OW class question

[FinnMom]

Wow: Reading so many 1/2 A4 page replies makes it hard to believe the original post was a yes/no question.

 

[buddhasummer]

So what are they to do when they are on that ultimate trip...and their computer fails?

Say they're done for the day and get a beer? It's a disservice to the student to not teach them the manual backup way. I know, I know, the industry lowered the standard.



You still how to unhook the inflator from the LP line, right? How often has an inflator failed to function? Probably far less than a computer failing.

Look at the other computer on the other wrist or further up my arm. If it was "the ultimate" dive trip I'd be carrying two. I always do travel diving anyway. But yes, I agree an instructor should teach tables, what the student does with that knowledge after is on them.

 

[T.C.]

Look at the other computer on the other wrist or further up my arm. If it was "the ultimate" dive trip I'd be carrying two. I always do travel diving anyway. But yes, I agree an instructor should teach tables, what the student does with that knowledge after is on them.

Gee, of course! Why didn’t we all think of that!!!

What a simplistic and naïve point of view. Not everyone is you; not everyone can afford 1 dive computer, let alone two. With computers costing at a minimum half a month’s worth of groceries, not everyone, and especially not many vacation divers can afford to shell out a couple hundred dollars for a second computer, especially after saving for months to afford a trip that may be a trip to somewhere like the Keys.

Teaching tables provides a useful backup in many cases without the added expense of a second computer. It provides a suitable stepping stone for new divers, and allows them to safely plan and conduct dives before they buy computers.

It shouldn’t replace teaching computers, but complement it.

 

[Diver0001]

I go on trips once every 8-16 months or so. I do not own two dive computers.

I do, however, own a dive watch ($185), a bottom timer ($100) and a computer ($220).

Before every trip (or every other trip depending on how many dives I've made) I get the battery replaced in my computer. Why? because it would SUCK to have your computer die in the middle of a 20-25 dive trip. Replacement battery? $50. Diving with Dolphins? Priceless.

In addition to that -- and I admit that I'm blessed in this way -- I "borrow" a computer from one of my friends who can miss it for a week or two and just throw it in my BCD pocket. If I need a backup then I have one. In fact, In all of the great many hundreds of dives I've made on vacation... I've never needed to use it.

If I hadn't been able to borrow a computer, then I could have rented one for $6/day and for the same price as getting the battery replaced before the trip, I would have a perfectly adequate backup.

R..

 

[T.C.]

In addition to that -- and I admit that I'm blessed in this way -- I "borrow" a computer from one of my friends who can miss it for a week or two and just throw it in my BCD pocket. If I need a backup then I have one.

That is an excellent idea, one that never occurred to me. Most every diver has a friend who dive, and borrowing thier computer is a great backup to yours.

Just make sure they explain it to you first.

 

[buddhasummer]

Gee, of course! Why didn’t we all think of that!!!

What a simplistic and naïve point of view. Not everyone is you; not everyone can afford 1 dive computer, let alone two. With computers costing at a minimum half a month’s worth of groceries, not everyone, and especially not many vacation divers can afford to shell out a couple hundred dollars for a second computer, especially after saving for months to afford a trip that may be a trip to somewhere like the Keys.

Teaching tables provides a useful backup in many cases without the added expense of a second computer. It provides a suitable stepping stone for new divers, and allows them to safely plan and conduct dives before they buy computers.

It shouldn’t replace teaching computers, but complement it.

Never mind...

 

[fjpatrum]

If your OW class doesn't teach tables, who cares. Go out and buy a set or download them from the internet. It takes all of 10 minutes to learn to use them and understand how they work and make a couple "practice dives" using them. Hell, the tables have instructions for use printed right on them if you've forgotten or never seen them before. After that, you're never stuck on a surface interval again. Your computer dies, you figure worst case and reach for your tables.

 

[Lorenzoid]

That is an excellent idea, one that never occurred to me. Most every diver has a friend who dive, and borrowing thier computer is a great backup to yours.

Just make sure they explain it to you first.

And for those of us with no friends, it's probably because we're working all the time so we can afford backup computers

 

[T.C.]

Never mind...

You'll take note that we already thrashed this point out.

We can go through it again, if you'd like...or you can just read the thread.

And for those of us with no friends, it's probably because we're working all the time so we can afford backup computers

Touché!

 

[Pavao]

So, which is better then, tables or back up computer?