Recreational divers, post your rig here, let's share good and bad ideas

[Blackcrusader]

I think the definition of what is a technical dive, meaning any planned dive that would contain at least one staged decompression stop, makes you a technical diver, even though you may not dive tri-mix, etc.

Well if that's your definition thats fine. When I did my BSAC courses in the 80's we did deco on 21%.
There was no nitrox, dive computers were rare to see so we did dive planning with tables and a watch. There was no SPG we had the J valve. We put extra tanks around wrecks or on the anchor line from the boat.

I'm nitrox certified and have planned deco dives on nitrox. Does a staged deco stop make me a technical diver? Well not to me. Called sports diving when I did my deco certs. Deco training is normal for some agencies. like BSAC and CMAS. It is not for PADI and some other agencies that focius on NDL dives.

 

[LI-er]

I think it's called "normalization of deviance"

I've had that term thrown at me when I mention that I occasionally incur a few minutes worth of DECO. I don't like the term because it implies reckless and ever worsening behavior that will almost invariably result in an accident unless the person experiences some good luck when it's really needed.

Rather than plan every dive to end "before I get into the red" so to speak, I'll occasionally allow myself the luxury of a longer dive, and having the experience over 100s of dives I have a really good idea of how fast that mild DECO obligation is going to burn off and how much gas I need to do it, and with the two tank redundancy I've always got it available.

What I found interesting is that on the Truk Lagoon liveaboard, not only were rec divers not discouraged from going into DECO, it was mentioned that it's actually ok (if not encouraged). With those big steel 100 tanks and large impressive deep wrecks with so much to see, a diver would be doing themselves a disservice always trying to stay comfortably within the margins.

 

[Eric802]

"Deco" is not an acronym and doesn't need to be capitalized.

Pedantic, I know, but it's one wrong thing in this thread that I thought I might be able to fix.

 

[LI-er]

"Deco" is not an acronym and doesn't need to be capitalized.

An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA ).

DECO is short for "decompression".

 

[scubadada]

,,,DECO is short for "decompression".

So is deco

 

[inquis]

DECO is short for "decompression".

No, "deco" is short for "decompression". As is "rec" for "recreational", "tech" for "technical", "comp" for "computer", etc. Note the lack of capital letters.

 

[LI-er]

No, "deco" is short for "decompression". As is "rec" for "recreational", "tech" for "technical", "comp" for "computer", etc. Note the lack of capital letters.

DECO is an acronym for "decompression". Acronyms are typically capitalized.

 

[LI-er]

No, "deco" is short for "decompression". As is "rec" for "recreational", "tech" for "technical", "comp" for "computer", etc. Note the lack of capital letters.

DECO is an acronym for "decompression". Acronyms are typically written in all caps.

 

[inquis]

DECO is an acronym for "decompression".

FFS (yes, an acronym, formed from the initial letters of three words), you even defined the term above. The relevant portion: "formed from the initial letters of other words". Since you believe DECO is an acronym, what are the four words those four letters replace?

 

[Allen-1]

DECO is an acronym for "decompression". Acronyms are typically written in all caps.

That's NOT an acronym.
At best, it's an abbreviation.

But in reality, it's just more mangling of the language, see exhibit one: "Stoney bottle".

Communication via forum is difficult enough with people from different regions, many of whom speak english as a non-native language; why do you insist on making it more difficult?