DiveMasters without computers????

[SeaFlea]

I noticed this on my last trip to Cozumel and after the trip I thought about it more. On a recent trip with a dive op., that will remain nameless, I noticed none of the divemasters were using computers. I recall on various days there were divers on board that were new to diving and didn't have computers either. Its given that the group of divers should follow the profile the divemaster throughout the dive with but little deviation. With that being understood, how safe were the new divers when the divemaster themselves didn't know exactly where their own nitrogen loading is at any given moment in the dive.

I realize that a divemaster can repeat a profile knowing before hand that he or she is within safe NDL's as the DM's repeat all the dives quite often. But that assures only his own safety as he knows his own surface intervals. What about the new divers without computers, does the DM know they are on the first dive of the day? If its an afternoon dive, did they dive this morning? I didn't hear any questions being asked about their most recent dives and SI's prior to our dives.

My question: If you don't use a computer and follow the DM's profile is your safety at risk? Should you dive with a DM that doesn't use a computer? Is a DM that doesn't use a computer being negligent in his responsibilities?

As I recall on every trip so far to Coz. computers have not been required by the dive ops I've used. Even though you sign a waiver when you arrive releasing the dive op of all responsibility isn't there a implied sense of trust between the DM and his divers?

What do you think?

 

[kevink]

Are you looking out for your own safety or that of the DM? Since when is following the DM around underwater an accepted dive plan?

You either run your dive off your own table or off your own computer. NO MORE 'TRUST ME' DIVING. If the DM gets bent, it is on him/her.

 

[ScubaDadMiami]

To me, the scariest thing here is that you apparently don't know that there are ways to dive other than blindly trusting computers. :11:

I have over 2,000 dives, and I don't use one, either.

 

[dive]

What is wrong with using dive tables or deco software & bottom timer?
These guys dive every day doing the same tours every day do you really think they don’t know what they are doing…

 

[H2Andy]

What about the new divers without computers, does the DM know they are on the first dive of the day? If its an afternoon dive, did they dive this morning? I didn't hear any questions being asked about their most recent dives and SI's prior to our dives.

it's not the DM's job to figure out a diver's dive profile. with or without a computer,
a diver should know what is going on with his or her own nitrogen load.

and if a DM *tried* to take over this role for me, i'd laugh in their face.

would you trust anyone but you to keep track of this?

 

[Ron Brandt]

True tec divers do not rely on computers.

That profile your DM is using has probably been done 100's if not thousands of times.

Ron

 

[Giggi]

I don't plan on buying a computer any time soon. One of the topics covered in class and expected to be mastered was dive tables vis a vis dive planning. I wracked my brain trying to understand and hubby drilled and drilled me for days until I understood no deco limits, surface intervals and dive planning well enough to feel safe and pass those chapters with 100% accuracy. I have taken my dive table on both trips and made sure by my own calculations that my dive profiles were safe. (Not that I have to worry much at this point in my diving "career" because I'm still in the hoover stage of air consumption, but it will come in handy as I improve my skills and gain more bottom time.)

I know I am an inexperienced diver and get a lot of flak on here from folks who are looking out for my own interests, but I would trust someone with knowledge of dive tables, SIs, and dive planning sooner than I would trust someone who relies solely on a dive computer.

 

[HammerNoMore]

The DM's in Coz do these dives 6-7 days a week. They know the profiles better than their computers do.

 

[farrakhan]

I think the low cost and general easy use of computers are breeding a lazy generation of divers. What happened to the old days when you would figure out your dive profile BEFORE a dive not during a dive. Computers are all good and fancy as a back up but I have my tables and a bottom timer as well in case the computer plays up. How many divers out thier would actually know how to properly react if their computer blanked out. Do any know Deco on the fly? Do any carry decompression tables. Do any care until it happens to them? We are taught the tables for a reason. Although computers look good and do a great job so oes our brain.

 

[radinator]

Even if the DM had a computer, he can't keep track of the surface interval of all the divers (as you've said). So why is it bad that he doesn't have a computer?

It's up to each individual diver to keep track of his bottom and surface time. If they can't handle it, and look to the DM to do it for them instead, they shouldn't have been certified.