Tec Computers?

[Scared Silly]

The questions I've had regarding some of these computers for technical diving are these:

3. We all know that computers can fail. The key is WHEN. If you are halfway through your deco plan after a deep dive, and your computer fails, is your backup plan going to match what the computer was taking you through, or will you have to recompute a new plan on the fly?

4. Can computers allow you to tweak their adjustments enough to allow them to get close to your deco program's tables. I know in the case of the VR3's VPM implementation, part of the frustration seemed to be that you could not tweak it to match up to VPlanner so that you could create a backup plan that made sense.

3. I adopted from my usage from my instructor (GDI). I base my dive primarily off of my tables and use my computer as the backup. Taking which ever is more conservative at the time.

4. This something that I have found helps me out. I use Mplan (Buhlmann ZHL-16 algorithm) because it runs under OSX and when planning the few decos that I have done recently I can get it and my Vytec (RGBM model) to match up pretty well. To do this though I run the Vytec at 50% using the deep stops.

 

[PerroneFord]

I use MPlan on my palm pilot. If I have to rework my dive plan for some reason, I always have it handy. Getting it to line up with VPlanner is a CHORE. But I've got it close enough now.

 

[PvilleStang]

I'll go with everyone else here, and I'm sure what your instructor will tell you: Learn to dive running tables and a BT, then once you understand what's going on and become less dependent on a computer, you can look into them and you'll know better what you want. I currently use deco planner to run my tables, and just picked up a VR3.

 

[HybridDiver]

Thank you, I just signed up for the Basic GUE course out of vancouver. Its for sept, which sucks but i cant wait.
Chris

 

[karstdvr]

Then this thread is probably a moot point for you since they aren't fans of dive computers,you may want to direct your questions to the DIR subforum.

 

[HybridDiver]

Whats the difference from DIR and you guys? They all do the same jobs, get to the same place but different config right?
CHris

 

[The Chad]

Well in my mind its like Democrats and Republicans. For some its a feeling of belonging. Kinda like the same reason someone joins a gang I guess. I fall into niether catagory. For me I just use the best info I have and do what makes sense to me and the others I dive with. :11doh:

 

[PerroneFord]

Whats the difference from DIR and you guys? They all do the same jobs, get to the same place but different config right?
CHris

Many DIR people wear computers. However, they tend to use external programs for their decompression information so they just don't need most of what a computer does. Just a philosophical difference, and certainly nothing to fret over.

To be honest, on most single tank, OW dives, it doesn't matter all that much anyway.

-P

 

[Meng_Tze]

Then this thread is probably a moot point for you since they aren't fans of dive computers,you may want to direct your questions to the DIR subforum.

I didn't either in the past...... but man is life easier with a computer.....

Don't get me wrong, GUE training is superb, but everything is just so much easier when a computer keeps track of actual profiles, especially in caves

 

[drbill]

I do frequent dives in the 150-200 ft range using my Uwatec Aladin Pro dive computer. However, I don't rely 100% on the deco obligation it indicates. I generally double or triple it, which is easy since the offshore slopes allow me to spend a lot of time in shallow water (20-50 ft) as I ascend.

Although many of the dives I do would be considered technical in some senses of the word, I am not able to plan my dives the same way most technical divers do. I am not diving sites with known bottom depths (such as wrecks). I dive to take video footage, and stop wherever I find something interesting within the depth range I go. For that reason the computer is pretty essential, a backup very helpful. I pretty much know the profiles I can dive, so as long as I have a backup depth gauge and bottom timer I can recover without much trouble even if the computer fails (as it has).