Originally posted by NetDoc
I would like to dive with you just to watch how you handle your tables, etc under water. I must admit that the extent of my "table watching" is checking to see how much more bottom time I have.
It would depend upon the dive Pete, but the idea is to plan your dive and then dive your plan... really.
The tables that I have written down (by hand) in my wetnotes are not at all like the PADI tables....
They are just decompression stops/times required for certain depths and BT...
We select the depth table that applies...
Then select the projected BT column...
Then write those stops/times down on a front page...
Making adjustment for the mix used (we use air tables)...
We mentally keep track of our profile and if it is significantly different from what was planned make adjustments....
We arrive at our first gas switch and do 3~5 minutes...
If we are on 50/50 we reduce the required times for the rest of the stops by 50%.....
(If we were to lose our deco gas we would revert to the times as written....)
If we are using O2 at 20' we make an adjustment to the times and reduce them by another 50%...
If the O2 fails we revert to the 50/50 times...
If both fail we revert to the air times...
BUT...
This does mean that we have to pay attention to depth and time and be in that habit of keeping track mentally... *Plan your dive and then dive your plan* acutally meaning something in this context.
If I were to be using a computer even on *recreational* dives I would be training myself not to pay attention to the details....
That is why I say:
"Computers will rot your brain."