Does anyone dive nitrox on gauges?

[android]

I'm a new diver and interested in conservative safe dives. I haven't taken the nitrox class yet, but have read a lot about it and it seems like a good idea even for shallow dives.

It looks like just about everyone is using computers, but every other thread about computers is how unreliable they are and how often they break. I don't see such complaints about SPG and depth gauges on any type of regular occurence here.

I would like to plan nitrox dives using the appropriate software and then just stick to the plan using SPG, watch and depth guages with maybe a bottom timer as backup.

Any comments? Is this shear stupidity?

Thanks,
Andy

 

[DennisW]

I have a Nitrox compatible computer, but there is no problem diving Nitrox on the Nitrox tables. Your class, when you take it should include tables and how to use them.

 

[MechDiver]

I would like to plan nitrox dives using the appropriate software and then just stick to the plan using SPG, watch and depth guages with maybe a bottom timer as backup.

Any comments? Is this shear stupidity?

Thanks,
Andy

There isn't much software involved in simple nitrox dives, you can just use the appropriate table if you wish.

I don't think you're being stupid, but I don't think that computers, for recreational diving, are as unreliable as you believe.

MD

 

[boomx5]

Diving Nitrox with an SPG and bottom timer is just as easy as diving air with an SPG and bottom timer.

 

[Diver Mike]

My EAN (Notrox) Instructor was old school and insited that we dive our cert dives with gagues and tables.

I am an avid computer diver and was a bit miffed that he made us do that. However, when I was in Coz and my computer descied to "give up the ghost", I was able to attach my console and continue EAN dives.

It is no problem to dive with tables and gauges with Nitrox.

 

[DennisS]

I would like to plan nitrox dives using the appropriate software and then just stick to the plan using SPG, watch and depth guages with maybe a bottom timer as backup.


Thanks,
Andy

If you want to keep it simple use 32 or 36, and a table, no computer needed.

http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.aspx?op=ItemDisplay&ProductID=BKSN20

 

[H2Andy]

yes. i dove Nitrox with a pressure gauge and Nitrox tables all the time (sometimes i used the
equivalent depth with air tables, but you get less time that way).

it's just like diving with air. what i love about a computer is that it automatically
calculates mutli-level diving for you, so you get tons more bottom time than if you
use the "square profile" of the tables (i never learned to calculate multi-level profiles
manually or with the wheel)

 

[RIDIVER501]

Planning and diving Nitrox with approved RDP or Mathematic procedures is as safe as planning regular air dives the same way. The only major diffence between diving computers and guages is with the computer you get longer bottom times.

Safety is always in how you use the tool, not in the tool itself.
Plenty of people dive computers and just asume becuase they are diving a computer that they are safe....but people diving computers still have problems and still get injured.