Computers...On the wrist or On a hose?
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My preference is for analog gauges, so if computer fail...I can still dive using tables. So my computers are independant and non air-integrated. KISS. I like my computer on right wrist, soon will be diving with bottom timer on left, carry canister head light over my left and SPG, depth gauge and compass as a console on my left hip.
I keep my PDC (AI with digital compass) on my right wrist ... same for my watch at the surface ..... when I have one
tac747 I think by now you will have seen that what people use us personal preference based on many dive experiences, there is no right or wrong way, it is whatever works for you.
For me I wear a watch (left) and Computer (left) on the inside of my wrist so that I can monitor it easily when taking photographs.
Compass on my right arm
SPG and depth gauge on secured hose
PADI Wheel in my dry bag ..... never had to use it in years
For me I wear a watch (left) and Computer (left) on the inside of my wrist so that I can monitor it easily when taking photographs.
Compass on my right arm
SPG and depth gauge on secured hose
PADI Wheel in my dry bag ..... never had to use it in years
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CamG
Contributor
Greetings Tac747 and I have both a hose AI and a wrist computer.
I have only worn my hose AI a few times in 3 years but started diving with it for almost two years.
One of the options I like about it is the simplicity of everything in one place, compass, pressure gauge, etc.
The major issue I had with it was the hose always seemed long and put the computer at odd distances.
It was a quick detach so I did not replace it.
The air time remaining is not a very big deal and as I gained more experience it became a non issue altogether.
I cringed every time the computer would get dragged or bounce on a hard surface when gearing up and down.
My wrist computer is a two gas puck style with basic operations and I wear it on my right wrist.
I use a brass and glass standard pressure gauge on a 24 inch hose that actually tucks very nicely to my side and wing.
Since I started using the wrist computer / SPG I have swapped all my rigs out because it is just that much more streamlined and less entanglement issues.
Bottom line for me was that I found simple easier to deal with but I still have the console computer it has been great for calculating SAC / RMV rates as it is digital.
Tac it really is up to you to decide and personally I would try to dive both to see what ones worked best for your style of diving.
There are many ways to get the same place and everyone takes different paths however with that being said safety is #1 and consider wisely.
Try before you buy if possible or at least dive beside a buddy with one.
Computers are a awesome tool but can FAIL that is why plan your dive with slates as well to be able to complete your planned dive with or without your computer!
TABLES ARE NOT EXTINCT JUST YET!
CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!
I have only worn my hose AI a few times in 3 years but started diving with it for almost two years.
One of the options I like about it is the simplicity of everything in one place, compass, pressure gauge, etc.
The major issue I had with it was the hose always seemed long and put the computer at odd distances.
It was a quick detach so I did not replace it.
The air time remaining is not a very big deal and as I gained more experience it became a non issue altogether.
I cringed every time the computer would get dragged or bounce on a hard surface when gearing up and down.
My wrist computer is a two gas puck style with basic operations and I wear it on my right wrist.
I use a brass and glass standard pressure gauge on a 24 inch hose that actually tucks very nicely to my side and wing.
Since I started using the wrist computer / SPG I have swapped all my rigs out because it is just that much more streamlined and less entanglement issues.
Bottom line for me was that I found simple easier to deal with but I still have the console computer it has been great for calculating SAC / RMV rates as it is digital.
Tac it really is up to you to decide and personally I would try to dive both to see what ones worked best for your style of diving.
There are many ways to get the same place and everyone takes different paths however with that being said safety is #1 and consider wisely.
Try before you buy if possible or at least dive beside a buddy with one.
Computers are a awesome tool but can FAIL that is why plan your dive with slates as well to be able to complete your planned dive with or without your computer!
TABLES ARE NOT EXTINCT JUST YET!
CamG Keep Diving....Keep Training....Keep Learning!
Damselfish
Contributor
This phase will pass quickly but you will probably have the computer for a long time. So if that's your only reason for considering air integrated I'd think about it some more. Generations of divers have done just fine without having to rely on something like this. As people have mentioned there are much better ways of being "safe" on your air use, and after awhile you may find you know about how much air you have without even looking - not that you shouldn't still look. :cool2: I actually think simply wanting the toy is a better reason to get AI.
Wrist AI (hoseless) computers have a reputation, deserved or not, for the connection being unreliable. Some people report problems, some say no problem. It's certainly one more thing to go wrong though. Not of a problem with a hosed AI computer, but it's still the case if the computer itself fails you've lost not only depth/time/NDL, but also pressure unless you have backups.
One advantage of having a computer in a console is it's one less separate piece of equipment to forget or misplace - if you splash without your reg you've got bigger problems.
A disadvantage is if say you are traveling and want to take the computer to your room, or want to upload dives to your computer - unless you have a quick disconnect (which some people don't like the idea of) you have to cart your whole reg around.I dive with 2 computers, one on my wrist and one in my console. I almost always look at the one on my wrist, I find it more convenient. I pretty much only check the other to make sure it's still working. ( If you are traveling to dive, and doing many dives, a backup computer can be a very useful thing. When doing 4-5 multilevel dives a day, tables aren't a very useful backup and will likely result in some lost dives. Not great if you've spent lots of money and flown a long way to dive someplace. For the same price I'd rather have 2 basic computers than one expensive one. YMMV.)
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This is my husband's solution. He has a Cobra on his HP hose, and a Vytec with transmitter on his wrist. (AND a Liquivision . . . it's a bit silly, actually.) He downloads the Cobra, because it's easy to download and has his gas consumption information.
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Where you keep your gauges is less important than understanding what they are telling you. Don't rely on alarms and numbers to run your dive for you. Gauges are meant to provide feedback, not make your decisions for you.
Wherever you place your gauges, make sure you can reach and read them easily. People tend to pay less attention to them if they have to put conscious effort into reaching for them.
For students of mine who prefer consoles, I sometimes recommend clipping them to a D-ring on their BCD where they can be read by looking down (hands-free).
No danglies ... not only is it a potential entanglement hazard, but you're far more likely to scratch up your nice, expensive gauges if they're not properly secured ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Wherever you place your gauges, make sure you can reach and read them easily. People tend to pay less attention to them if they have to put conscious effort into reaching for them.
For students of mine who prefer consoles, I sometimes recommend clipping them to a D-ring on their BCD where they can be read by looking down (hands-free).
No danglies ... not only is it a potential entanglement hazard, but you're far more likely to scratch up your nice, expensive gauges if they're not properly secured ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
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In terms of Rec diving:
It seems that its is most prudent to have some form of SPG on a hose in any configuration. I dive a luna/sol and have the spg stowed for those moments when I loose link and don't feel like waiting.
I think most of us believe ideal diving would be completely without gear but alas we need to breathe and monitor our air supply and that means hoses for now...
So, I would suggest an A/I computer on a hose because if it should ever slip your mind the computer can say "äir!!! pay attention to air!!!" like my luna does when computed remaining dive time air falls under three minutes and i have it set to inform me of 1000psi. if you want something easy to look at for ascent you can have a watch with depth on your wrist.
my 2c
It seems that its is most prudent to have some form of SPG on a hose in any configuration. I dive a luna/sol and have the spg stowed for those moments when I loose link and don't feel like waiting.
I think most of us believe ideal diving would be completely without gear but alas we need to breathe and monitor our air supply and that means hoses for now...
So, I would suggest an A/I computer on a hose because if it should ever slip your mind the computer can say "äir!!! pay attention to air!!!" like my luna does when computed remaining dive time air falls under three minutes and i have it set to inform me of 1000psi. if you want something easy to look at for ascent you can have a watch with depth on your wrist.
my 2c
fnfalman
Contributor
We're straying quite a bit from the original question of where to carry the gauges to now what kind of gauges and computers we use.
Once again, it's all about preference. The people that poopoo air integrated computers...guess what? You don't need a computer at all. People have dived for decades without using computers, but rely simply on gauges. So, now you have the people diving with gauges poopooing on the people that use simple, non-air integrated computers. Guess what? There were people diving for decades without gauges. They use J-valves and pre-calculated air consumption dive plans. These people poopooing the ones that use them newfangled, failure points induced gauges.
In the end, if you want to get an air integrated computer, then get one. I know how to calculate for my air consumption. I know how long my tanks will last me at the typical dive depths that I do. I still like my air integrated computers; both hosed and wireless.
Once again, it's all about preference. The people that poopoo air integrated computers...guess what? You don't need a computer at all. People have dived for decades without using computers, but rely simply on gauges. So, now you have the people diving with gauges poopooing on the people that use simple, non-air integrated computers. Guess what? There were people diving for decades without gauges. They use J-valves and pre-calculated air consumption dive plans. These people poopooing the ones that use them newfangled, failure points induced gauges.
In the end, if you want to get an air integrated computer, then get one. I know how to calculate for my air consumption. I know how long my tanks will last me at the typical dive depths that I do. I still like my air integrated computers; both hosed and wireless.
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