Computer diving

[H2Andy]

Please explain how computers help you have longer dives.

basically, they calculate multi-level dives quickly and efficiently, thus allowing you
to spend more time in the water.

by keeping track of how much time you've spent at various depths, they are much
more flexible than the tables, which calculate your non-decompression limits based
on your deepest depth.

in the situation you describe, sounds like the dive planning was done for you, and
the target PSI was calculated to bring you back to the surface under the NDL's,
given the depth of the dives.

 

[Charlie99]

On the upside tables are also based upon mathematical models with many more actual dives to prove their statistics out. Computer models tend to be approximations of these tables..

That's a suprising statement for a PADI and NAUI certified scuba instructor to be making.

A better description would be that there is an underlying mathmatical model. In the case of both PADI/DSAT and US Navy/NAUI, it is a multicompartment neo Haldanian dissolved gas model. Both the tables and the computers are then based on that same model and the same testing.

The computer has a depth and time sampling rates such that its calculations very closely follow the model.

Due to the limited space of a table, due to the limited calculations possible with a table, and because only 1 compartment is tracked on a table, the table is a poor approximation of the model. (14 compartments in PADI/DSAT model, 9 in the Workman model upon which USN and NAUI table is based).

The tables are much, much more of an approximation than are dive computers.

 

[kevink]

That's a suprising statement for a PADI and NAUI certified scuba instructor to be making.

A better description would be that there is an underlying mathmatical model. In the case of both PADI/DSAT and US Navy/NAUI, it is a multicompartment neo Haldanian dissolved gas model. Both the tables and the computers are then based on that same model and the same testing.

The computer has a depth and time sampling rates such that its calculations very closely follow the model.

Due to the limited space of a table, due to the limited calculations possible with a table, and because only 1 compartment is tracked on a table, the table is a poor approximation of the model. (14 compartments in PADI/DSAT model, 9 in the Workman model upon which USN and NAUI table is based).

The tables are much, much more of an approximation than are dive computers.

Everyone realizes this thread is in the New 2 Scuba section.

Threre is more than one decompression model. There are 3 classical models which build the basis for most dive computers. There are slight iterations on these models so that I could not give you a firm count on the exact number.

A table still tracks 9 or 14 of the compartments. The only problem is that for each depth listed, only one of these compartments drives the NDL. There is a single compartment which drives the washout (surface interval).

Since your dive computer is running off of the base algorithm, it is deciding which compartment is driving your instantaneous NDL.

 

[shugar]

I GOT MY COMPUTER!!!!

i have a new computer! i have a new computer! i have a new computer!

it's a mosquito and i'm one happy bugger!

Jag

 

[Wijbrandus]

I had a chance to test dive a day on the Mosquito.

I really liked it. It was very easy to read, and for a Table-Diver, the printout charts were very different and informative compared to what I'm used to.

Congratulations on your new equipment.

 

[miketsp]

..snip..
Also, I've heard that some dive charters insist on computers.
..snip..

Yes this happens.
The computer has become a weapon that the operator can use against the diver.
Some places will inspect your computer after every dive and if you have a depth or deco violation you have to sit out the next dives.
At others it can cause stress just by going into deco even if the computer is set to a high safety percentage.

 

[Michael Freeman]

Yep I had an old Suunto Eon that I set to conservative by increasing the alt setting. When I did Devils Throat in Cozumel it went into a deco dive just before I called the dive. A little too conservative looking back, but only lost me a minute of bottom time against the other divers.

New computer rocks compaired to that 10 year old computer. And if you look at the advances in life around us. The addition of computers to say, tune your cars engine as it goes down the road have made cars more reliable not less. Computers are good, and if used correctly, do a better job at estimating your dive stats.