n00b question..

[John_B]

As opposed to tables which, you appear to be implying, arent based aren't based on modeled data and theory?

No, I'm saying I don't ride the tables to the absolute limit any more than I would ride the computer to the absolute limit. I plan a safety factor instead of flying a computer to eek out every last second of bottom time/NDL.

If you look at my earlier post, I said -> Use the computer, but have a plan in case it fails. It does after all have a battery which could die, the thing could flood, or if it's on your wrist, there is the remote chance of loosing it (broken strap) etc. I use my computer all the time and do trust it, but I do know about where I am on tables also. No I won't sit there and do all the math to figure my group and such. But I know approx. where I am.

Wise words. The only thing I would add is that knowing approximately what your computer should be telling you will help to send up red flags if it starts living in its own little world. Besides catastrophic failures, buttons that stick, etc., sometimes the sensors stop being accurate but the computer will still happily display a screen full of numbers. How many times have SBers reported their computer thought they were still diving even though they were on the back of a dive boat? What if the error went the other way?

John

 

[Steve_Dives]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNqPTOb31S8

That's hilarious!

 

[Hemlon]

Yeah, it sucks losing your computer on a dive (it actually happened to me with a rental) but that said, this doesn't happen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNqPTOb31S8

 

[ScubaSteve]

Yeah, it sucks losing your computer on a dive (it actually happened to me with a rental) but that said, this doesn't happen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNqPTOb31S8

I needed the BIG bag of popcorn for that feature film.

 

[Carribeandiver]

recently on a dive vacation, before any dives, the DM asked how many of us were using dive tables. since I had a BT/Depth gauge with an SPG, I answered I would be using the tables and discovered I was the only one raising his hand. I thought, wow, everyone else is using a computer, interesting, unususal but interesting.
Later on, after several dives, as I was sitting on the boat I looked at all the gear loaded on the racks. There were several with analog gauges. As a matter of fact, the computer was the exception, not the rule as everyone claimed when asked about the dive tables.
I thought, how are these people logging their dives, keeping track of nitrogen absorbtion, figuring surface interval time, etc. Then it dawned on me, these people do not use dive tables and really believe they do not need them.
How sad it is that people do not accept the intrinsic danger of diving without proper precautions. I agree the tables are inordinately conservative but DCS is not something to take lightly.
I believe using a computer or not, everyone should use tables. It isnt that big of a deal. With very little practice, you can calculate very quickly.