'liberal dive computer' for live aboard style high frequency diving

[luckydiver]

Found this from a review and copying the salient passage below. I'm the OP and this is the type of info I'm looking for. Any disagreements with the author about the algorithms? What dive computers use dsat?
http://www.atlasomega.com/2011/05/oceanic-vt4-dive-computer-review/

One can argue until the cows come home as to which one is “better” (and people certainly do), but the true answer to this oversimplified question is that it depends.  DSAT is generally thought of as being more generous to the diver in terms of bottom time, and is more liberal when used during multiple days of repetitive, recreational diving, as is commonly the case during warm water dive vacations when most people try to make the most of their scarce vacation time.  The Buhlmann (Pelagic Z+) model is generally considered to be more appropriate for the demands of cold water, decompression and altitude diving, and is typically found in most technical dive computers, such as the Shearwater Predator.

 

[ianr33]

Dive nitrox. Get an Oceanic/Aeris computer. Push it close to deco if you like. Do a looonnnng...... safety stop until it's back in the green. (might take 15 minutes)

Problem solved.

Be aware other algorithms would consider these deco dives, so plan gas appropriately, to be 100% sure you can do the long safety stops.

 

[scubadada]

My first computer, a Cochran, was easily the most liberal. I switched to Oceanic DSAT algorithm in 2001 and have stayed with it since. I have nearly a thousand dives on this algorithm and will not be changing. I dive a VT3 primary and a Geo2 and SPG backup. The Geo2 is on sale at LeisurePro for $279. Perhaps they're going to upgrade or discontinue this model, I like it.

Good diving, Craig

CNS O2 exposure

Several have mentioned this in their posts. The Oceanic computers track O2 exposure per 24 hour period using the NOAA table and give no credit for surface intervals. It is entirely possible to reach 80% or even to exceed 100% when one is diving 4 or 5 dives per day on nitrox, especially multiple days.

I'd be interested to hear if other computers give surface interval credit and whether this credit uses the 90 minute half-life often stated for oxygen

 

[Donnah]

I prefer the Uwatec algorithm. It has an excellent track record.

We always use Nitrox on live-aboards.

My husband and I also like the Uwatecs. The thing to remember on live-aboards is that the chamber is a LONG way away. Even though you can do five dives a day and push your computer, it doesn't mean that it's a good idea. We use Nitrox (on air tables) and do a very long safety stop at 15 ft, using up much of the remaining air in our tanks. We are older, experienced divers -- and want to see our grandchild graduate from high school!

 

[divin'dog]

... I like it because it gives similar algorithm groupings. I used it to match a couple of older used computers for a primary and backup set...

Exactly. And if companies do make changes, I doubt if it will be that far off from whatever algorithm they have successfully used in the past. It's a good chart to see how things relate to one another.

... Recently I was diving aggressively in Cozumel with some days doing 4 dives with 5 hours bottom time. I was OK on NDL but I found if I did all Nitrox I would be hitting up on O2 limits, so I started doing any shallow dives with air...

I dove a week in Roatan (3-4 dives a day) and also a week in Grand Turks (3 dives/day) using an old Suunto SME ML. It was most likely based upon Navy tables (60' for 60 mins). Loved the thing. Wish I never sold it. Might even look for one as a backup, although it does not do nitrox. Computers today are much more conservative but I had never had a problem diving with more aggressive tables. Of course, that was when I was younger... and everyone is different. People get hits diving proper profiles.

Thanks gopbroek for posting credits for me.

 

[Tigerman]

I used to have a Uwatec aladin prime (I actually still have it and it work, but "eat batteries") and replaced it recently with a ScubaPro Aladin2G (Uwatec and ScubaPro is the same company) and I dive EAN32. I HAVE been able to getting close to the deco limits, but on those occasions Ive also KNOWN that my profile was rather more agressive than the average dive (and quite often its been on the third deep dive of the day) so it kinda SHOULD be telling me to watch it (which I already did)

 

[lmorin]

IMHO, there are only conservative and more conservative classes of computers. While some might place the Oceanic computers in the former class, my wife and I have used Veo250 computers for 9 yrs doing as many as 5 dives/day x 5 days at Roatan, Bonaire and on a liveaboard. The only 'issue' we ever encountered was in Cozumel with a group of boat divers, a few of whom had Suunto computers. The Suuntos suggested they ascend 5-8 min earlier than the rest of us in the group. Their loss.

 

[flots am]

Loved the thing. Wish I never sold it. Might even look for one as a backup, although it does not do nitrox. Computers today are much more conservative but I had never had a problem diving with more aggressive tables. Of course, that was when I was younger... and everyone is different. People get hits diving proper profiles.

Get vPlanner, an SPG, a depth gauge and a watch.

I actually have a Galileo Sol, but don't trust it for anything more than "fun" dives. There's nothing like checking to see where your next deco stop is and for how long, or wondering "how long have I been here?", looking at the computer and seeing a blank screen, or on the SmartCom "E7".

flots

 

[Divenomad]

CNS O2 exposure

Several have mentioned this in their posts. The Oceanic computers track O2 exposure per 24 hour period using the NOAA table and give no credit for surface intervals. It is entirely possible to reach 80% or even to exceed 100% when one is diving 4 or 5 dives per day on nitrox, especially multiple days.

I'd be interested to hear if other computers give surface interval credit and whether this credit uses the 90 minute half-life often stated for oxygen

I've looked quite a bit at dive computers, and i don't think there are any that give you credit for O2 exposure in surface intervals. I could be wrong, but I don't know any.

I looked a little deeper, Suunto claims on the Vytec that the o2 recovery is reduced. I have no idea what exactly that means. You could try their tech support

 

[Tigerman]

Scubadada did not mention o2 exposure on the surface, but credit of the surface interval against the o2 clock and wether the computers would take in account the halflife of o2 you have already been exposed to, if Im not mistaken..