Solo and Redundant Computer(or how is most solo diving done?)

[Ste Wart]

That's the one thing I haven't brought myself around to buying yet. I was told to, but I just can't see the point for the solo dives I do.

I'm very aware of my depth, time and remaining NDL during a dive. I also have a mechanical SPG. I've tied knots into my reel at 5, 10, 15 and 20'. I figure if my computer craps out I'll just shoot a bag and ascend to twenty feet and turn the dive. The ABC song can be used to appx 30 seconds so I should be able to get pretty close to my exit point.

Maybe one of these days I'll get another computer.... or maybe someone will explain a reason I haven't thought of.

Saves you tying knots in your reels and singing underwater

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Thanks for the many responses. Redundancy on the depth gauge and SPG is indeed a good possible reason. I personally use an analog console as my backup for those. Some of the responses did confuse me a bit on the basic assumptions of a "Solo Dive". I thought a Solo dive was only appropriate in a non-overhead environment. If this is true why are Decostops an issue on a solo dive? Shouldn't you be far enough away from your NDL that anything more than a 3 minute mandatory safety stop is all you need.
Maybe I spend too much time looking at my gauges and computer and not enough at the scenery, but I'd know within 30 seconds if the CPU bit it and have a pretty good idea of what the last NDL number was.
Again thanks for the feedback so far.

Solo and deco mix just fine. Once you are in an overhead environment, redundancy becomes critical, regardless of being solo or team. Until then a direct ascent to the surface is a viable solution to many issues (include dive computer failure). Remember, people are much more prone to failure than gear.

Personally, I look an my computer maybe once every 5-10 minutes unless ascending / descending. I know what is says and until I get close to NDL its not all that important.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I don't normally solo dive with a redundant computer ... even though I own a really nice backup (Shearwater Petrel). I'll dive it if I'm doing tech dives ... or cave diving, since I so rarely cave dive I don't really know the sites that well. But the majority of my solo dives are in places I'm so familiar with I can tell you within a few feet how deep I am simply by looking around ... and can tell you within a few minutes how long I've been down based on how much gas I've used. If my computer goes TU I'm going up and in anyway. Omitted deco won't be an issue ... so what's the risk?

I don't really see one..

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[chrpai]

so what's the risk?
I don't really see one..

I wonder how many instructors would admit that during a solo/s-r class.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I wonder how many instructors would admit that during a solo/s-r class.

... I don't teach a solo class ... if one of my students wants to take a class, I'll refer them to an instructor I can trust to teach them well ...

.... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[lowviz]

...//... Omitted deco won't be an issue ...

No, very likely not. But just the fact of having a valid plan is one more little panic gremlin with a stake in its heart...

 

[flots am]

In a different thread,

Is this a realistic requirement for solo diving? I see a redundant computer a necessity on a dive vacation. Where you want to maximize time in the water. A loss of data means you sit out a day or more to clear the tables and start table diving. Is much solo diving done on vacations or is it mainly shore diving done on your own and if the computer dies, you thumb the dive.
That said, if you have a spare I can't see a reason not to carry it. I think for me where and how is most solo diving done?
Off a boat with an operator?
or
Shore independently of operators?

For those with an average risk-tolerance, solo diving is all non-overhead, no-deco diving. Solo deco diving is way off the end of the darwin-ometer for me.

If the computer dies, you end the dive and wait until tomorrow, unless you know how long and how deep you've been, and want to recaculate with tables.

When I'm solo diving I value "having less crap with me" and work very hard to keep things simple. An extra tank and reg is fine, it will keep me alive. An extra computer is just something else to get lost,snagged or generally be in the way. The only redundant equipment I have is gas (dive sidemount - 2 tanks & 2 regs) and two lights.

I dive almost 12 months locally (not fond of ice), and had a computer fail once in the last decade or so. All that happened was that I missed the afternoon dive one day on one trip. Instead I went snorkeling and had a great time.

The "where" question is harder because not all boats will accept a solo cert.

flots.

 

[scubadada]

I dive the same configuration every dive, solo or not. I do generally dive multiple days, multiple dives per day, and occasionally have short deco obligations.

My primary computer is an Oceanic VT3, AI running the Pelagic DSAT algorithm. My backup computer is an Oceanic Geo2 running the same algorithm and I have a SPG on my 2nd HP port. I wear a separate analog compass.

I've been diving this combination for a couple years and have not needed the backup computer and SPG to date, but I may someday

 

[waterpirate]

90% of the dives I do are solo with a obligation, from a boat. My question is this, " does know one plan the dive and dive the plan? " I do not have a backup for cochran. I carry a bottom timer and a full understanding of ratio deco. A failure even with a obligation simply means that the dive and the plan go on. One more failure and the dive is thumbed.

solo diving is a discipline that I feel should allways be done with a plan, on the plan, with the exception of rolling around on a reef in 25-30 fsw.
Eric

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

solo diving is a discipline that I feel should allways be done with a plan, on the plan, with the exception of rolling around on a reef in 25-30 fsw.
Eric

Since you brought it up, one of the reasons I like solo is I don't need to plan very much. I can go with the flow depending on what I see and u/w conditions. I find with a buddy I need to have a much more rigid plan due to the difficulty in communicating the change of plans mid dive. When solo, I need little more than a turn pressure and a rock bottom. Admittedly, my dives tend to be 40-60 max so planning can be light.