Diving without computers

[Bubblesong]

So how many divers have been diving the old way, before computers, and still prefer it that way? I am sure everyone is planning their dive and diving their plans, but even with that as a baseline, if you only dive several easygoing vacations per year, is it worth the effort of trying to press those tiny buttons? Asking for a friend...

 

[doctormike]

If you only dive a few times a year on vacation, I would think that you would be even more concerned about getting as much bottom time as you can within the limits of safety. Since the main advantage of a DC over tables is the NDL credit given for time above the maximum depth, it would seem to be worth pressing the tiny buttons, IMHO.

 

[Bubblesong]

If you only dive a few times a year on vacation, I would think that you would be even more concerned about getting as much bottom time as you can within the limits of safety. Since the main advantage of a DC over tables is the NDL credit given for time above the maximum depth, it would seem to be worth pressing the tiny buttons, IMHO.

This is an excellant point , and first one I will relay to my husband. He is a computer programmer, so on vacation, he just Doesn't want to see them. But now I want to learn Nitrox, so computers are indispensable.

 

[doctormike]

This is an excellant point , and first one I will relay to my husband. He is a computer programmer, so on vacation, he just Doesn't want to see them. But now I want to learn Nitrox, so computers are indispensable.

Hah! Good luck with that. They are in your car, your phone, even your toaster...

You can certainly learn nitrox without a dive computer, I'm just not sure what the big advantage would be...

 

[rx7diver]

So how many divers have been diving the old way, before computers, and still prefer it that way?

Francesea,

I continue to dive without a PDC, and prefer diving this way. For the type of diving I do—local, open water, solo, air rec diving, max two (very seldom three) dives a day, very generous (> 2 hr) surface intervals—the simpler and less expensive approach of no-PDC diving makes a lot of sense. This is the approach I will teach (am teaching) my young teenage daughters.

I have been diving for 30 years.

Safe Diving,

rx7diver

 

[Chavodel8en]

I went without a computer for years - my computer flooded and I saw no need to replace it, given my local diving - shore, shallow (max ~60-70 feet), generally only 2 a day. I unfortunately went several years without a diving vacation, so I had no need for a computer.

But when I was finally going to go on vacation with diving, I bought one, for the reason identified above - I wanted to maximize my diving time on deeper dive profiles. On vacation I sometimes like to dive wrecks and other sites where I feel I really need a computer. Although I am often content diving shallow reefs where a computer may not be needed.

In retrospect, maybe it makes more sense for me to rent a computer for the several days on vacation every year (hopefully) that I will need it - something I will consider if/when my current computer dies on me.

BTW, I only have the one computer. My backup is a depth gauge + watch. I have considered having a backup computer, but I am a cheap mofo.

 

[Rhone Man]

One of the things about computers that people often overlook is just how accurate the depth gauges on them are now compared to the "good old days".

When I learned to dive, depth gauges were accurate to +/- 2-3 feet when you bought them, and their performance usually deteriorated over time. Now I wear two computers and they are accurate to about 4-5 inches. Even the world's worst Luddite has to love that kind of accuracy. Plus your average computer today costs slightly less than your average depth gauge did in the old days (adjusting for inflation).

 

[TMHeimer]

98% of my dives are 30' (10m) or less, so I just use the watch. Deep dives I use computer and watch/gauge. On those deep dives of course you usually are closer to the no-stop limit. I treat the computer remaining bottom time differently--since it represents the theoretical "exact" time -- as opposed to a square profile where you use the watch and are almost always a few feet above your max depth.

 

[redacted]

Vacation divers need dive computer to avoid limiting themselves and other divers. Bonaire is one exception. Rentals are usually available.

Local diving may be different. I do much of my local diving with only an SPG when depths are known and limited.

 

[Damselfish]

I dove at home without before computers were widely available. For the local dives we did in New England, computers wouldn't have been much of an advantage over tables anyway. We rented computers (Orcas!) on our second warm water trip and bought soon after. I wouldn't want to do a trip like that without one now. If anything it makes diving on vacation more relaxing as it's _less_ effort, besides the more bottom time aspect.

I'm in the software business too and I don't see using a dive computer as being anything remotely like work. A basic dive computer is really more like an appliance than a computer. My microwave is probably more complicated to operate than my dive computer.