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

[crharnett]

I still have an Oceanic Datamax (analog depth, electronic bottom/surface timer) in my console from when I started diving. I had replaced it with a computer for a number of years, but it returned when I switched to a wrist computer.

 

[tedwhiteva]

I was curious how many people here who carry a computer have both a backup bottom timer as well as a backup depth gauge and for those of you who do, if you've had your computer fail and continued diving the analog gauges

Thanks in advance

Bjorn

Computer fails - unless you know your max depth for the dive up to that point AND have a set of tables - not terribly smart "continuing" a dive. If you're shallow enough to where tables don't matter - i.e. out of air before hitting deco, then depth guage doesn't matter much either. Just my .02

 

[DandyDon]

I kept my Oceanic Data Max in my console when I upgraded to a wrist Versa Pro.

I don't have my computer yet. I decided long ago that I will retain my current depth, pressure and time instruments. If I'm on a dive intensive trip I would consider strapping on a rental back-up computer as well as trip insurance.

Such in the nature of underwater electronics in an adventure sport.

Pete

You'd be better not wearing one than using a rental. A computer user needs to study and know the manual well, know exactly how to use the computer, especially with Nitrox repetitive dives, etc.

Trip insurance has its place - I always do it on out of country trips, but I do hope you have Dive Insurance, i.e. DAN or similar.

 

[rmannix]

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

 

[JimC]

I thre my computer in the bottom of my toolbox and learned how to do everything with my brain and a bottom timer.

 

[RonFrank]

My computer has not failed, but I don't get to dive as much as I'd like

I have an Aeris Atmos II, and Timex Helix watch (depth, and BT), and a Depth gauge on my console. So I have two backup's for depth, and one for BT.

 

[DandyDon]

This is really a good thread, as it is a matter of when, not if your computer will fail. There's just a lot of electronics packed into these tiny gadgets, at the cheapest possible price. Generally, they are dependable - and if you know yours very well, very useful.

At the minimum, I would suggest a separate depth gauge, waterproof watch (start at $15 at Walmart), and if your comp is air-integrated, a separate Spg.

 

[Santa]

I recently got a redundant depth gauge for that very reason.

Naively I haven't thought of an extra timer - probably because my mosquito only tends to screw up depth (lot's of threads here on how to avoid that - which I do, now).

I'm getting an extra timer.

Thanks. It's moments like this that helps justify my obsessive poring over the board for hours on end, to the rest of the world.

 

[Damselfish]

I dive with 2 computers. On my usual multi-day multi-dive profiles, falling back to analog&tables is not all that realistic. Even if I was recording max depths and times all along, I'd be way off the tables anyway.

 

[dlwalke]

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.