What computers are you using for tech dives?

[PfcAJ]

Learn in gauge mode with tables. Build a solid understanding of the relationship between time/ depth/ and deco obligation. Cultivate the discipline to plan your dive and dive that plan.

 

[divezonescuba]

The icon is a great computer for ... recreational diving only.

Using one is actually the reason why I got into technical diving. I ended up going into deco with the icon while waiting for other divers to exit devils Throat. It started saying impossible things like executing a 38 minute stop at 40 feet. After that, I thought I needed to know more about decompression situations.

When I started getting into tech diving I got a couple of shearwater Perdixs. The ease of use for tech diving over the icon or any other computer cannot be understated.

I mentioned in some earlier post that I asked a mares rep about using the icon for tech diving before I knew anything about tech diving. His reply was that it used RGBM, end of discussion. I wasn't totally sure what he meant at the time other than I knew it was a deco algorithm. After taking my first tech course, it all became clear.

Nowadays, I have actually loaned a Perdix to a student so he didn't have to use an RGBM computer for a TEC 40 and 45 class. I now do actual deco dives with 2 perdixs and some hard copy tables with runtime on wetnotes.

 

[KenGordon]

Really, you lot are so predictable. The OP is looking at entry level deco. Any dive computer (other than DSAT) will do. For accelerated deco his Icon will do but he ought to work out a backup too.

 

[Diver0001]

hello all,

Got some great feed back on the topic of deco regs.... that being said I am gonna pose another question.

I currently am using the Mares Icon HD air integrated. Been a great little computer for me. I know a lot of guys are using the shearwater perdix. Anyone using the Mares for tech dives? I am years away from getting into trimix (I already know the Mares won't work for that). Gonna be sticking with air as bottom gas and probably no more then EAN40 for a long time (deco bottles not included in that statement) picking up 2 perdix on top of the other costs is hard to swallow. If I can just use the Mares and pick up a second (I have 3 transmitters already for it) any tips, advice, thoughts? Good realistic answers please. No "my computer is better then yours!" Thank you all again

The first thing that I think when I read your post is that I hope you're not planning on doing "technical" type dives using the standard EAN skills you learned. I triggered on the 40% thing. Most technical nitrox diving uses 50% for deco gas. The efficiency of 40%, while not useless, is markedly less than using 50% in terms of the acceleration benefits.

That's aside from the skills aspects of the training, which are absolutely necessary to do that kind of thing safely. It's not rocket science but there are some serious risks that can easily get out of hand if not managed well.

As for computers, personally I'm using a Suunto Vytec I bought in 2002, IIRC, when I took my initial technical training. For most of the technical diving I've been doing since then I don't normally have more than about 30 min of deco and even though the Suunto calculates really bad ceilings, if you just ignore that and just make a good ascent then the total amount of deco it generates is in the same range as what my buddy's perdix generates using a gf-hi of 80. The difference is that the Perdix spoon feeds the diver his stops and with the Suunto you need to really know what you're doing. I really should retire this computer but it just refuses to die and other priorities keep getting higher up the list. On the other hand I've made coming on 500 technical dives with it and haven't found it lacking for what I've been doing aside from it not doing trimix (for that I borrow my buddy's Perdix xD.

That said, if I were to take up technical diving today I absolutely definitely positively would not buy a Suunto of any kind. I want to know what my algorithm is doing. Suunto doesn't inform divers of that and therefore as a technical diver it's a total non-starter as far as I'm concerned.

Mares and Cressi also make computers that could be used for technical diving but they use RGBM. Recent research indicates that RGBM isn't the most efficient algorithm for decompression and generally calculates shallow stops (the really important ones) that are too short for staged decompression diving. For recreational diving they're fine and I really like the simpler Mares computers because they're so easy to use but for technical diving, given the options, I would choose for a computer that uses Buhlmann.

As for brands, today it's Shearwater, tomorrow it might be something else. I think if you buy a computer right now and you don't want to ahve to replace it as you grow in technical diving that there aren't many options. The Pedix/Petrel is the obvious choice at this moment.

R..

 

[tbone1004]

Really, you lot are so predictable. The OP is looking at entry level deco. Any dive computer (other than DSAT) will do. For accelerated deco his Icon will do but he ought to work out a backup too.

predictable mayhaps, but here's how I see your logic
Suunto Zoop-$215
Suunto Helo2-$524
CCR controller out of loop

Your total computer investment $739 for two computers
Perdix is $849. Is it worth $110 more than a Helo2+Zoop, every day of the week, it's not even a question. Is the Perdix worth $300 more than the Helo2? Considering it has an algorithm that isn't proprietary and currently goes against the state of the art in decompression research, has a screen that is infinitely better, and more functionality? I'd say so.

@Cyborg Pirate if you can't justify a Shearwater now, just keep your Icon, run it in gauge mode with tables. It isn't as convenient or efficient as running it as a computer, but such is life. There truly isn't any computers at a lower price point that are worth investing in if you plan on going to trimix at this point.

 

[_Ralph]

Oceanic Veo 2.0 in gauge mode with a stop watch, no tables ..... Why the need for a second computer?

_R

 

[rongoodman]

Oceanic Veo 2.0 in gauge mode with a stop watch, no tables ..... Why the need for a second computer?

If you have the computer in gauge mode and don't cut tables, what are you using for deco information? Ratio Deco?

 

[PfcAJ]

If you have the computer in gauge mode and don't cut tables, what are you using for deco information? Ratio Deco?

I just unpacked my bags from the last time we went down that road. Do we have to do it again? So soon?

 

[Centrals]

Learn in gauge mode with tables. Build a solid understanding of the relationship between time/ depth/ and deco obligation. Cultivate the discipline to plan your dive and dive that plan.

Unfortunately some divers just don't have the inclination or patience for this simple but rather time consuming approach.
I have been asked several times why I only had two BT and a slate and where was the computer?

 

[SoFlaDiver954]

I use a Dive Rite Nitek Q running Bulhman 50/85. Not nearly as feature packed or user friendly as a perdix, but for $500 less i got a computer with a replicable algorithm with easy gas switches.