Eric
I suspect you've got the scuba diving experience, plus time in on forum discussions, to have some sense of what rules to 'bend' (without getting bent yourself), what rules to break and what limits not to push, and all the while are capable of making informed decisions about risk as you do so.
Most fairly new divers are none of those things.
Divers are taught to more standardized practices these days than long ago, as these practices do, when followed, produce a good track record of safety.
The kind of 'make your own interpretation' thing you describe may make sense to you. But remember that huge thread about the non-cave certified guy who took his 15 year old son cave diving at Eagles Nest, and they both died? Sure, what you're doing is not the same thing, or I would think anywhere near as risky, but making personal risk choices about the 'shades of grey' is something a seasoned diver might do (and at least understand the chances he's taking).
For a newcomer to the hobby, I suggest a computer. Tables if you must.
Richard.
You're right about the newbies, they need to follow the prescribed rules and stick with what they are taught.
*Note to newbies: Don't do what I do, do what your instructor tells you and follow the current teachings of SCUBA protocols whatever the training may be.
My issue is a little bigger than just diving when it comes to computeruization. I'm seeing examples in many walks of life that computerization is making our brains atrophy because we don't need to think anymore.
I can site many examples like GPS units in cars, the whole sign and graphic arts industry, calculators for simple arithmatic, and the list goes on.
I've seen a lot of creativity suffer because of reliance on computers.
For diving, tables are one of the simplest devices out there. I remember the first time I got a computer, it was a Suunto Vyper wrist mount. I already new tables before I got it so it was more of a cool new toy that was all the rage at the time. I soon found myself just looking at the computer and getting tunnel visioned into mindlessly following it. I started to lose my natural time and depth situational awareness where you look and sense the big picture of how long you've been down and what depths you've been to. It happens to the best of us, to get myopic staring at the computer screen and becoming a mindless follower.
I remember once I went up to Tahoe (6200' elevation) and did some diving. I set my computer for altitude and also set it for conservative since the next morning we had to rise to 8300' going over the pass to go home.
The following weekend my buddy and I go out to the ocean and I forgot to reset the computer to our current dive.
After a very short time the computer freaked out and sent me up to 15'. My buddy was no where near his NDL on his computer. So if I would have been paying attention to depth and time independently of the computer I would have known something was wrong. And yes I could have looked at time on the computer and probably realized something wasn't right, but it never works that way. People inherently will focus on the time remaining and that will be the leading factor of the dive, it's just the way we are - following the path of least resistance, or the easiest way.
So then I hooked up with a bunch of divers that didn't use computers and were able to calculate on the fly. I felt like a complete idiot because I didn't know how to do it and had to follow a computer. One day I was out kayak diving and lost my computer during a roll over. I didn't have the money to replace it, so I figured it would be a good time to learn from those other guys how to compute dives in my head following tables.
What a liberation! It was so easy.
I know computers are imbedded in every walk of life and are here to stay. All I'm saying is I think it's a great idea for people to know tables so if nothing else they know what the computer is based on. Even if tables are never used it's good to know them. The more people things people have knowledge of the better, it's good for our brains. Analog keeps our feet on the ground. Losing that and living up on a cloud scares me because I personally am a little uneasy about trusting my safety and life solely on an electronic device.
