During an S drill, when it comes time to show the OOG diver your SPG, is it a real procedural no-no to use your wrist mounted computer instead of unclipping the SPG?
It just seems to me that one is just as good as the other, and since my right arm is in their general direction anyways it is quicker to just put my computer in front of them. One way or another they will receive the information about our current gas reserves.
I am still thinking of the consistency aspect, especially in the team sense because not every DIR diver uses a wrist mounted computer featuring AI.
So am I Doing It Wrong?
Peace,
Greg
Greg,
This is actually a very interesting question because I've been taught to show the SPG and not to show the SPG by GUE instructors.
I would first say that in any form of team diving, doing things procedurally will help reduce stress. When it comes to an organization like GUE, one has to stay up to date with current procedures for the good of others who may have chosen such an organization because they like continuity and uniformity. If all members of all teams practice and perform skills in a certain way, then everyone is always on the same page. This benefits new divers who may be more stressed during an emergency and equally benefits experienced divers who may be complacent at the time of an emergency and will be snap back into doing things by the numbers.
For that reason, you should use your SPG and not your AI. You will develop the habit of clipping and unclipping the SPG and doing things according to current procedures. You will be building the foundation for your future recreational or technical diving prowess as well as the good habits to be a good team member.
Second, while procedures may help reduce stress, they don't excuse a diver from thinking and adapting even in times of stress. Having an air integrated computer may be a useful training tool to throw a curve at buddies or fellow students so that no one becomes too reliant on rote procedures.
When diving doubles, if you are using an AI computer, you could put the transmitter on the right post. While some may advocate ditching your computer in favor of a digital gauge/bottom timer, if you are going to use it, you should get full value out of it. In the event that you have your left post turned off due to a problem, you'll know how much gas you have being delivered through your right post. This is really a non-issue since you should be swimming home anyway, but if you have it, the tool may as well add some benefit. The other benefit to an AI is that if your SPG is bad prior to a dive and no replacement is available, you won't have to call the dive. The important thing for DIR diving is that you have gauge mode so that the team can remain together on the same ascent/deco schedule. If wearing it on the right side for this reason, you'll have to be aware of how that data may help or hinder your flow-checks.
Finally, when diving in open water, knowledge of remaining pressure will help a team determine whether it is safer to surface immediately or make a return swim underwater. This may be a consideration in areas of heavy boat traffic. In a cave, not showing an SPG is fine because there is only one course of action - exit now!
Whether to show the SPG or not will depend upon the current procedures of the DIR organization you train through and/or the preference of your team.
Retreating back to lurk mode.
