To what are you referring, laser range-finders?If you really need accurate depth measurement, like on a working dive, there are instruments for that.
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To what are you referring, laser range-finders?If you really need accurate depth measurement, like on a working dive, there are instruments for that.
I understand your point.
I agree we must not confuse new divers.
And I give no importance on the name given as "rec" or "tech".
For me the correct concept to give to all new divers is that they should not stop their training after the first OW course. It is not safe to dive with just this low level of knowledge, in the assumption that if one stays within the NDL there is no risk.
Better to get further training and reach the level when you can do safely deco dives.
Only at that point a diver is "complete" and can dive safely, knowing that, when sht happens, he has the resources (knowledge, skills, expertise, equipment, amount of air, etc.) to replan the dive, doing the deco if required.
I understand that this is just my opinion, and some major agencies prefer to sell a number of useless "specialty" certs instead of teaching the discipline and knowledge required for safe deco diving.
I agree with you that any diver would benefit from what we Yanks call "technical training". That was actually one of my first posts in this thread. Even if you never go into deco, it's about the mindset - planning, not just swimming around until the DM tells you to go up.
On the other hand, I wouldn't agree that it's not safe to dive with just OW training. I mean, there is risk in all diving, but the vast majority of certified divers never go beyond OW, and the overall safety record of diving is pretty good. A good OW instructor can certainly give his or her students the skills that they need to be safe divers within their limits.
Sometimes that works.
ha that was 5 tangents ago - keep up man!I'm beginning to think my analogy has not had much impact.
Ok, but let's go back on topic.
Nitrox.
Please tell me what of the two following options is safer:
1) Dive 30 min at 30m with air tables, so you are beyond NDL and you need to make a mandatory deco stop of 3m at 3 meters. Of course you must be deco-trained and deco-equipped.
2) As there is Nitrox-32 in your tank, a 30m/30 min dive is considered within NDL, so an unskilled basic OW diver can do it without any additional precaution.
For me, 1) is safer than 2).
And for you?
As a scientist, you are really only supposed to vary one thing at a time. You seem to be varying two or more.Please tell me what of the two following options is safer:
1) Dive 30 min at 30m with air tables, so you are beyond NDL and you need to make a mandatory deco stop of 3m at 3 meters. Of course you must be deco-trained and deco-equipped.
2) As there is Nitrox-32 in your tank, a 30m/30 min dive is considered within NDL, so an unskilled basic OW diver can do it without any additional precaution.
For me, 1) is safer than 2).
Nice clarity - good postThe hope is not blind, hence when the computer is truly, absolutely essential, people have redundancy. People ensure the battery is charged, the firmware is updated, tissue logs are not inadvertently cleared. In the map example, coverage failure doesn't leave you lost, it leaves you exactly where you're standing. If you had the forethought to think about coverage you could've downloaded offline maps..
Risk is a factor of consequence and likelihood, no single method insulates you from both. Computers greatly reduce the likelihood and consequence by tracking your dive with second by second data samples. Analogue instruments are only as good as the frequency they are monitored. Accuracy of the dive profile is less, therefore to control the likelihood of DCS you must increase the conservatism of the dive plan. If the vis is great and the wreck is good and the gas is going well, I can add 5min of bottom time, or spend a bit longer in the bottom decks, without any increase in risk. With analogue gear that is not wise, I really must stick to the plan and hope everything holds for the next dive.
To be clear, I'm not suggesting any reason for you to change. I will suggest your reasons listed to not change are inaccurate but that has no bearing on your current methods.