Dive Computer or Underwater Camera???

[Charlie99]

And this added conservatism is bad, why??? ..... In fact, I find it somewhat irresponsible to suggest that it's ok to push your profile all the way to the limits unless you are trained for and have planned a deco dive. :

Actually, the question is not whether or not RTodd's dive are deco dives, but whether or not he actually performs the "required" decompression.

What RTodd means by "Yes, the dive computers would show omitted decompression." and in his earlier post, "I would bend most dive computers on a repetitive no-deco dive" is that the dive computers would have have calculated that he has failed to perform "required" decompression.

It's sort of like people that choose to dive the US Navy tables. Diving to the limits of the Navy tables will be exceeding the limits of most other models and tables. Your choice.

 

[RTodd]

Actually, the question is not whether or not RTodd's dive are deco dives, but whether or not he actually performs the "required" decompression.

What RTodd means by "Yes, the dive computers would show omitted decompression." and in his earlier post, "I would bend most dive computers on a repetitive no-deco dive" is that the dive computers would have have calculated that he has failed to perform "required" decompression.

It's sort of like people that choose to dive the US Navy tables. Diving to the limits of the Navy tables will be exceeding the limits of most other models and tables. Your choice.

This is all still wrong, but the people participating in this discussion don't have enough knowledge of decompression and how to tune it for it to be productive. I would say that on a "no-decompression" dive, my ascent practices result in me doing more "deco" than is required. But, I do it in a way for which a dive computer would not give you credit. On more extended deco, yes, the total time is generally a lot less than what a mixed gas computer would calculate.

 

[Firebrand]

RTodd, would you be willing to write an article for SB that can help get the rest of us near your level of understanding concerning decompression models? As divers, we should always be learning, and the best sourses of information are those divers that have and use their knowledge and expeirence. When I'm not in the water, I'm constantly reading about scuba diving, learning the physiology of breathing compressed gases, and reading about correct form and technique. Please spread your knowledge to the rest of us. UP, this invite goes out to you to!

*NOTE* AN INFORMATIVE ARTICLE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING! ANYONE READING ABOUT SCUBA DIVING IS NOT NECESSARILY QUALIFIED TO DIVE!**

 

[Uncle Pug]

Firebrand: I've already done that multiple times. I've even included a picture of it here in this thread.

You aren't ready. Go get some dives in. Get a camera. Take some pictures. Learn to control your buoyancy, precisely.

 

[Firebrand]

Just as a clarification, I grew up, literally, in the water, free diving, lifeguarding, and competitive swimming. I merely made one more addition to aquatic sports list by getting scuba certified. Hell, my dad was a scuba instructor for over 20 years. Yes, I'm a newby in terms of participating in scuba, but having spent all my summers on the reefs in Key West, I know about the need for proper buoyancy control. (See my previous comment stating that the number of logged dives is not a valid indicator of the KNOWLEDGE a diver may have.) I'm tired of seeing "new divers" discounted by a bunch of obnoxious divers who think that just because the have a lot of logged dives, they don't need to be courteous to them. Let me ask you this, where would you be if nobody wanted to take the time to share their knowledge with you? As far as articles go, there are places on Scubaboard for them, and a forum is not one of those places. Pictures show things, not techniques. Photography happened to be my biggest hobby before I took up scuba diving. However, I have not invested in any housings for my camera equipment. When you're ready to discuss technique, let me know.

 

[Uncle Pug]

I know about the need for proper buoyancy control. (See my previous comment stating that the number of logged dives is not a valid indicator of the KNOWLEDGE a diver may have.)

Knowing about the need and having the skill are two vastly different things... aren't they.

But you don't even know yet how much you don't know.

As for my comment above about already including a picture (of it)... I wasn't talking about the u/w photos. I was referring to a picture I posted of the technique I use to dive without a computer.

 

[2Tours N Iraq`]

I'm not SCUBA certified yet and when I complete my 2nd tour here in Iraq, I plan on getting certified. After reading this discussion, I am extremely disappointed with this forum as the more experienced divers treat beginners like idiots. If you strive to "take the wind out of someone's sails" then I commend you for your effort, however this proves counter-productive to expanding the sport. Way to go.

 

[RTodd]

Just as a clarification, I grew up, literally, in the water, free diving, lifeguarding, and competitive swimming. I merely made one more addition to aquatic sports list by getting scuba certified. Hell, my dad was a scuba instructor for over 20 years. Yes, I'm a newby in terms of participating in scuba, but having spent all my summers on the reefs in Key West, I know about the need for proper buoyancy control. (See my previous comment stating that the number of logged dives is not a valid indicator of the KNOWLEDGE a diver may have.) I'm tired of seeing "new divers" discounted by a bunch of obnoxious divers who think that just because the have a lot of logged dives, they don't need to be courteous to them. Let me ask you this, where would you be if nobody wanted to take the time to share their knowledge with you? As far as articles go, there are places on Scubaboard for them, and a forum is not one of those places. Pictures show things, not techniques. Photography happened to be my biggest hobby before I took up scuba diving. However, I have not invested in any housings for my camera equipment. When you're ready to discuss technique, let me know.

New divers aren't the problem. It is your inability to listen that is the problem. When I started the type of diving I really enjoy doing long ago, a few of us just shut up and listened to the pros. Now, we get to dive with them. The majority that wanted to argue about their diving preferences are still doing the same old dives and talking about their newest dive computer. The people that bother to listen and that I have mentored show up in Cozumel with 25 dives under their belt and the divemasters ask them how long they have been cave diving after their first dive.

The information you want me to provide is already available and I have provided bits and pieces of it in this thread. I am not going to bother to argue what works in actual practice with a bunch of people that simply want to justify their newest gadget. You don't have to justify it to me, just go play with it.

This has taken way to long to answer the question of why I would vote for a camera over a computer. Let me add the caveat of, I would vote for some form of digital depth gauge bottom timer and the proper equipment before getting a camera.

 

[2Tours N Iraq`]

Get the crust out of your eyes, read what people are asking of you and use the gray-matter between your ears. If not listening is a problem then why would someone ask you a question and not want an answer?!? Obviously Firebrand knows that they aren't experienced however they politely asked you for help in expanding his/her diving knowledge so when they ask you something, don't beat around the bush and hide behind a smiley, answer the question without being a smart-aleck.

 

[Uncle Pug]

treat beginners like idiots

The two are not equivalent. However newbie status does not grant immunity to challenge when a newbie pontificates idiocy.

This is a great forum for gaining knowledge precisely because idiocy is openly challenged.

Welcome to ScubaBoard 2TNI.