My dive computer is too conservative, what can I do ?

[johndiver999]

He was not on nitrox I should have probably added why i made the nitrox comment was I did nitrox on a liveaboard and didnt get the same issue doing many dives/deeper dives, but I think I forgot that context.

Well thanks for the clarification. That changes the entire nature of your statement and makes mine irrelevant.

 

[rongoodman]

I ended up hitting a deco dive, without realizing it and consequently got locked out of my watch for 48 hours. Again totally my fault and lesson well learned, but realistically, thats 3 days of diving I was locked out of. His never even had a warning let alone hit a deco dive and we had practically identical diving profiles

I totally accept some fault here because I should have been paying attention to my watch and indicated I need to go up a little, but we had very similar dives as I like to follow a bit too closely so it was pretty surprising to say the least

Not defending the computer's lock out behavior, but why didn't you just do the deco?

 

[dmaziuk]

I use a Suunto EON Steel Black, even when buddying a new rebreather diver wanting to build their hours I’ve not been penalised. In fact any deco I acquired at 30m was clear by the time we got back to 9m.

That's because EONs run "full" and/or "fused" RGBM; the entry-level ones run "folded" RGBM, whatever those mean. My Cressi Leo (also "folded RGBM") seems incapable of recalculating deco too, it can only add to it. The mandatory stop does not clear on ascents as one would expect, it only clears when you get to the stop and complete it as prescribed.

Go a few metres up while the NDL is still at 1 and it behaves as expected.

 

[jackieec]

Not defending the computer's lock out behavior, but why didn't you just do the deco?

Its a good question - I had a lot of thoughts in my head and if I had had a private charter, I would have 100% asked to stay down as I definitely had enough gas to be down an extra 12 mins. But basically, I realized my buddys computer hadnt even have a warning so I was also running a scenario where this was just a glitch or something (even though I knew that probably wasnt what had happened). And the stop would have been an extra 12 mins on top of 3 min safety stop, I am already the last person by +5 mins on the boat of 14ish since im a smaller person so I dont use much air. So basically I took the chance I was OK to not inconvenience everyone else, based off the fact it seemed to be a discrepancy in computers as I was again so close to this person I literally got hit in the head 20x a dive

Anyway not a scenario I plan to be in again...but hopefully its an interesting data point. I don't think its "bad" Suuntos are conservative, it was just surprising to me there could even be such a big discrepancy

 

[johndiver999]

Its a good question - I had a lot of thoughts in my head and if I had had a private charter, I would have 100% asked to stay down as I definitely had enough gas to be down an extra 12 mins. But basically, I realized my buddys computer hadnt even have a warning so I was also running a scenario where this was just a glitch or something (even though I knew that probably wasnt what had happened). And the stop would have been an extra 12 mins on top of 3 min safety stop, I am already the last person by +5 mins on the boat of 14ish since im a smaller person so I dont use much air. So basically I took the chance I was OK to not inconvenience everyone else, based off the fact it seemed to be a discrepancy in computers as I was again so close to this person I literally got hit in the head 20x a dive

Anyway not a scenario I plan to be in again...but hopefully its an interesting data point. I don't think its "bad" Suuntos are conservative, it was just surprising to me there could even be such a big discrepancy

I think I would have done the full 12 minutes of deco. I would just apologize to everyone. Are you positive that your buddy did the exact same prior dives as you? Why would you miss three days of diving from this error?

 

[Davide Pusceddu]

Hello hello,

Here's my problem. I've just bought a Suunto Zoop Novo, but I realise that the algorithm used is on average significantly more conservative than that of the dive computers of the people I dive with (for example Aqualung). I'm not at all in favour of excessive risk-taking, but I'm thinking more and more that Suunto's conservatism isn't really justified, since other computers allow longer NDLs at the same depth (again, I'm thinking in particular of Aqualung), and yet they're widely used by dive clubs all over the world, without causing a significantly higher number of accidents (tell me if I'm wrong on this point). I realise the same thing when I compare the NDL given by my Suunto with the PADI dive tables, which are also more liberal.

I'd also like to stick with my dive computer as I like everything else so much.

I was thinking of a solution that would allow me to slightly reduce the conservatism of my computer: set it to an O2 level slightly higher than the one I actually use (Nitrox 25% if I dive with air, for example), so as to obtain results close to the PADI dive table when I plan my dives with the computer.

Is this taking a risk? What could be dangerous?

Thx a lot for your responses !

Why don't you just do the deco stop instead?
I'm familiar with the Zoop novo. Yes it's more conservative than other more technical computers but that it's not necessarily a disadvantage if you are going for recreational dives with a DM. If the computers asks for a deco stop, simply do the deco stop - being a recreational dive it won't be longer than 5 min.
If instead you are leading a dive, plan well your dive and do the deco stops your computers recommends.
In case you are going for a more technical dive … well then you might want to consider a more technical computer.

 

[Diver-Drex]

Getting a Shearwater isn’t the answer to every problem. They are great computers, I have two. My open water students get a Mares Puc 4 or a Zoop. My Perdix, with my GFs, gives me shorter NDLs than the students.

And “just do the deco”… This may not be sound advice to give to someone who thought setting their computer to Nitrox was a viable solution. I’m sure on the fly gas planning won’t be an issue.

To the OP, you just may need to be diving a ‘conservative’ computer. Older, poor health, excess slow tissue, PFO, risk taker that needs to be rained in. I don’t know. My advice, after 40 years of diving, is a minute here or there doesn’t matter in the big picture. Dive the computer you have. Get a different one if you want but dive it. It seems like you could be on a path to just push your next computer to the edge if you’re not happy with what it tells you.

 

[tursiops]

57 posts so far and no one has suggested the obvious solution to the OP's problem: he wants a computer that will match the Aqualungs his buddies ae using, so he should get an Aqualung too.

 

[34109411]

57 posts so far and no one has suggested the obvious solution to the OP's problem: he wants a computer that will match the Aqualungs his buddies ae using, so he should get an Aqualung too.

Did someone mention it's impossible and hard to press the button on the zoop anyway ???

Aqualung will be a greater choice indeed !

 

[Belzelbub]

Getting a Shearwater isn’t the answer to every problem.

True, but it’s not often the wrong answer.

]And “just do the deco”… This may not be sound advice to give to someone who thought setting their computer to Nitrox was a viable solution. I’m sure on the fly gas planning won’t be an issue.

Barring a pressure sensor failure, a deco obligation should never be a surprise. If it is, then that’s a failure on the diver. If you are diving with a computer, an just going to ignore the deco obligation, then just leave the computer on the boat. It shouldn’t go into deco there.

For sure, there may be competing pressures between deco obligations and gas remaining, and if the gas supply was the controlling factor (including buddies’) then surfacing is the only real option. There’s at least a chance that you won’t get bent, but the same can’t be said about drowning and remaining underwater with no gas.

Frankly, there are some people that probably shouldn’t be diving. If monitoring gas and NDL is too much, then maybe diving is not a good idea.