Dive Computer or Underwater Camera???

[RP Diver]

Those who say a dive computer is necessary have already become so dependent on one that it probably is necessary... for them.

But it's not too late for you gr8fulr2. Skip the dive computer and keep your brain intact.

Buy the camera.

I suppose you're still using a horse and buggy too. Same argument, different era.

 

[gcbryan]

Get a computer. If you decide to join a cult that considers it's use "brain rot" then you can sell it to pay for a camera.

 

[Uncle Pug]

The cheap little digitals in the housings take snapshots. If you want quality images, you are going to have to spend some bucks.

Ummm... I have a cheap little digital in a housing and I'm just a snapshooter... with my eyes I can't even see the LCD screen to frame or focus so I just hold it out and snap the pictures.

Sherp... you think these aren't quality images?
btw: these images have been downsized and compressed for posting to SB. The full sized ones are... gorgeous.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Hmmm then again…. If you stare at the graphs long enough, then… Oh never mind….

....a flicker of cerebral regeneration?

 

[OE2X]

While I should not speak for UP I will add my thoughts to this arguement.

Being dependent on a computer is a fundamental mistake.

You should at all times know your profile. You should be able to dive without a computer in case you forget it (as I've seen happen with a couple of buddies) or have a problem with it (as I've seen happen on a few dives).

I recently did a dive where we had a max depth of 112' and dive time of 73 minutes. Average depth was somewhere around 60'. We were all on 32%. One of us had a bottom timer, one of us forgot their computer, and one of us had a computer. Me being the one that had the computer noticed that we went into deco for one minute at around 85'. We had planned our dive to flirt with going over the line of NDL, so it wasn't news to me. We had talked about the fact that we would spend at least 30 minutes at 33' or above. Well we cleared deco at 35' about 50 minutes into the dive. Our plan though was to be very conservative and spend a lot of time shallow, which we did. None of us broke out our tables at the beginning of the dive as we all knew that we could be at 110' for 25 minutes. Also me knowing that we had gone into deco because my computer said so in no way changed our dive profile.

The thing that I want to stress here is that we planned our dive and dove our plan. Having a computer was not necessary at all for this dive. For the one buddy who didn't have a bottom timer or depth gauge he was perfectly well off. We all knew how much gas each other had and frankly we could have stayed down at 30' for at least another 30-45 minutes.

One person mentioned that for divers that don't dive all the time like myself and a number of my buddies that it is wise to use a computer. I can understand that advice. I would add though, that while you have your computer, try to use it as I do as a back up to your brain. Do the mental gymnastics before your dive. We all carry redundant gear - look at your computer as a redundant system.

 

[mccabejc]

you can't understand what you don't know and you can't know what you can't conceive.

Exactly. And with a computer's dive simulator software, you can begin to conceive a sense of how NDL and N2 loading of compartments and depth and duration and air usage are interrelated. I can't imagine getting that kind of insight using tables.

For example, at some depths and durations, as you ascend your NDL keeps dropping. Other depths and durations it's not a problem. After playing around a lot with the simulator I began to understand this, and "see" it relative to the compartment saturations.

It's the same reason why simulation software can be so useful as a training tool in engineering.

 

[H2Andy]

You should be able to dive without a computer in case you forget it (as I've seen happen with a couple of buddies) or have a problem with it (as I've seen happen on a few dives).

of course... but this is begging the question:

if you dive with a computer, you won't be able to dive without one.

that's a big assumption.

i can dive with or without a computer, but choose to dive with one. it's a lot
easier for me.

if someone can show me a way to dive without a computer that is as easy and
flexible as diving with a computer, i'd go for that.

now, keep in mind that i am talking about no deco diving. i have yet to do a
deco dive.

i'll even given Uncle Pug ammo to snipe at me

here's how i basically dive (this is an ocean dive profile):

first, i must know the site's max depth. i then plan for three dives:
the depth i am told, ten feet lower, and ten feet higher.

"plan" means knowing my NDL for those three depths (into my wet notes they go --
i don't trust my memory).

then i note my maximum time at those depths. into my wet notes they go. i know
that if i start ascending at that time, i will be ok.

finally, i note my rock bottom (which i have now changed thanks to DIR-F). into
the wet notes it goes.

then i go for the dive.

i use my computer during the dive for depth and dive time information. i barely, if ever, look at the "time remaining."

during the surface interval, i use the computer to find my new NDL's, and off we go
again.

 

[Uncle Pug]

Exactly. And with a computer's dive simulator software, you can begin to conceive a sense of how NDL and N2 loading of compartments and depth and duration and air usage are interrelated. I can't imagine getting that kind of insight using tables.

Uh huh.

Taking it a step further and applying what you learned by *visualizing* a proper deco curve using simulation software....

 

[OE2X]

of course... but this is begging the question:

if you dive with a computer, you won't be able to dive without one.

that's a big assumption.

i can dive with or without a computer, but choose to dive with one. it's a lot
easier for me.

if someone can show me a way to dive without a computer that is as easy and
flexible as diving with a computer, i'd go for that.

now, keep in mind that i am talking about no deco diving. i have yet to do a
deco dive.

Andy,
If you rely on a computer to think for you, you won't be able to dive without one.

I advocate using your brain first and not using the computer.

For deco - you pretty much better know what your profile is and when to switch to your deco gas before getting into the water. Some people I know will reprogram their computer when switching from 30/30 to deco gas. What happens if you forget to do this?

 

[H2Andy]

Andy,
If you rely on a computer to think for you, you won't be able to dive without one.

I advocate using your brain first and not using the computer.

ok... again, my issue with this is that it assumes that using a computer means
you are not using your brain.

also... i must add that i DO rely on the computer to show me the NDL's for my
dive and then re-calculate them during the surface interval. It's a lot easier
than doing them myself, though i can (with the tables).

now, is relying on the tables to do that rotting my brain? is it different
just because the computer is faster?