Console vs Air Integrated

[fnfalman]

Some console computers are also air integrated.

Buy what you want to buy. We can argue until the cow comes home about the advantages and disadvantages thereof, but in the end both air integrated and non-air-integrated computers will work.

 

[BDSC]

I have been using an AI console computer for years and have never had a problem with them. As a matter of fact, several of my closest dive buddies have them as well and they have never had a problem. The only time I've been around a AI computer that gave a problem was a wrist mount because the wireless connection to the transmitter was giving a problem. I have a Sherwood Wisdom and I keep it clipped to my BC. It takes me all of about 3 seconds to check it. I can highly recommend this computer.

 

[tbone1004]

I was alluding to any required safety stops or deco stops that may be required. If you don't know how much gas you have left, or even if you do, but don't know how much you'd burn on a safety stop, that's BAD. I don't want to be at a 90fsw dive and be down there close to my NDL's and not do a P-stop, and I want to make sure I have enough gas to do it. I've dove with PLENTY of divers, both "experienced" and not, that thumb dives on "oh sh!t" moments when they realize they're at <500psi. I don't want to be doing a precautionary stop and at 15 feet get a real world practice of my CESA. Just me, but that's why we don't allow students to use computers alone in their checkout dives and make them do all of the table calculations as well as SAC calculations. Then compare, here is your NDL times, here is your time based on your SAC and scheduled avg. depth. Diving with AI computers takes all of the thinking out of it and when it comes time to think, most can't. No offense, but I've seen it happen way too many times when people will bolt to the surface if their AI computers die because they think they're OOA or were told to thumb a dive and surface directly, then just forget about the stops.

 

[gcbryan]

I was alluding to any required safety stops or deco stops that may be required. If you don't know how much gas you have left, or even if you do, but don't know how much you'd burn on a safety stop, that's BAD. I don't want to be at a 90fsw dive and be down there close to my NDL's and not do a P-stop, and I want to make sure I have enough gas to do it. I've dove with PLENTY of divers, both "experienced" and not, that thumb dives on "oh sh!t" moments when they realize they're at <500psi. I don't want to be doing a precautionary stop and at 15 feet get a real world practice of my CESA. Just me, but that's why we don't allow students to use computers alone in their checkout dives and make them do all of the table calculations as well as SAC calculations. Then compare, here is your NDL times, here is your time based on your SAC and scheduled avg. depth. Diving with AI computers takes all of the thinking out of it and when it comes time to think, most can't. No offense, but I've seen it happen way too many times when people will bolt to the surface if their AI computers die because they think they're OOA or were told to thumb a dive and surface directly, then just forget about the stops.

In all fairness what you've seen is students bolting to the surface. I doubt they were doing it because of an AI computer. They are doing it because they're new to diving.

My choice of computer type is the same as you...wrist non-integrated...and I don't care for the added cost/info on a limited screen/complexity but a AI computer doesn't cause anyone to respond a certain way.

 

[tbone1004]

these weren't students.... Most of them had been certified for 3+ years but weren't set in their heads about what to do if something actually happened... A fair amount had AI computers and just hadn't been checking them, or checked them but didn't realize they were breathing harder etc. I still don't really see any real advantage to them other than for ease of logging dives, but that's taken care of in excel...

 

[DiveNav]

We made few videos to explain this ....

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[fnfalman]

these weren't students.... Most of them had been certified for 3+ years but weren't set in their heads about what to do if something actually happened... A fair amount had AI computers and just hadn't been checking them, or checked them but didn't realize they were breathing harder etc.

A piece of machinery is just a piece of machinery. It's what the operator does with it.

I still don't really see any real advantage to them other than for ease of logging dives, but that's taken care of in excel...

Then don't buy them. I like'em, so I buy'em.

 

[DennisS]

A piece of machinery is just a piece of machinery. It's what the operator does with it.



Then don't buy them. I like'em, so I buy'em.

I had an analog gauge get stuck. It showed 2800 and never went down. I gave it a whack against the palm of my hand and the needle fell off. My AI console computer has a digital pressure gauge instead of an analog gauge, either can fail, it's a piece of machinery in a corrosive environment.

 

[electrix]

I was given a Data Mask for Christmas right after they came out a few years ago. I use glasses to read on land but I can read the display in the mask without any problem. I dont have to look at my console or my wrist to check depth or pressure just a glance of my eye. It is fantastic at night and in bad viz. Last year on a deep dive we ran into a 30' layer of black water we had to hold on to each other to even be able to see each other with a light much less our consoles, but with the Data Mask no problem, just glance at the display in my mask for depth and pressure. They have come down a lot in price but if you can get it in your budget ( or get somebody to give it to you ) I dont think you will ever regret it.

 

[charlesml3]

Wow, no wonder the new diver can't come here and get any kind of useful information. The posts are so full of FUD from the tech community.

AI- $$$-if it's hose integrated then it can't be used in tech diving

Says who? The infamous and elusive "Scuba Police?"

but I don't see many recreational divers with AI computers that could function if the computer failed, other than "make an immediate ascent"

Agreed, but I fail to see how the choice of computer styles has anything to do with that. It's really more of being a very experienced diver and knowing what your pressure reading was last time you checked and knowing about how quickly you go through gas. That comes from doing hundreds of dives, not any gauge or console.

AI computers will display the lesser of: (a) NDLs or (b) minimum ascent time based on remaining gas supply. I suppose this might be nice for a diver with very poor situational awareness, deficient gas monitoring habits, and a lack of proper gas management skills.

The computer displays the data. It's up to the user to turn that date into information they can use to make good decisions. A good diver will know when to pay attention to a given display. There's no excuse for not reading the manual or getting the proper training to know how to properly use a dive computer (or any other gear, for that matter.)

Others complain of an occasional loss of signal, resulting in no tank pressure information, which can be frustrating.

Fair enough, it happens from time to time. I think the longest Loss of Signal I ever had was 2 seconds from my downloaded data. Is this really all that big a deal? 2 seconds and it comes right back? It's because I tend to swim with my hands tucked under the back of the tank and I guess all that aluminum attenuates the signal. As soon as I move my arm up to where I can see the signal comes right back. I just don't think this is a problem.

Many folks with wireless AI computers end up adding a HP hose + analog gauge to their reg anyway as a "backup,"

And some people wear a belt AND suspenders at the same time too. A good diver should know about where they are with their gas supply based on the last time they checked and knowing their consumption. It's a skill like any other and it's worth learning. I always play a little game with my computer. Right before I check it, I estimate about where the pressure should be. I also glance up at the surface and try to estimate about how deep I am. Then I look at the computer to see how well I'm doing.

Most of them had been certified for 3+ years but weren't set in their heads about what to do if something actually happened

Unfortunate, but this has nothing to do with gauges or computers. If they're that shaky then they'd also freak out if their mouthpiece fell off their reg. You seem to keep pushing towards divers not handling unexpected situations and blaming that on an AI computer. Correlation <> Causality.

-Charles