Dive Tables

[JamieMc5280]

I will preface this post with this: I did try and search the threads for answers/posts regarding this question, however, the search function here is not exactly user friendly. I apologize if this is a thread that has been covered.

I am heading on my first dive trip in roughly 5 weeks, I am reviewing my manual and dive planner- I am still very confused with how to use the dive planner and am wondering if there are any resources online (or here) that can help me feel a little more comfortable.

We are doing 9 dives in 5 days and I want to accurately log them. I do not believe we are using dive computers on our dives- as we do not own them and I'm not certain the dive shop we are using include them in our rentals.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciate.

 

[TMHeimer]

Google Recreational Dive Planner PADI. I assume RDP instructions are not in the newer OW manuals (in mine from 2005).

 

[JamieMc5280]

I do have the RDP instructions in my materials- but they are not very easy to follow. I have googled it, there are several video tutorials but they are in meters vs. ft. which my planner is in. Thanks for the response.

 

[drrich2]

We are doing 9 dives in 5 days and I want to accurately log them. I do not believe we are using dive computers on our dives- as we do not own them and I'm not certain the dive shop we are using include them in our rentals.

Where is this trip to?

From what I've seen, on the typical Caribbean trip, everybody follows a guide, and it's assumed most everybody is diving a computer. If you are not, I suppose it's possible you might get 'sent up' by the guide, ending your dive, while other people continue theirs, since you will compute NDL assuming the whole time is spent at max. planned depth, and the rest will having dive computers factoring in multi-level diving, so they get 'credit' (extra time) for those portions of the dive spent more shallowly.

I suggest you e-mail the dive op. you can to dive with and explain the situation. I figure it's likely they can rent them to you.

I'm also assuming you guys will buddy with each other. A stranger paying money for his rare tropical vacation dive for which he brought his expensive dive computer is not going to want to cut his dive short because you're using tables.

Richard.

 

[Redshift]

And do you at least have a depth gauge?

 

[iztok]

Sounds like you should go to a LDS and get a refresher.

 

[DiveNav]

.....We are doing 9 dives in 5 days and I want to accurately log them. .....

To log them you will need a depth gauge and a timer.

Also, by doing 9 dives in 5 days you might find out that the tables could tell you you need to skip one or more dive as tables are based on square profiles while most likely your dives will be multi-levels dives (dive computers do track multi-levels dive profiles and give you credit for time spent at depths shallower than the maximum depth)

If you can't afford to purchase a dive computer, maybe you could rent one for a week from your LDS. Just learn how to use it BEFORE leaving for your trip.

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[oly5050user]

And do you at least have a depth gauge?

and a watch or bottom timer. instructions for rdp use are in booklet it came with..
this is why most agency are going away from tables and on to computer dive only..people do not make the commitment to dive properly. if they knew how to do a dive plan via tables to pass a test they forget everything the next day!
i can never understand how they can afford to go on a dive trip. pay for the dives, airfare,hotel,meals,bar tab, entertainment at Pachi's (for those that know ..but to spend perhaps $200.-$300 to buy a lousy computer ain't gonna happen..guess they are not really interested to make the most of their dives and to dive in a safe manner.
these are usually the kind of divers that expect the divemaster to lead them around and keep them safe, maybe there should be a different certification for those that cannot or do not wish to plan their own dives and accept responsibility for themselves..

 

[iztok]

We are doing 9 dives in 5 days and I want to accurately log them. I do not believe we are using dive computers on our dives- as we do not own them and I'm not certain the dive shop we are using include them in our rentals.

9 dives n 5 days is less than 2 dives a day. Which in general is not really that much. Even on the table profile you should be fine. However you would need to know how to plan. Logging part is simple, you log max depth, and time of the dive. Log what equipment you used, what did you see, starting pressure, ending pressure, weight used.

The critical thing you should actually worry is not the logging part but the planning part. Plan the dives, dive the plans.

I seriously suggest to go to a local dive shop and get a refresher, it will be well worth the money you pay for it and make your diving more enjoyable and less stressful.

---------- Post added April 27th, 2014 at 04:58 PM ----------

these are usually the kind of divers that expect the divemaster to lead them around and keep them safe, maybe there should be a different certification for those that cannot or do not wish to plan their own dives and accept responsibility for themselves..

There is. Scuba Diver Open Water Diving Adventure Courses - PADI Scuba Diving Training Organization

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I don't see the need for a full refresher. Try to locate an instructor to spend a couple hours going over the tables with you. Buy them dinner. Heck doesn't even need to be an instructor.

Do you have a local dive club? Go to the next meeting and ask for someone to go over the tables with you. Heck I'd do it for fun because I like going over tables and teaching them if I were closer.

It is no more than very basic algebra with formulas and all you need to do is plug in the numbers to find the RAT. It also helps if you spend a couple sessions on tables. Which I have to do since I also need to cover emergency deco calculations.