Question Redundancies

[went_postal]

Soooo.... When I was first sorta setting up my gear there was a short discussion about getting a dive console.

Like for instance... when looking to go with a package in order to qualify for FPFL they want you to get the reg, onto, bc, and computer... but not the console. I thought that was odd.

Now... I work in tech as a support engineer. I don't trust tech because I know it breaks. I mean... not like I don't use tech... but I am a fan of backups.

So to ME... it seems like a 2 gauge console is sort of a no-brainer.

I did get a computer with air integration but I still also ordered the console.

Am I overreacting?

On a dive not too long ago out of the four of us... three of our computers went caput. We were not diving deep and we had consoles so it wasn't a huge deal. But for instance... I have the Apple Watch with the Oceanic app and it chose the moment I got in the water to not work. (I got it fixed about 7 hours AFTER the drive).

I know the big thing is diving with the most minimal you can get away with... but is anyone else diving without consoles?

When I was looking at BCs I liked the idea of the Air2 system BUT... opted for an Octo instead just because it seems to me that the majority of other divers out there are trained using octos in out of air emergencies. I know you can plan it above water... but when panic sets in will the person that's been diving for years think about that air2 system and freak out more when they don't see a yellow air hose?

Anything else anyone carries "backups" for?

 

[grantmac]

You need to be diving better computers with better (long hose) configurations.

 

[gamon]

they want you to get the reg, onto, bc, and computer... but not the console.

What the heck is an onto?

Anyway I think what you're asking is do other divers have backups to their primary AI computer such as a second computer and SPG?

If so that question has been asked a zillion times. A zillion is the next order of power higher than a billion in case your math isn't up to speed.

The answer is it varies.

 

[went_postal]

What the heck is an onto?

Onto is the latest Mac's aggressive autocorrect changing OCTO.

Anyway I think what you're asking is do other divers have backups to their primary AI computer such as a second computer and SPG?

Sort of... I know I've seen some comments about carrying two computers and whatnot. The question was more towards wondering if there are people/reasons that don't dive with at least an analog SPG?

 

[gamon]

The question was more towards wondering if there are people/reasons that don't dive with at least an analog SPG?

As I suspected your question is whether it's necessary to back up your AI computer with an spg.

As I said, the answers vary and you could probably find thousands of posts on this topic if you use the search feature.

It's all a matter of how willing are you to lose a dive if your AI computer fails.

I do what I think is the best of both worlds, backup my AI computer with a) a second AI wrist unit and b) a mini spg the size of a nickel on a thin miflex hose ziptied to the BCD power inflator hose.

The backup computer and my compass has a slate on the back and it's stowed in a pocket. So there's no console on my rig.

 

[Comm]

I wouldn't let free parts for life be the persuading factor on which gear to purchase. The state of the scuba industry these days gives me pause on whether some of these brands will be around in the next few years. Even if you do get free parts - the shop will likely still stick you with the labor, so its not 'free' per se.

That being said, most upper level divers these days are either diving a simple SPG with a wrist mounted computer, air integrated wrist mount computer without spg, two wrist mounted computers, or some combination of SPG, wrist mounted, with our without air integration. Consoles are falling out of favor (but not completely out of favor) for many reasons - size, replaceability, streamlined-ness, etc.

 

[went_postal]

What the heck is an onto?

Anyway I think what you're asking is do other divers have backups to their primary AI computer such as a second computer and SPG?

If so that question has been asked a zillion times. A zillion is the next order of power higher than a billion in case your math isn't up to speed.

The answer is it varies.

Oh... I was also honestly asking if there were any other pieces of kit people carry that are redundant.

With reference to things being asked a zillion times... yeah... I get it. You've got a gazillion dives and you've been on the board for a long time. Once upon a time discussion boards/forums were for discussions. There's always someone that wants to scream about using the search. Which is sorta valid but if that's the answer to everything than scuba board.com doesn't need to exist and we can all just use google.

So... aside from criticizing my autocorrect and pointing out you've heard this before... part of my query/post was sort of skipped. The overall question was: Is it a thing for people to omit the consoles or stand alone SPGs?

 

[gamon]

The overall question was: Is it a thing for people to omit the consoles or stand alone SPGs?

Only if they're using an AI computer, and even then not always it's a matter of whether someone is willing to potentially lose a dive if their AI computer quits and they have no way to monitor tank pressure. I think I said that already to save you the trouble of doing a search.

 

[inquis]

Summary of prior threads:

• Modern transmitters are very reliable (moreso than SPGs in my case)
• Redundant pressure devices MAY allow you to continue the dive (however long that might be), but some failures mandate ending the dive (e.g., blown HP hose).
• If you have two devices, but rely on the most limiting, do you really have 2? Will you actually continue if that one fails?
• Having a spare SPG or transmitter in the SaveADive kit to swap between dives is smart.

In a recreational setting, a second computer is effectively insurance against sitting out a day from a multi-day trip. (You have to reset your tissues before a loaner/rental computer will make sense.) In rare cases of diving square profiles you could run tables with a depth gauge & console SPG (and timer), but that doesn't work well for the multi-level dives that are typical these days.

Personally, I run a transmitter with a spare SPG on the boat. I trust my Shearwater transmitter more than my SPG, and it also won't be misleading. (Some SPG failures will cause it to indicate more gas than is actually present.) I have 2 computers since I do technical diving, so bringing two on a multi-day recreational trip is an easy call for me.

 

[went_postal]

I wouldn't let free parts for life be the persuading factor on which gear to purchase. The state of the scuba industry these days gives me pause on whether some of these brands will be around in the next few years. Even if you do get free parts - the shop will likely still stick you with the labor, so its not 'free' per se.

That being said, most upper level divers these days are either diving a simple SPG with a wrist mounted computer, air integrated wrist mount computer without spg, two wrist mounted computers, or some combination of SPG, wrist mounted, with our without air integration. Consoles are falling out of favor (but not completely out of favor) for many reasons - size, replaceability, streamlined-ness, etc.

I would agree that buying into a single ecosystem was a concern. The FPFL does seem to be a benefit and I agree.. the shops will charge for labor... they just don't charge for the replacement parts (if needed).

Some of the challenges I've seen when buying local is a lot of shops don't tend to carry a plethora of brands. I like the HOG/Edge stuff... but the only shop in town that sells it is not super reliable.

The shop I work with the most is a ScubaPro shop.