Will Air Integration in dive computers replace the SPG?

[undrwater]

Just for clarification:
WAI IS an SPG. It's not a training wheel or a crutch, or any of those things. It's an SPG.

You may not trust or like how it works (which is fine), but it provides you with the pressure in your cylinder. It's a SPG.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Just for clarification:
WAI IS an SPG. It's not a training wheel or a crutch, or any of those things. It's an SPG.

You may not trust or like how it works (which is fine), but it provides you with the pressure in your cylinder. It's a SPG.

If you really want to argue semantics, WAI is technically a "wireless transducer/digital electronic pressure indicating sending unit & PDC system"; not an analog mechanical instrument such as a classic gauge SPG.

Like a car digital electronic computer tripodometer, it's convenient to have but really not needed it as long as you have a basic analog odometer.

 

[undrwater]

I don't want to argue semantics. I just wanted to point out that the two devices provide the same function. WAI provides information. It's function is to provide information. It certainly provides it in a different way than a mechanical instrument does, and you may not be interested in whether it works for your particular type of diving, but it is a tool that is chosen for valid reasons.

If a diver wants to know how much air they have in their cylinder when they dive, the diver will choose a tool that will provide that for them.

 

[undrwater]

We can argue semantics on a Wednesday night at Vet's park!

 

[Kevrumbo]

I don't want to argue semantics. I just wanted to point out that the two devices provide the same function. WAI provides information. It's function is to provide information. It certainly provides it in a different way than a mechanical instrument does, and you may not be interested in whether it works for your particular type of diving, but it is a tool that is chosen for valid reasons.

If a diver wants to know how much air they have in their cylinder when they dive, the diver will choose a tool that will provide that for them.

Yes but I want a reliable instrument that will faithfully report the basic vital information that I need --in this instance pressure remaining in Bar units in my cylinder(s).

WAI (Suunto Vytec) never did provide this functionality for the one dive season I tried it, and have relied on a standard analog mechanincal gauge SPG for the past 18 years instead. An even if the Suunto WAI turned out to have some basic reliability, I would have eventually discarded it as a superfluous training instrument anyway. (i.e. I don't need AI to work with pressure SAC rates that are multiples of 1bar/min --how difficult is it to multiply "1" by anything???)

 

[Kevrumbo]

We can argue semantics on a Wednesday night at Vet's park!

Have fun . . . I'm up here at the Korean Bell San Pedro overlooking Catalina Island.

Give me your SAC rate and cylinder size, planned average depth and time --and I'll tell you what your SPG (or AI) should read for five minutes elapsed time.

 

[Bennno]

Yes but I want a reliable instrument that will faithfully report the basic vital information that I need --in this instance pressure remaining in Bar units in my cylinder(s).

WAI (Suunto Vytec) never did provide this functionality for the one dive season I tried it, and have relied on a standard analog mechanincal gauge SPG for the past 18 years instead. An even if the Suunto WAI turned out to have some basic reliability, I would have eventually discarded it as a superfluous training instrument anyway. (i.e. I don't need AI to work with pressure SAC rates that are multiples of 1bar/min --how difficult is it to multiply "1" by anything???)

Give me your SAC rate and cylinder size, planned average depth and time --and I'll tell you what your SPG (or AI) should read for five minutes elapsed time.

Kevrumbo nailed it.

Very well said, that's exactly what I meant when I said AI is a toy... I'm not as eloquent as kev though.

 

[Kevrumbo]

Kevrumbo nailed it.

Very well said, that's exactly what I meant when I said AI is a toy... I'm not as eloquent as kev though.

If at all needed, a non-wireless HP hose connected AI & PDC is ok for recreational novices learning about gas planning & consumption. But IMHO, until AI is a mandatory requirement for Basic Open Water Scuba Certification, you will never see it supersede the function of the basic analog SPG.

With accumulated dive experience and rote learning over time, you will know your gas consumption at all depths already before confirming it with a reading of your AI display. IOW --you simply just outgrow it and AI does simply become a "toy". . .

 

[CT-Rich]

At the very least and if needed, a non-wireless/non-transducer HP hose connected AI for recreational novices learning about gas planning & consumption is okay.

It should not be needed nor justified for use anymore for any graduated competent, confident, proficient and skilled advanced or technical/overhead diver at all. . .

Gee, I want to express my thanks to you for speaking for me.... I was totally unaware of my opinion until you told it to me. I think I speak for all the people who's opinion you have decided that needs and wants can be pretty much interchangeable when discussing a recreational activity.

I don't NEED an SPG at all, it really is a completely superfluous tool as long as I know my gas consumption and plan accordingly. Of course I MIGHT find that I enjoy being able monitoring my gas with an SPG. I might even ENJOY being able to look at in different ways (PSI, Bar or minutes remaining at my current depth....). Of course after 35 years in this sport I am aware that I am always a student..... And I am perfectly competent, confident and proficient about how I would like to view my realtime data....

 

[stuartv]

What's hard about the arithmetic?
...
If you need AI to help

It's not hard and I don't NEED help. And I didn't say either thing.

But, what's easier than easy arithmetic? No arithmetic. As easy as it is, I do recognize that I am not infallible and do occasionally make mistakes, even on the surface, even on simple arithmetic.