Dive comp or bottom timer?

[alan_lee]

Hi everyone! Would like to ask this question as a GUE newbie.

I'm getting quite sick (and concerned) with my Oceanic Geo200 showing me that the battery is low although it was changed and the dive comp checked just 3 months ago. So I'm starting to look around for a replacement, and also considering a bottomtimer, in particular the Uwatec one. Basically, I need something to record my max and average depth, and bottomtime. The attractive thing about a dive comp is that it works out the maths for you, but I'm toying with the idea of going "old school" and using tables again (essential for me to keep my brains working esp when I'm working towards tech in the future).

I also noticed that not many GUE divers wear dive comps, choosing instead to use bottomtimers. Any reason for that?

Cheers in advance for your advice!

 

[Adobo]

Hi everyone! Would like to ask this question as a GUE newbie.

I'm getting quite sick (and concerned) with my Oceanic Geo200 showing me that the battery is low although it was changed and the dive comp checked just 3 months ago. So I'm starting to look around for a replacement, and also considering a bottomtimer, in particular the Uwatec one. Basically, I need something to record my max and average depth, and bottomtime. The attractive thing about a dive comp is that it works out the maths for you, but I'm toying with the idea of going "old school" and using tables again (essential for me to keep my brains working esp when I'm working towards tech in the future).

I also noticed that not many GUE divers wear dive comps, choosing instead to use bottomtimers. Any reason for that?

Cheers in advance for your advice!

Bottom timers are cheap. That would be my guess.

I use a dive computer in gauge mode. It logs my dives for me, calculates average depth, figures out my gas consumption rate and provides pretty graphs. It also slices and dices.

 

[Steve R]

I'm starting to hate my BT. I was biotching about it again this weekend.

Not enough of a log book. (I need one that will log 1000 dives or so, so i can keep them in there until I am good and ready to waste all of that time and sit down and put it on paper, like 5 or 6 years from now, maybe).

I'd also like a computer hook-up to show my profiles..............so I can argue with my buddy that we did indeed screw up the schedule.

And also I'd like a back-light feature because I am sick of getting glare off the face when I shine my HID at it to see it. There's no angle that really works for me.

I also hate that it rolls to zero after 99 minutes.

I want it to be cheap......well, as cheap as a bottom timer is. User replaceable batteries are a must. and they must last more than 25 dives. Gauge mode.

Good question Alan, I've been putting it off for too long.

Who's got my new ride?

 

[Rainer]

I like my Vyper in gauge mode. Logs dives, easy to use, fits a DSS boot, cheap (used on TDS), and reliable.

 

[cool_hardware52]

I also noticed that not many GUE divers wear dive comps, choosing instead to use bottomtimers. Any reason for that?

Cheers in advance for your advice!

There are several reasons to favor a BT over a "computer"

The Uwatec BT does not have a replaceable battery. That eliminates a potential failure point, i.e. no battery door, no oring etc.

The GUE (and other DIR adherents) teach some form of self calculated deco, i.e. ratio deco or deco on the fly. This approach works well when used in the overall system of standard gases.

Lastly, computers rot your brain

Tobin

 

[alan_lee]

The GUE (and other DIR adherents) teach some form of self calculated deco, i.e. ratio deco or deco on the fly. This approach works well when used in the overall system of standard gases.

Ah, that's what I'm thinking about, wanna make sure that I'll be sharp enough for the maths.

Lastly, computers rot your brain

Spoken like a true hardcore old-timer! No disrepect, Tobin!

 

[coldsmoke]

Read this:

Baker's Dozen for not using a Dive Computer By Jarrod Jablonski


1) Dive computers tend to induce significant levels of diver dependance,
eliminating the awareness so common and essential to all diving but
particularly obvious when diving tables

2) Dive computers do not allow proper planning as divers can't properly
"study" the impact of various mixture and decompression choices.

3) Dive computers are of very limited educational benefit as they do not
induce questioning, or proper planning discussions as can be found with
tables and most particularly with deco programs

4) Dive computer programmers often play games with computational process
so that they can take insulate themselves from the risk of taking
largely square profile data and utilizing it on a multilevel dive. These
games tend to result in odd and often ridiculous levels of conservation.

5) Dive computers are expensive and in some cases leave divers with
limited resources carrying equipment that is of far less benefit than
other equipment that may have been purchased.

6) Dive computers significantly limit the likelihood that divers will
track their residual nitrogen groups.

7) Dive computers do not allow for Helium diving in any formats but the
bulkiest and most questionable format.

8) Dive computers will often generate longer decompressions than could
be figured by an astute, well educated diver with experience.

9) Dive computers often create confusion by giving the user to much
useless information, sometimes even obscuring depth and time in favor of
blinking CNS and/or deco limitations.

10) Dive computers can become very difficult to properly if a deco stop
has been violated. Some computers lock up completely while others just
beep or generate erroneous and distracting information. Divers using
mixed gasses are likely to often violate computer profiles.

11) Dive computers do not allow for the educated diver to properly
modify their decompression to account for advancing knowledge such as
the use of deeper stops in a decompression profile.

12) Dive computers do not offer divers as much flexibility in the
generation of profiles with varying conservation. For example the right
mix would allow 100 min at 60 vs 60 at 60 but I might prefer to do one
or the other and indeed might like a compromise. Computers confuse this
issue by not providing divers with the proper information.

13) Dive computers users often ignore table proficiency and therefore do
not learn tables properly. When confronted with a situation where they
can't dive the computer (failure, loss, travel etc) these divers are at
a serious handicap.

And This

Check out the suunto d3

Hunter

 

[John_B]

There is an updated version of the Uwatec bottom timer, but for right now its metric only and apparently only available in Europe.

John

 

[jeraldjcook]

I want it to be cheap......well, as cheap as a bottom timer is. User replaceable batteries are a must. and they must last more than 25 dives. Gauge mode.

FYI - LP.com is selling the Oceanic Veo 180 wrist model for $174. User replaceable battery and cheaper than an Uwatec BT. Just put it in gauge mode.

Sorry for the post in the DIR forum, but it's a bargain so I though I'd share. I picked one up about a month ago and it's working well so far.

 

[Steve R]

There is an updated version of the Uwatec bottom timer, but for right now its metric only and apparently only available in Europe.

John

!!!

You'd think all my biotching worked....check that out.

Now if only I could get Canada to change to the metric syste............ holy crap....




BTW, thanks Jerald. I'll check it out.