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

[Storm]

Id rather spend that $200-$1000 on some diving! If you ever get into overhead diving, the added bulk from that depth gauge on the console would.. astound you.

Actually Jim, I was at an LDS the other day, and saw a real nice twin micro set.(depth and SPG). The whole console was a bit over half the size of the average console, and was just a big larger than some of singles I've seen. But then again I'm still new and havent'seen all the different rigs out there.

I havent done any overheard environment diving, (I haven't advanced that far in my diving yet). So I guess I'll cross that bridge to when I come it. I'm sure once I progress futher into the more advanced types of diving and my sills and exprience increase, my opinions and preferences on gear configuration will change. Right now I don't mind sacrificing the added bulk for the added sense (albeit probably false) of security that having my own redundant depth gauge give me at this time.

Baby steps brother...baby steps.

 

[DandyDon]

Our Oceanic Data Plus units used to chew through batteries pretty quickly in comparison. We've passed those along to friends of ours who have taken up scuba as a hobby.

Really?! Probly should have sent them back to Oceanic for their excellent customer services. My nearly 4 year old Date Plus does just fine with its once a year battery changes - still have the old ones as spares, still with good charges on a tester.

Originally Posted by Storm
Agreed, but given that there is not any real added bulk to having a depth gauge on the console, and watch on my wrist, I don't have an issue with carrying them. It adds to my comfort level.

Id rather spend that $200-$1000 on some diving! If you ever get into overhead diving, the added bulk from that depth gauge on the console would.. astound you.

???? I'm missing something here? That's not much bulks or money, and there's a lot to be said for comfort level.

Maybe I'll feel different with 500+ dives, but I like carrying a lot of back-up safety equipment as I continue to experience new challenges. And I have had and/or seen failures with computers, etc.

 

[Diver Lori]

I've had several computers die. All were brand new and pretty much crapped out within the first 5 dives. Four Aeris and two Duo's.

 

[Snowbear]

My Vyper, which lives in guage mode BTW*, has failed to put itself on my wrist a couple of times. So far anyhow, it's been at sites I'm quite familiar with, so knowing what depth I was at was easy. As for know time, I also know about how long it takes to get to turn pressure and other "landmarks." Even if I'm off by a few minutes or a few feet, my dives are so far into the conservative zone as to so-called "NDLs" that even if I were to do another dive, with or without the Vyper, that I would feel comfortable doing it.

*As for trusting the computer.... I stopped trusting it a couple of years ago, which is why it now lives in guage mode

Disclaimer: Don't do as I do as you run the risk of "dying a horrible death of the bends" if you were to try this

 

[JimC]

???? I'm missing something here? That's not much bulks or money, and there's a lot to be said for comfort level.

Maybe I'll feel different with 500+ dives, but I like carrying a lot of back-up safety equipment as I continue to experience new challenges. And I have had and/or seen failures with computers, etc.

When your scraping though a tunnel that you bairly fit in an extra 2 inches on the wrong spot catching a line and silting out the entire place.. bad news.

Were I to carry a backup, it would be in my pocket. Take what you need, leave the rest in the truck.

 

[skybird]

If I no longer trust my computer I'll get a new one and give the old one to my wife.

Im glad Im NOT your wife. Funny how before people get married they would die for each other.

 

[douglasville diver]

I've noticed myself placing to much faith in my computer,[sherwood wisdom],and not using my tables or my watch at all.
I spoke to my instructor about this and out of nowhere he gave me a dacor set up [analog] that had not been used for a long time.
I serviced it myself,under his instruction and verification and plan on using it on my next dive.
I'm guessing he saying computers are nice and good but don't forget the basics.

 

[Vayu]

If a computer dies, do you end the dive?

That seems to be the question of the hour. If this were a standard I would not be diving at all. I do not own a computer. I have a watch on my left wrist and a depth gauge on my right wrist. If I depended solely on these items for my safety then I would be diving a site beyond my comfort level - which is something that I don't plan to do again.

The only interesting function I have seen in a dive computer is:

The ability to create spiffy graphs.

Otherwise it is an expensive and extremely breakable gauge.

On a related note: my console was stabbed, burned, crushed, and lynched prior to its journey to the alachua dump.

-V

 

[DandyDon]

If a computer dies, do you end the dive?

That seems to be the question of the hour. If this were a standard I would not be diving at all. I do not own a computer. I have a watch on my left wrist and a depth gauge on my right wrist. If I depended solely on these items for my safety then I would be diving a site beyond my comfort level - which is something that I don't plan to do again.

The only interesting function I have seen in a dive computer is:

The ability to create spiffy graphs.

Otherwise it is an expensive and extremely breakable gauge.

On a related note, my console was stabbed, burned; ripped; crushed; and lynched prior to its journey to the alachua dump.

-V

Such an odd post? :11: I hope you have an Spg and compass...?

BTW, most divers who have computers do not download and make graphs. They do far more than that.

 

[Vayu]

Don,

I've got a compact spg and a suunto sk-7 compass. The compass is also on my left wrist and the spg is on my left hip.

BTW, most divers who have computers do not download and make graphs. They do far more than that.

Ok, like what?

-V