Computer Recomendations??

[diverbrian]

I use a VR3 with a bottom timer back-up and a slate in my drysuit pocket.

Works great, but you won't catch me using the games quite yet.

What I really like about is the ability to go over to CCR when I do that next year. You can literally dive an Inspiration one dive and open circuit on the next dive if that is what circumstances call for.

 

[Bwanar]

Thanks Chris, Guess I can't pass the monkey test either. The buttons aren't the problem, it's when to use a short or long push on the left/right button or both and the fact that the manual leaves much to be desired as far as both content/clarity. They leave out quite a few things. I'm going to have to get with someone for 30min. that has it mastered. I think it will save countless hours of trial and error.

UOTE=Sydney_Diver]VR3 for me too
with VPlnner backup on the slate.

Love it, as for the buttons, a monkey could figure it out in 5 mins.

Cheers
Chris[/QUOTE]

 

[loosebits]

Everyone out there saying V-Planner and a slate, what is your solution for multi-level dives where you don't know the levels ahead of time (such as a cave)? I ask because I'm going to be taking full cave in a few months and while everyone I dive with uses a computer, I'd like to try it using tables and a BT but I just don't see how to come up with a decent dive plan that doesn't have me doing a lot more deco than my VRx/Nitek buddies.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Everyone out there saying V-Planner and a slate, what is your solution for multi-level dives where you don't know the levels ahead of time (such as a cave)? I ask because I'm going to be taking full cave in a few months and while everyone I dive with uses a computer, I'd like to try it using tables and a BT but I just don't see how to come up with a decent dive plan that doesn't have me doing a lot more deco than my VRx/Nitek buddies.

On a square profile dive I use V-Planner as my primary with the appropriate redundant plans in my pocket, I also have figured out where to set the conservatism on my Cochran to get it to very closely match the profile that v-planner gives me. I like the Cochran because it never locks me out, depth and time are always shown just like a bottom timer, but it is also running the profile in its computer. I dive the most conservative indicator, the tables from v-planner or the cochran, usually they are just a few seconds apart.

In a cave I look at v-planner and take printouts with me but usually the multilevel dive has the cochran getting me out of the water much sooner than the tables, so I pretty much use the computer as primary with the tables as backup, and I will only follow the tables if somthing goes seriously wrong. So far this has not happened.

Of course in a cave whether you use a bottom timer and tables or a computer you will need some redundancy. Two computers or one computer that will not lock you out and a bottom timer or two bottom timers or similar devices.

Have fun with the cave class, and good luck trying to keep the instructor from killing you.

Mark Vlahos