Worth extra $ for air intergrated computer?

[Soggy]

Maybe if people didn't have alarms, they'd pay more attention and not need them.

 

[RonFrank]

Settle down there, chief.

What is GUI and Hol? You'd think since you know so much about DIR, you'd be able to at least get the agency acronym and Hogarthian right.....

There have been several answers given here with real reasons why one should not waste their money on useless gear (unless money is no object to you). There are few, if any in water benefits to an AI computer. I know, I used to dive one. They don't give you any information that you shouldn't already know.

Did I say I'm some DIR expert? I've studied the Concepts more than most rec dives as there are things to be learned, and I dive with DIR folks. Most I dive with don't seem as biased as some of the more vocal members of SB.

Saying I don't know what I'm talking about because I mistype, or shorten a word does not make it true. It's a cheap shot, and has nothing to do with AI computers, or my comments on the bias against them by some divers.

I addressed some of the "REAL" reasons people provided. Why not address MY answer?

The AI computer acts as an SPG... I guess I missed the part of how THAT falls under the classification of no useful information. A good brass spg is going to run $75~125. Some people may choose to go AI rather than purchase a seperate SPG. There is certainly no shortage of divers doing so.

I've not read ANY real reason against using AI other than that they may fail, which is true of ANY gauge. As I said in my original post, I recommend a backup.

 

[JeffG]

Settle down there, chief.

What is GUI and Hol? You'd think since you know so much about DIR, you'd be able to at least get the agency acronym and Hogarthian right.....

LOL...................

 

[HilaryRN71]

I remember when I had the alarms on my AI computer set. They will beep and annoy you and your dive friends. I currently have all alarms off. The only time it makes noise is if I go into deco. If I could I'd turn that off also. It's not like it's been any surprise anytime it's happened. I know where I am on bottom time, and chose to stay.

Seeing this post has 43 replies...I doubt I'll be able to read all of them. But I think I am seeing the same thing from all the divers. Alot of us have AI but don't feel like we see them as any better.

 

[Soggy]

The AI computer acts as an SPG... I guess I missed the part of how THAT falls under the classification of no useful information. A good brass spg is going to run $75~125. Some people may choose to go AI rather than purchase a seperate SPG. There is certainly no shortage of divers doing so.

Because you still need an SPG to go with it since the things are unreliable.

You need a better SPG source...I know where you can get them for $60.

I've not read ANY real reason against using AI other than that they may fail, which is true of ANY gauge. As I said in my original post, I recommend a backup.

They are unnecessary (added complexity). A brass gauge will be more reliable and is completely separate from your computer, so a computer failure will not result in complete loss of all information regarding a dive. Basically, there is no reason *to* bring it, so why have it at all? Plus, a plastic dingleberry sticking out of your reg sure isn't a good thing...

 

[Meng_Tze]

AI has its place. Some divers want the feature and that is what the manufacturers play into. Do you absolutely need it for diving... I would say no.

Many people want to have the secure feeling that a computer is doing calculations and lets them know where they are in a dive, this is good. If people feel more comfortable diving that way, and there are solutions to that... great.

One thing I would advise though is not to put all eggs in that basket in case the basket falls. Make sure you can manage situations without the dependency on this feature.

As I have said in other threads, electronics and water are inherently incompattible. And by adding more features -therefore portential dependencies- you increase the effects of any failure.

 

[Meng_Tze]

...I know where you can get them for $60.

So the price has gone down.....

 

[HilaryRN71]

I know how much gas I have within 200 psi without looking. Depending on the circumstances, I might continue a dive if it were fairly shallow.

I lost the reading on my AI hoseless for a few minutes, and continued the dive. I knew my buddy had air and almost always ran low before me, and that I knew my SAC because it was a profile and site I had done multiple times. It came back online about 3 minutes later....I was about at exactly where I had figured I'd be. So...yeah...I've done it but there was a bit of unease. I doubt I'd have lasted the whole dive...if it had not have started working I'd have thumbed it.

 

[redacted]

You need a better SPG source...I know where you can get them for $60.

They are unnecessary (added complexity). A brass gauge will be more reliable and is completely separate from your computer, so a computer failure will not result in complete loss of all information regarding a dive. Basically, there is no reason *to* bring it, so why have it at all? Plus, a plastic dingleberry sticking out of your reg sure isn't a good thing...

And that SPG should last you a life time. You don't need to buy a new one each time you decide you need to update your dive computer, unless it is AI.

 

[SpiderSense]

Faulty would be the better word. Like someone posted before, the AI comp measures your SAC rate by the change in your tank pressure. A change in your breathing rate from exertion or a change in depth will screw it all up. My VT pro has this feature, and I shut it off, since every small depth change I made would make the alarm go off.

And speaking of alarms, I teach my students that when diving on an AI computer, to minimize and turn off all non-essential alarms. It's the "cry wolf" theory. If alarms keep going off, eventually you will train yourself to ignore the important one.

I don't think FAULTY is the right word here. the computer gives you measurements based on the data it has at the time. if things change, the info changes. it just gives an indication of what you have, not exact since it can't predict the future. just like your gas mileage indicator on your car's computer (if you have one). my BMW warns when it says i have 30 miles left. as a driver, i know it is based on my current avg mpg and estimated amount of fuel i have in my tank. if the next gas station is 35 miles, i can drive conservatively, turn off ac, accel downhill and coast uphill to reach that 35 mile gas station. and with experience, i know about how much i can squeeze out of that 30 miles remaining alarm. so its a useful indicator, and not intended as an exact measurement (hence not faulty, imo).

also, i don't think using a computer dumbs down the diver. its a tool that the diver needs to learn to use. calculating SAC or looking at the dive profile and applying it to the next dive can be trickier than just calculating the minimum SI required between dives with tables.