What to do when you no longer trust your computer ....

[Diver Dennis]

I use a Suunto Cobra as my primary computer and carry a Suunto Mosquito on my wirst. They use the same algorithm so if I have trouble with one (which I have not thus far) it would be no big deal to continue the dive with the other.

I dive the same set up but I also have backup mini SPG and depth gauge which I tuck into the back of my BC pocket. It's all trim.

 

[eponym]

My primary computer is a Vytec, air-integrated, on my right wrist. My backup for depth & time is a Vyper, on my left wrist. If the Vytec failed during a dive I'd abort, using the backup to govern my ascent & safety stop. Continuing the dive after an equipment failure would, to me, be a big mistake.

 

[Barracuda2]

I use an Atmos II as primary computer and a more conservative US Divers Matrix computer as my backup. Also carry an analog depth gage*and Gull diver's watch. I set the bezel on the watch to time my dive. I change my batteries frequently in my computers. I do a quick review of depth and NDL for the proposed dive in case I need the info. The only other thing I could possibly think of is to carry the tables with me. With all of the above, I really don't think that is necessary.

 

[smokey braden]

i use a us divers matrix as my primary.
i also carry an analog depth gauge and a dive watch.
my computer died one time and i was able to make a safe ascent with safety stop.
us divers replaced the matrix.

 

[Charlie99]

I dive with a single computer. The potential advantage of having backup depth gauge and bottom time aren't enough to make it worth hauling around excess junk with me.

If I'm doing a solo dive, it is generally shallow enough that both depth and time aren't important since I'll hit my turnpoint on an AL80 before having a problem.

On deeper dives it would be easy enough to use a combination of depth info from either knowing the site or my looking at my buddy's computer/depth gauge/bottom timer.

In any case, a few extra minutes swimming around at 40' and a few extra minutes of stops at 20' and 10' will cover any decompression that I would get into with a single AL80.

I'll abort a dive on failure of SPG, but the only case where I'd abort a dive on dive computer failure would be on a flat bottomed dive to greater than 100'.

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A second question that comes up is "what to do about future dives?". I'd just assume I was in pressure group Z of the PADI table and go on from there.

 

[Guba]

My computer is wrist mount, and I carry a full contingent of analog gauges (depth, pressure, along with a watch). My rule of thumb is the same as it for backpacking, rock climbing and any other sport in which you can get yourself in trouble, as well a professional photojournalism (another gear intensive activity). Carry only the gear you need and TWO of anything that is absolutely essential.

 

[RumBum]

I carry all the back-up stuff in my bag - watch, depth, plastic tables. However, if I was on a multiple day, multiple dives-per-day trip and the computer failed in the middle of it, well, there goes the diving for 24 hours til I can clear out the N2 and start over with the tables.

I did lose my computer on a trip once - here is how it went:
Day 3, dive #14 - here I am, at 85 feet, la la la... Looking at the computer I have 12 minutes NDL left... blank screen! What the!.... oh, now its back on. Still at 11 minutes. Must have been a trick of the light.
Dive #15 - halfway through dive, computer blanks out again. Comes back and is still functioning (I compared with my buddy).
Dive #16 - complete failure during ascent. The computer never came back. Luckily this was the last dive of the trip so I didn't miss a thing! However, goodbye, SUUNTO...

ps - every dive was made with same buddy and we had stayed together, so we knew his computer was okay too for my profiles.

 

[Lightning Fish]

I do dive with a watch and analog depth gauge, in addition to my computer. If, by chance, my computer should fail, I could switch to tables.

That's what I do as well. But I don't always remember to check the time on my watch when I descend. I've got the tables, for 0-100 fsw, in my head. If I had to, I think I could estimate my time down based on my air consumption and gas remaining.

I found out after a night dive that my buddies computer had quit on descent. He carries a back up timer, knows the tables, and decided to continue the dive. It was a good dive and within the ndl's based on a square profile.

Cheers,
Bill.

 

[DandyDon]

I went on a trip to Roatan with a LDS I used to shop and train with. One of the newbies locked up her computer somehow, so the Inst/Owner loaned her his spare. I stopped training there, and for other reasons stopped shopping there - altho they did since fire her.

 

[nyprrthd]

Call me paranoid, but:
I wear an Oceanic VT Pro (air integrated), and have a mini console with SPG, depth gauge, and compass. I use a retractor to attach the console to my BCD to avoid danglies. My dive watch is on my other wrist for timer back-up.