Dive computer comparisons

[Al Mialkovsky]

Steve next summer we'll be very busy diving with little time to train. I'm hoping it's the last summer in the NW. So I also have some repairs and fixit things to attend to.

We did the death ride many years ago. It was brutal. I was a pass short of completing it.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Thanks all,

. . .

WarmWaterDiver:

Thanks for all the info, that was fun to read. After all that, my personal computer, the Tusa IQ-800 was not compared, only reviewed. Which is fine, I'm looking forward to my own test. Thanks for your input.



Thanks for all of your viewpoints,

Steve

While that's true, in terms of algorithm, it's advertised to use the same algorithm as the TUSA IQ-700 (a.k.a. Apeks Quantum), so algorithm comparisons should be fairly straightforward whether the article was written about the IQ-800, IQ-700 or Quantum.

And, are you sure you checked the "related links" section for the two RSD articles? You didn't miss the graphs where the TUSA IQ-800 (Sapience) was plotted against several other models in the "Sleek & Sexy" review did you?

http://dive.scubadiving.com/PDF/200505_divecomps_graphs_01.pdf

http://dive.scubadiving.com/PDF/200505_divecomps_graphs_02.pdf

There are similar links in the other (earlier) RSD article on the TUSA IQ-700.

 

[Steve Egner]

And, are you sure you checked the "related links" section for the two RSD articles? You didn't miss the graphs where the TUSA IQ-800 (Sapience) was plotted against several other models in the "Sleek & Sexy" review did you?

http://dive.scubadiving.com/PDF/200505_divecomps_graphs_01.pdf

http://dive.scubadiving.com/PDF/200505_divecomps_graphs_02.pdf

Thanks for pointing the way... I must have walked right by those. I'll be checking those out right now...

Steve

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

No problem - you can also use the Dive Rite models for comparison as they use the same base algorithm as the TUSA IQ-700 and IQ-800. That ought to make the older vintage UK reviews more meaningful - my TUSA IQ-700 is very, very slightly more conservative than my Dive Rite NiTek3. You can see in the graphs that include the IQ-800 how the Dive Rite models (Duo and Plus) either lie on the same line or an extremely close line to the Sapience. The Xtender appears to use the same algorithm as the Dive Rite models (always on the same line)

 

[Steve Egner]

You can see in the graphs that include the IQ-800 how the Dive Rite models (Duo and Plus) either lie on the same line or an extremely close line to the Sapience. The Xtender appears to use the same algorithm as the Dive Rite models (always on the same line)

I have a much clearer picture now of how my computer compares to others in regard to conservativism, thanks to you.

I went over the links again and found another page that really brought it home for me:

http://dive.scubadiving.com/images/200408GR_computer_charts.gif

Thanks for your findings!

Steve

 

[halocline]

When a computer comes out that takes into consideration all the various factors that contribute to DCS, like dehydration, exercise immediately after diving, genetic predisposition, etc...then I think it would be safe to say that such a computer would be more effective in preventing DCS than the rest. For now, though, until an actual study demonstrates that one computer algorithm is safer than another, I think that all the discussion about different computers for recreational, single tank diving is really just that; discussion. (Although it is interesting!) Statistically, they're all safe...as long as they're used for the type of diving they're designed for. The risk of DCS in rec diving, while pretty small, is surely dependent on factors beyond the ability of computers to analize. If you feel more comfortable with a conservative computer, fine....rec diving is supposed to be fun and anything that takes anxiety out the picture is probably a good thing. (except maybe nitrogen narcosis!) But, I would not assume you're actually safer with one until a scientific study with a large scale data pool shows this to be true.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

..."The risk of DCS in rec diving, while pretty small, is surely dependent on factors beyond the ability of computers to analize. If you feel more comfortable with a conservative computer, fine....rec diving is supposed to be fun and anything that takes anxiety out the picture is probably a good thing. (except maybe nitrogen narcosis!) But, I would not assume you're actually safer with one until a scientific study with a large scale data pool shows this to be true".

Precisely.

 

[Steve Egner]

The risk of DCS in rec diving, while pretty small, is surely dependent on factors beyond the ability of computers to analize. If you feel more comfortable with a conservative computer, fine....rec diving is supposed to be fun and anything that takes anxiety out the picture is probably a good thing. (except maybe nitrogen narcosis!) But, I would not assume you're actually safer with one until a scientific study with a large scale data pool shows this to be true.

Agreed.

Again, my purpose in starting the discussion wasn't to find out how "safe" a computer I own... it was to find out where my computer fell in comparison to the conservativism ratings of others.

I've found that, and I think it will be helpful to know.

Steve