Computer making me sloppy?

[MellowD]

Obligatory apology if this has been discussed already...I looked but couldn't find anything.

I was certified in July of last year and promptly bought a dive computer (Aladdin Prime) because that's what "everybody else" had. After my OW certification test, I didn't look at tables until I took the EANx certification; and I haven't looked at any of them since. I also haven't manually logged a dive since my orginal check-out dives. I use the computer to "plan" my dive, meaning that I find out how long I can stay at a given depth. Given the fact that I can almost watch the SPG needle move everytime I take a breath, the NDLs are of little concern to me right now. That being said, I do pay close attention to the read-out on my computer during the dive.

All of that to ask this: Does it really matter? Are dive book log sheets going the way of manual spreadsheets and green-bar printer paper? I realize that if I decide to pursue instructor training in the next few years I will have to refamiliarize myself with the tables. Aside from that, in this day and age, is it really necessary?

 

[Charlie99]

If you are doing multilevel dives, ordinary square profile tables aren't all that relevant. For example, my first dive of 3 last Friday was a 131', 65 minute dive. It was within NDL limits at all times. Obviously not all at 130'.

To be an intelligent user of computers however, you need to somehow keep at least enough track of your deco status that you can tell if the computer is spitting out total garbage.

One way I find to improve my awareness is to first make a guess as to what I'm going to see before I look at the computer. This simple habit helps a lot in making you aware of what it should be reading. Doing the same "what should it be reading?" guess each time before looking at your SPG is another good habit to develop.

Charlie Allen

 

[DuckyDiver]

I just took a Nitrox class too, and the instructor spoke a lot about both couputers and tables. He said that in a few years PADI was going to phase out the teaching of table and have all studens use computers. Now I like my computer, but I realy like my tables. Especialy as a new diver it seems important to know and understand the principles behind the computers numbers. I think it would be a little silly to stop teacching tables.

 

[TSandM]

I found, after I did my OW class, that none of the dives I was doing (all shore dives, terrain-based) fit on the tables at all. It bothered me a lot. I really WANTED to fill out all those boxes on the dive log pages, but since virtually every dive put me deep into deco, it wasn't very feasible.

The fact is that it takes a fairly extensive understanding of decompression algorithms, how they are derived and how they work, what the underlying assumptions are, and how to collect enough information while you are diving to run your own profiles. Otherwise, you really need something like a computer to help you out. Relying on tables for multi-level diving results in ridiculously short dives.

However, you SHOULD make an effort, as Charlie says, to keep track of where you've been and for how long, and try to predict what your computer will tell you.

I did a fairly square profile dive on a wreck up in Nanaimo in January, and I ran depths and times in my head and ran the dive so that we arrived at the upline when I wanted to get there . . . and my buddy's Suunto computer showed one minute of no-deco time left when we did. But it's taken me a couple of years and a LOT of reading and practice to get there.

Use your computer. That's what it's for.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Wow all good advice, Don't worry someone will say something silly.. Just wait.

 

[josh]

I also haven't manually logged a dive since my orginal check-out dives.

I realize that if I decide to pursue instructor training in the next few years I will have to refamiliarize myself with the tables.

Just a quick point that if you do decide to go the Instructor route you will have to show evidence of 100 logged dives (minimum). I have no idea whether a CD would accept a computer spreadsheet or not. For that reason alone it might be worth keeping you paper log up to date and stamped...
-j-

 

[Cacia]

stamped?

 

[AzAtty]

I really don't have any problem with a computer logging my dives. I dive my Vyper in gauge mode and download all of mine onto my home computer and then print out a hard copy for log purposes.

However, I dislike substituting technology for an understanding of the basics. Therefore, I do not believe it is a good idea to discontinue teaching tables.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Yes damn it. All dive boats have a special stamp or "seal" which is ALWAYS used to validate a particular dive upon recordation within a dive log. You have a boat, you must have an ink pad and stamp somewhere on board!

 

[MatWill]

eventually they will just be a teaching aid to help teach how the algorithims work.

there is allready new algorthims that dont have a table to double check.

people talk about yeah but what if the computer fails.. but really nowadays most people take a back up stuffed in there bcd pocet

in my mind if my comuter failed underwater.. i would treat it like any other piece of gear failure and start to ascend.. then use my backup for the next dive and back it up with a watch and tables

tables might be starting to become less used but they will always be useful for teaching or back ups