PerroneFord
Contributor
Two issues:
1. Using computers in computer mode, they attempt to save you from yourself. So while it may work for some dives, if the profile does not match what your particular computer thinks is safe, it "locks you out". Essentially, it turns itself into a guage anyway. So rather than endure the beeping, the flashing, and the warnings, it seems more practical to simply start in guage mode, and learn to manage decopmpression in a different way. Some computers will not even offer guage mode to you when they lock you out. And most computers penalize the diver for things like deep stops which most forward thinking agencies are starting to embrace.
2. I choose to use a dive computer because I like having the ability to download my dive profiles after the dives. It helps me see my performance in things like holding stops. It also allows me "bookmarks" to keep track of events during the dive, like how long it took me to swim from one feature to another. I am not familiar with the Suunto D3, but I chose the Vyper because it offered a guage mode, downloading capability, and a large, easy to read screen. With DSS's mount, it is also very secure underwater and unobtrusive. It's also of reasonable cost.
I cannot speak for why others choose this, but this was my own reasoning.
(note: I did a decompression dive on the Vyper once, and after the dive was complete, the post-dive debrief was done in the water, I dropped my fin in 5ft of water. I reached down with my right hand to grab my fin off the bottom, and it bent the computer. I had run that dive in "computer mode")
1. Using computers in computer mode, they attempt to save you from yourself. So while it may work for some dives, if the profile does not match what your particular computer thinks is safe, it "locks you out". Essentially, it turns itself into a guage anyway. So rather than endure the beeping, the flashing, and the warnings, it seems more practical to simply start in guage mode, and learn to manage decopmpression in a different way. Some computers will not even offer guage mode to you when they lock you out. And most computers penalize the diver for things like deep stops which most forward thinking agencies are starting to embrace.
2. I choose to use a dive computer because I like having the ability to download my dive profiles after the dives. It helps me see my performance in things like holding stops. It also allows me "bookmarks" to keep track of events during the dive, like how long it took me to swim from one feature to another. I am not familiar with the Suunto D3, but I chose the Vyper because it offered a guage mode, downloading capability, and a large, easy to read screen. With DSS's mount, it is also very secure underwater and unobtrusive. It's also of reasonable cost.
I cannot speak for why others choose this, but this was my own reasoning.
(note: I did a decompression dive on the Vyper once, and after the dive was complete, the post-dive debrief was done in the water, I dropped my fin in 5ft of water. I reached down with my right hand to grab my fin off the bottom, and it bent the computer. I had run that dive in "computer mode")