwater. They. Just. Work. For all other inferior computers there's ebay and some poor recreational sop who's bought into the dream of technical-influenced recreational tat...

 

[Centrals]

I am pretty convinced that you are a much experienced and knowledgeable diver than I am. No question about it.

I have the same issue with my Oceanic Veo 180 on nitrox setting if I inadvertently set it too early. It will default back to air after certain period(12hrs).
If the log does not indicate nitrox then it was probably in AIR mode.
You can set the last stop at 3,4,5,6m.

What is 30 quids nowadays?

 

[Wibble]

What is 30 quids nowadays?

Not enough for a night out at the pub! And certainly not when we're finally allowed to drink ourselves into a covid-related stupor, spreading all that beer-infused love. It'll be carnage in June when most covid restrictions are lifted in the UK.

As a diving aside, I've found that the Aqualung AI transmitter (and the Shearwater yellow transmitter) works very well on my rebreather. More importantly the Shearwater tells you when the transmitter batteries are low; simply change them at the next build.

That Oceanic reset seems crazy. It's almost if it's deliberately designed to annoy people. Definitely designed by non-diving Muppets; in the same way as the Shearwater computers appear to be designed by people who actually go diving and who really understand usability! Odd that.

 

[Centrals]

Take it easy mate when the time finally arrives.

I am pretty sure 30 quids should be just enough for a quiet night out and finish it with a bag of chips with curry sauce and pickle!!

As for Shearwater:

Shearwater Research Attracts New Majority Shareholder - Shearwater Research

 

[KenGordon]

@scubadada you probably know the answer to this better than the manual… I just gave up copying and pasting from the manual.

@Centrals the net cost was negative. A VT3 with transmitter is cheaper on Facebook than just a transmitter is in the shops. So long as the transmitter was good I was quids in. The log doesn’t show details for the dive that bent it. Maybe if it was a Nitrox dive I could tell but I will have to wait until next time I bend it when I have made certain it is in Nitrox mode 2 minutes before I jump in. I set it at some time between 8 and 10pm Friday, ropes off was 8am and the dive at 9.07 saturday. If there is a 12 hour timeout then it could well be the case I checked it on the boat and it was at 32% with the 31 minute NDL but reverted by the time I hit the water. Or maybe I just checked it the night before.

 

[KenGordon]

Take it easy mate when the time finally arrives.

I am pretty sure 30 quids should be just enough for a quiet night out and finish it with a bag of chips with curry sauce and pickle!!

As for Shearwater:

Shearwater Research Attracts New Majority Shareholder - Shearwater Research

Following brexit U.K. fishermen are unable to catch cod off Norway, due to climate change the fish are moving north. It is already £10 for fish and chips, soon you might not be able to buy it, let alone curry sauce, for £30.

 

[Centrals]

Following brexit U.K. fishermen are unable to catch cod off Norway, due to climate change the fish are moving north. It is already £10 for fish and chips, soon you might not be able to buy it, let alone curry sauce, for £30.

I dared to mention fish at all knowing the cost for cod or haddock in UK.
Bag of chips + pickle(Asda/Tesco not Sainsbury/Waitrose).

Cheers

 

[Wibble]

Following brexit U.K. fishermen are unable to catch cod off Norway, due to climate change the fish are moving north. It is already £10 for fish and chips, soon you might not be able to buy it, let alone curry sauce, for £30.

Cod and Chips in my (excellent) local village retailer in the south of England for two people is £13.50. It's been around that price for at least the last couple of years. A small retailer like that would change their prices if their input prices went up, so the cost of fish and chips doesn't seem to have varied due to Brexit. BTW the UK waters are the largest fishing grounds in the EU, hence the French and other neighbouring countries want to continue fishing.


Do we get the prize for the best off-topic responses now

Only posting as my dive today was cancelled - have a storm coming through later, just as we would have been surfacing.

This is what it looked like yesterday (Beachy Head). Rarely is it that calm in the Channel! The wreck at 33m/110' was very dark, but had 2m/6' to 4m/12' visibility with lots of particulate (normal for this time of year). Was playing around on my new Blacktip scooter -- the Shearwater Nerd is the mutts nuts as we say in the UK; terrific to have both depth and compass in your line of sight.