Reasons NOT to Use a Computer for a New Diver?

[halocline]

I think that computers can be great benefit to new divers. One thing that has not been mentioned (I don't think) in this thread is the ascent rate indicator and alarm. Many new divers have no idea when they're heading up unintentionally. A computer, used properly, can be a valuable training tool.

It's not the computer's fault that so many new divers (hell, old ones too...) don't bother to plan dives or understand what type of dive behavior is riskiest for DCS, or try to understand some basic concepts of decompression theory.

I don't think cost is a particularly valid reason for avoiding a dive computer. There are lots available for $200 or less, and that's probably about 10% of the cost of one dive vacation. It's just that there are so many computers out there with completely unnecessary 'features' and add-ons that bring prices way up. When I saw the galileo sol for the first time, I thought "nobody would be stupid enough to spend $1500 on this, would they?" Guess I was wrong about that!

 

[sunnyboy]

Recently a newly certified diver asked for some advice on the type of computer to buy. One person (a tech diver) says that nobody should ever use computers in either recreational or tech diving. I asked for rationale and was provided with none.

Can anyone offer solid reasons for a newly certified diver (recreational diving only) to not dive with a computer? Please no references to computers and tech diving. only recreational diving for this discussion.

Cannot offer a solid reason NOT to use a computer.

On the other hand, (and seven pages of this stuff with no mention...) SDI (from TDI/SDI/ERDI) REQUIRES the use of a PDC (personal dive computer) on all open water dives as well as the confined dives of the Open Water class.

 

[fnfalman]

As far as some tech divers refuse to use computers...good for them.

If the people at Dive Rite and Halcyon...the people that wrote the textbook on tech diving, are now or have been switching to dive computers...I think that it's OK to do the same.

Of course, it's always cool to be the iconoclast. The last holdout. The one that's too cool for anything new. The neophyte that martyrs him/herself even though the real deal have already moved onto dive computers.

 

[ianr33]

A
If the people at Dive Rite and Halcyon...the people that wrote the textbook on tech diving, are now or have been switching to dive computers...I think that it's OK to do the same.

I'm really looking forward to a computer with a big blue "H" on it.

 

[iluvtheocean]

As far as some tech divers refuse to use computers...good for them.

If the people at Dive Rite and Halcyon...the people that wrote the textbook on tech diving, are now or have been switching to dive computers...I think that it's OK to do the same.

Of course, it's always cool to be the iconoclast. The last holdout. The one that's too cool for anything new. The neophyte that martyrs him/herself even though the real deal have already moved onto dive computers.

I think what we need is to be able to get the computers in different colors --- mine is a boring black

there are still some people who refuse to have anything to do with the internet either, luckily we won't see any of them on here..

 

[Tom Winters]

Life will be MUCH better when computers disappear. The internet will disappear as well, and this can only only be good as well. People will have to get their porn the old-fashioned way and divers will use dive tables the way all Gods intended. Plus I will not have to continually reimburse people for the time lost from their lives reading my drivel. Live will be good, and much cheaper, one day.

 

[KeithG]

Life will be MUCH better when computers disappear. The internet will disappear as well, and this can only only be good as well. People will have to get their porn the old-fashioned way and divers will use dive tables the way all Gods intended. Plus I will not have to continually reimburse people for the time lost from their lives reading my drivel. Live will be good, and much cheaper, one day.

And THEn you die?

---------- Post added October 22nd, 2013 at 08:03 PM ----------

I think what we need is to be able to get the computers in different colors --- mine is a boring black

You obviously rinse your computer way too often. One of mine has some interesting nasal greens as well as a few barnyard browns growing on it.

Viva color!

 

[Storker]

I think what we need is to be able to get the computers in different colors

Good enough for ya?

 

[corvettejoe]

If someone cannot articulate the "why" behind their advice, a good rule of thumb would be to consider that they don't really understand what they're talking about.

This.

 

[Adam Grose]

I, personally, decided to spend my first year diving tables, so I would know how to use them if I had to. After the first year, I got a computer and use it when I dive. This was not because of anything I was told, etc. It was just something I decided to to for myself. FWIW.

Adam