Dive Computer Alarms: should we even have them?

[doctormike]

I don't think anyone has actually made that point; they have only made that assertion. If they can find some evidence/facts, then the useful discussion can begin.

Yeah, but in these A&I threads, you can almost never bring actual data to the discussion, you can only talk about potentials. We barely get any reliable data on scuba deaths, let alone all of the near misses and gear failures that happen every year.

I don't know what your standard of evidence is. Is your point is that unless I can show data that demonstrates an increased rate of [bad outcome] associated with audible DC alarms then I shouldn't comment?

 

[tursiops]

Yeah, but in these A&I threads, you can almost never bring actual data to the discussion, you can only talk about potentials. We barely get any reliable data on scuba deaths, let alone all of the near misses and gear failures that happen every year.

I don't know what your standard of evidence is. Is your point is that unless I can show data that demonstrates an increased rate of [bad outcome] associated with audible DC alarms then I shouldn't comment?

My point is that posters should clearly distinguish between unfounded assertions and demonstrable facts. It does seem that those are the same for some. I'm even OK with some anecdotal reports....but they need to be treated as such. To wit: anecdotal reports on feeling better after a Nitrox dive are dismissed as just a story, not scientific. But I haven't even heard an anecdotal report about a danger caused by beeps or vibrations. It was not mentioned in the post a few above, but those fighter pilots wear vests that vibrate to get their attention. Multimodal attention-getting to get at more senses than just visual, or audible...

 

[ChuckP]

It doesn't affect me at all. I doesn't affect me if you want to dive the Doria with a SpareAir.

But the issue here is that some people don't think that audible DC alarms for OC divers are safe. That they have an overall negative effect on diver safety. So that's why there is a discussion about that.

Now, you may feel that's totally wrong and that anyone making that point is mistaken. Fine, make your case. Maybe you are right.

But that "dive and let dive" stuff is not helpful at all.

That's an ass backwards comparison.

The OP asked about vibrating computers - he didn't ask your opinion on alarms and his safety, he asked about which computers have those alarms - I guess he did ask for pluses and minuses but I take that as to the computers - Perigreen you don't get AI, Teric you do. Flashing lights, different colors, vibration or beeps - they're alarms - honestly, a vibrating alarm would be better than all of them because most people don't loose feeling.

I get really turned off here - you can't dive without this fin, you gotta have a BPW, you gotta have a shearwater - you suck unless you pass Fundies - virtually every dang thread has less than 10% of posts that address the question asked.

 

[doctormike]

If I wanna dive in rainbow colored split fins while wearing purple tights, how does that effect you?

It doesn't affect me at all. I doesn't affect me if you want to dive the Doria with a SpareAir.

That's an ass backwards comparison.

.

It wasn't a comparison at all. My point was that unless you are my dive buddy, no dive decision that you make affects me at all. I was responding to your point about the split fins

I get really turned off here - you can't dive without this fin, you gotta have a BPW, you gotta have a shearwater - you suck unless you pass Fundies - virtually every dang thread has less than 10% of posts that address the question asked.

OP: I want to buy X, which one should I get?

Poster 1: Gotcha, have you considered one potential downside of X, which is Y?

Poster 2: So you are saying that he is going to die if he gets X? You are saying that he sucks and that he can't dive with X? You are saying that anyone who uses X is an idiot?

I mean, are you SO confident in your experience and training that you have no interest in anyone else's opinion about how you might be doing something wrong? Does it really bother you that much if people make comments that you don't agree with? It's a discussion forum. I learn new things from these discussions all the time.

 

[scubadada]

The OP asks for a simple recommendation for a dive computer with haptic alarms. What he gets is all kinds of discussion about the value of alarms in general, audible alarms, visual alarms, situational awareness...

Apparently, he did not get what he came for, "Well, this thread is irredeemably crapped up. Thanks to the few people who did address my question."

It is quite clear why some posters do not come back.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I know a number of new divers who’ve bought a Perdix. No audible or vibrating alarms, so nothing to shut off. They’re still alive and diving. They bought the computers for the large, colorful display and AI.
One strike against the alarms is do you know what it’s going off for? Do you even know if it’s your computer? I’ve been diving with multiple people whose computers were beeping all at once and after the dive they said they didn’t know if it was their computer or someone else’s.

OK here's one thing. My TG6 camera beeps when I take a photo. I never really noticed as I was focused on my shot taking. I hear it as I have a Go Pro taking video when I use the TG6 to take photos and heard it in my video. I hear the beeps in the video. So although I have an audible beep from my camera I realize I never really hear it. I guess I am tuned out to my TG6 beeping when I take photo's.

I have been on several dives where other divers alarms are going off and they are pointing to my Perdix. When we finish the dive I inform them the perdix has no audio alarms it's not a baby sitter. So then they are looking at their own computers wondering. I've seen a diver move their arm up 1 meter and their alarms go off for exceeding ascent rate lol. Marie is correct that many divers do not even know the sound of their own alarms and the other issue is the same brands having the same alarms. So in a group that can cause problems

Now if a diver wants to have a computer with alarms I'm all for it. Just hope they actually learn to know the sounds of their own dive computer and what those alarms mean.

Underwater people close to each other having alarms go off can be very confusing except for me as I don't have any audio alarms.

 

[Blackcrusader]

The OP asks for a simple recommendation for a dive computer with haptic alarms. What he gets is all kinds of discussion about the value of alarms in general, audible alarms, visual alarms, situational awareness...

Apparently, he did not get what he came for, "Well, this thread is irredeemably crapped up. Thanks to the few people who did address my question." It is quite clear why some posters do not come back.

Some posters only post for the one thing that they are interested in and then don't come back. Plenty of valid opinions even if some people would advise not to use alarms.

 

[Blackcrusader]

I don't have a Teric, Shearwater brought a few to the Curacao invasion for people to try. Very nice computer, but quite expensive and maybe overkill for what I need.

I'm a recreational diver. I use the Shearwater Perdix as I do not wear a watch and I wanted the larger screen. No computer is overkill ( in my humble opinion ) even if you just want to dive in warm waters for recreational diving. I get a lot more information on my Perdix than I did with my Suunto which had a pressure sensor failure. Cost yes I can understand that as an issue. It wasn't for me when I saw the Perdix in use it was what I decided was good for me.

 

[Edward3c]

Underwater people close to each other having alarms go off can be very confusing except for me as I don't have any audio alarms.

That’s the reason I have mine turned off.

 

[lowwall]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

A fascinating thread asking which computers have vibratory alarms quickly devolved into a discussion on the value of dive computer alarms of all types. That discussion is split off here. The original thread, limited to equipment choices, is here.

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Bumping so this newly created thread doesn't get lost.