Computer issues - would you still dive it?

[Jax]

I would like to hear how most divers respond to a computer that has an issue, acts 'funny', etc.

I've been seeing threads like, "My Liquivision went diving without me" and "my computer went to 294m on air" and "It went into deco after diving 45 minutes on a 20'-30' reef dive . . .

Then others respond "I just reloaded the firmware" or "I talked to a guy and he said these two settings can't be locked on the same time" or "the website said it was a recognized issue and don't worry about it, it'll be fixed in the next firmware release." . . .

What do you do when your 'puter goes wonky?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

If the computer starts giving funny readings during a dive, then I'd immediately cross-check time, depth, and NDL info (if possible) with my buddy's computer. My computer is not air-integrated so I would still know how much gas is left in my tank. Even if the computer went completely blank, I would consider continuing the dive provided that I was comfortable with the conditions (familiar site, decent vis, reliable buddy, etc.).

If the computer is doing something very obviously wrong in-between dives (on the surface), I might try a few different things depending on the issue. If the computer was going diving without me, I might try to clean off the depth sensor by a prolonged soaking in warm water or a toothbrush scrub in the vicinity of the depth sensor. If the computer is giving a different fault, I might try installing a fresh battery.

If what I tried didn't work, then I suppose I would contact the manufacturer to see what the company response might be. A few searches on the Internet might also be helpful to see whether others have encountered the same issue with my computer model.

If the computer was continuing to give me wonky read-outs, I wouldn't dive with it. I'd probably just pull out one of my backup computers in the dive closet for the next dive.

 

[fjpatrum]

I haven't had this issue, but I'd just dive the tables... or use a backup now that I have 2 computers.

 

[Charlie99]

I would like to hear how most divers respond to a computer that has an issue, acts 'funny', etc.

I've had only 1 dive where my computer acted "funny".

It was a live drop for a drift dive and immediate descent while on a trip to Cozumel. I had forgotten to turn on my computer and by the time it finished its zero calibration I was deeper than 10'. My routine is to pause around 15' and check SPG and computer, and look for bubbles. My computer said 5' when looking at the surface I could see it was more like 15'. I compared depth with the DM at that point, and after the initial descent. In both cases my computer was reading 12' shallow. I continued the dive, just using the computer as a depth gauge/timer and calculating my dive in my head as if it were 12-15' deeper than indicated. As expected, it came out of dive mode when I was still about 15' deep.

Luckily, the 2nd dive of the day was very shallow and decompression status / NDL was not an issue. It must have rezeroed itself during the SI because it read depth correctly on the 2nd dive.

The following morning I was able to scroll thorugh NDLs and verify that it was showing sea level NDLs, so I had faith that the problem was really an error on my part of not activating the computer (an old single button Oceanic Data Plus hockey puck) before descending. Or more likely, I had inadvertently activated it earlier that morning, and after two hours it moved from the predive mode back to the 24 hour time to fly mode.

 

[lowviz]

......What do you do when your 'puter goes wonky?

Go from "right arm" to "left arm". (See image, bottom timer not shown.) If I'm still good, continue. If not, head home following USN 10 minute omitted deco procedure just for grins.


Being an engineer, I expect it to die. Sorry, just can't help feeling that way.

Stay safe.

 

[rhwestfall]

not as fancy as LowViz, but my slate has the plan, and I still wear a watch/timer. Computer to me is an accessory that confirms what I have planned in my "Old School" training. I'm actually still uncomfortable with depending on a computer (let alone the 2 that you folks seem to think recreational divers need). That won't change for me either......

 

[Jax]

Being an engineer, I expect it to die. Sorry, just can't help feeling that way.

Stay safe.

Well, yes, I understand backup computers . . .

What I do not understand is . . . why would you continue using a life support gadget that has proven it has a glitch?

For those of you that do continue using them, I mean.

I am reading about the Xen that has a 'small firmware problem' where it loses time . . . but it 'will get fixed in the next firmware revision.'

What I like about my Uwatecs, is that when there is a problem, they quit. Period. Display 'Err' or nothing at all. That is considered "fail-safe", meaning safe was defined as "not working" so if there is a failure, you do not have to wonder if you can trust your computer -- you know you can't, and you cannot use it.

While others are happily using their computer with delayed start-ups or erroneous depth readings or it goes diving by itself . . . .

For me, there is no way in the world I would use a computer that went 'wonky' without it going back to the manufacturer for a complete checkout.

Aren't you - who continue use - concerned that there may be other issues; that maybe what the calculations are may not be accurate? Especially the one with the computer gaining time . . . time is used in so many functions in dive computing, how can you trust what the 'puter is saying?

Can someone help me with that?

 

[rhwestfall]

Well, yes, I understand backup computers . . .

What I do not understand is . . . why would you continue using a life support gadget that has proven it has a glitch?

you don't/shouldn't!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

@Jax: The Xen is a bottom timer. It displays depth, time, and other derivative info. No NDLs are reported. Seems to me that one could easily check a Xen fault with a simple watch and analog depth gauge. More likely, most divers would check the bottom timer info against a backup computer...or a buddy's computer.

The way I use a dive computer, I wouldn't refer to it as a "life support gadget." Then again, I will cross-check my computer with my buddy's once per dive, usually prior to hitting turn-pressure.
FWIW, I'm just an OW recreational diver.

 

[Steve50]

Sell it to someone special