dive computer and watch

[jamietaylor]

if you have a dive computer with a bottom timer is it a good idea to have a watch for a back up.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

It won't hurt and you should be able to estimate your time remaining and decompression status from time alone. Of course what a watch will not give you is an explicit measurement of depth. There are some dive "watches" like the Citizen Acquland that do measure depth.

In practice dive computers are very reliable provided that you check the battery as part of your pre-dive routine. Remember if you have an effective buddy team your buddies equipment becomes your backup. Anyway having a watch is not a high priority for diving but they do not take up much space and they can tell you the time of day which is handy.

 

[graham_s]

I have an Aqualand that I picked up cheap on eBay.
I'm very happy with it.
I'm very much in the Computer and watch club.
I like backups. when I dive, I've got the dive planned out from a book of tables on my slate as well as an analogue depth gauge and a watch.
If my computer packs up I've got some idea of what I need to do.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I always have a watch. Got into the habit as I am one of those people that likes to know what time it is in addition to the back up benefits. One reason is that my old veo would never keep the right time. My Predator is dead on but you have to scroll through a couple screens. Watch is quick and easy. And yes even though you should be able to know how much time has elapsed during the dive, as an instructor there are often small delays when getting in the water with students and that final brief before you go under water that the computer does not record. And there are times when you need to stay on a schedule.

 

[supergaijin]

I have a computer on my right wrist and a G-shock on the left. Stopwatch comes in handy on the job sometimes.

 

[Dive Bug Bit Me]

I don't bother with a watch for recreational diving. If you have a computer, then a watch is redundant.

Besides, a watch only works when combined with dive tables and a depth gauge. If you don't know what time the table permits for your depth / profile, then the watch is useless.

If the computer fails, then you ascend, do a safety stop and exit the water. Dive is over.

 

[beaverdivers]

You are on the right track. Redundancy is key.

However, a back-up dive computer will keep you diving if you primary computer fails.

But you Must dive with both computers, don't leave your back-up in your dive bag.

Yes, you would still want to wear a dive watch if you have one.

We Stongly Recommend diving with back-up computers on our trips.

 

[Laurie S.]

I have a wrist computer on my left hand, and a dive watch on my right, and now I have the Oceanic Bud for a computer backup. What's funny is when non-divers see my computer and watch and ask why I'm wearing two watches. I usually say that I want to monitor two time zones.

 

[rongoodman]

If I want redundancy, I'll take a second computer or a bottom timer--I don't see that a watch is worth bothering with.

 

[danpass]

So far I'm using just a dive watch with bezel but also only doing less than 50ft.

Once I go further I'll go with a computer but I'm keeping the dive watch on and just set the bezel to the bottom time (as the backup)

I don't bother with a watch for recreational diving. If you have a computer, then a watch is redundant.

Besides, a watch only works when combined with dive tables and a depth gauge. If you don't know what time the table permits for your depth / profile, then the watch is useless.

If the computer fails, then you ascend, do a safety stop and exit the water. Dive is over.

and your buddy times the stop?