Timing Your Dive

[eponym]

Do you plan your recreational dive times?
How do your track your time, and how often?
How close do you usually come to meeting the plan?

I use a dive computer, plus an analog watch with bezel for discrete tasks or steps. My dives are non-decompression but I'm planning to take a deco class next year. In the meantime I'm hoping to get better at tracking the time while I'm otherwise occupied underwater.

I'm sure a few readers must have hints to share, or thoughts on the subject . . .

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Jim Baldwin]

Eponym,

I have been using an Oceanic air intergrated Data Max Pro Plus for several years. When I stated I ran my times on the dive tables and tracked it with my watch.

After teaching the tables I have pretty much commited the basic 60, 80, 90 and 100 foot times.

Now I check my watch routinuely to veryify what my computer is telling me.

On my deco dives I run tables, and backup tables, along with a computer and watch. You can't have too much backup.

Jim
Louisiana




]Do you plan your recreational dive times?
How do your track your time, and how often?
How close do you usually come to meeting the plan?

I use a dive computer, plus an analog watch with bezel for discrete tasks or steps. My dives are non-decompression but I'm planning to take a deco class next year. In the meantime I'm hoping to get better at tracking the time while I'm otherwise occupied underwater.

I'm sure a few readers must have hints to share, or thoughts on the subject . . .

Thanks,
Bryan[/QUOTE]

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Over time you develop a very good feel for were you are at in terms of dive time, air time remaining, and nitrogen loading. When you have developed that feel, all three pretty much agree and you essentially cross check them against each other. If one is even slightly off the norm, it really stands out and grabs your attention.

I have an air integrated computer but I cannot remember the last time I looked at "air time remaining". Same with NDL time remaining. Both are more or less irrelevant. I am very familiar with my SAC rate in a variety of conditions and know how much air is required and how much bottom time to expect in a given situation.

I govern the air management during the dive with rule of thirds planning and turn pressures. Similarly, I also plan the NDL or deco profile for the dive and carry the deco plan and contingency plan on strips of duct tape on my fins. The planning creates a situation where you are able to know that the dive is going exactly as planned and both builds confidence and reduces stress and task loading. The computer is essentially only a backup and a glorified bottom timer for most of my dives. The backup for the dive computer is a watch, which is actually better suited to timing deco stops anyway.

 

[MikeFerrara]

, I also plan the NDL or deco profile for the dive and carry the deco plan and contingency plan on strips of duct tape on my fins.

On your fins?

I'd have to become a contortionist to read something on my fins. Or do you take them off to read em? LOL

 

[scubasean]

On your fins?

I'd have to become a contortionist to read something on my fins. Or do you take them off to read em? LOL

LOL

I can't read much of anything that far away...

My slate and tables are kept in my hip pocket.

 

[MikeFerrara]

LOL

I can't read much of anything that far away...

My slate and tables are kept in my hip pocket.

My plan and schedule goes in my head. If I feel the need for written reminders they goes in my wet notes which are stored in my thigh pocket.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Bryan, there are some dive sites that Ive dived very frequently where I know the site well enough to allow me to go into the water, dive the normal profile / time i will do there and know what pg I'll come out on. That's the exception to the rule thoug.. typically I'll plan the dive on the wheel before going in, write the details on a slate and follow that plan, if as can often happen I change my plan I'll update depths / times accordingly on the slate.

for me, my computers a back up and something I use to monitor my dive. I used to subscribe to the I've got a computer so i don't need to plan my dive' school of thought but I want to dive as safely as I can.

 

[DORSETBOY]

On your fins?

I'd have to become a contortionist to read something on my fins. Or do you take them off to read em? LOL

they do say flexibility goes quite quickly as you got old! :11ztongue

 

[MikeFerrara]

they do say flexibility goes quite quickly as you got old! :11ztongue

eye sight too.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

eponym,

As an aid to eventually taking a deco class, and also as an aid for any kind of diving. If you are diving at a site you are familiar with, plan your multi level dive thoroughly. After you have made your plan write it down on a slate, or wet notes. Somthing like...

begin descent from surface to 90 feet (time zero)
90 feet for 5 minutes (5 min total run time)
ascend to 60 feet (6 min total run time)
60 feet for 5 minutes (11 min total run time)
ascend to 30 feet (12 min total run time)
30 feet for 5 minutes (17 min total run time)
ascend to 15 feet (17:30 total run time)
15 feet for 3 minutes (20:30 min total run time)
ascend to surface (21 min total run time)

After you have written the plan then go dive the dive, Get used to the idea that the total running time and time at a particular depth are things you need to keep track of. You will find the discipline of paying attention to time a useful one for decompression diving. If you make a mistake while learning this on recreational dives it is not that big a deal because you should plan a dive well within recreational limits.

Pick depths and times that make sense for the dive you want to do, keep them reasonable. Tell your buddy what you are doing and make sure that your buddy understands that their dive should also follow the plan. Heck, you might have a regular buddy that shares your goal of the deco class.

When you learned diving you used a timing device, you just need to focus on using it.

have fun,

Mark Vlahos