How do you use a dive computer?
1. Follow the guidelines you learned with the Recreational Dive Planner (deep dives first, limit repetitive dives to 30 metres/100 feet or shallower, etc.)
2. You and your buddy need your own computers. Dont attempt to share. A computer tracks your nitrogen throughout the dive day, so you cant swap or share computers between dives, either.
3. Dont turn your computer off between dives or remove the battery. Doing so will make it lose its memory of your residual nitrogen. Your computer will shut itself off.
4. Different computers have slightly different decompression models and different time limits. Buddy teams should follow the computer with the more conservative times.
5. If your computer malfunctions while diving, ascend immediately according to the manufacturers instructions.
a. If there is no recommendation, then ascend at a rate not exceeding 18 metres/60 feet per minute or the computers ascent rate, whichever is slower, to a depth of 5 metres/15 feet and make a long safety stop, perhaps lasting as long as your air supply permits. Do not dive again for 24 hours, or as recommended by the manufacturers instructions.
6. Back up your computer with the Recreational Dive Planner. Since no dive computer is infallible, it is still important for you to have and use your RDP. If your computer fails you may have to quit diving until the next day to clear residual nitrogen, but then you can resume using your RDP. You may be able to rent a
dive computer in many places, but dont count on ittake your RDP so you dont miss out on the diving