You have got to be kidding me!

[Aqua-Andy]

RJP posted this link in another thread Features | SUBA. Who in all of Gods creation would think that this contraption is a good idea? I browsed there site and I am just shaking my head.

 

[67macoshark]

I would not mind one for my 13 year old doing a discovery dive in Cancun. I believe this would be useful for most discover dives. Might even save a life or 2...

 

[KDAD]

That seems great - until it stops working. Then what? Will the diver have the skills to safely ascend and descend?

 

[CptTightPants21]

I don't know if it works or not, but that one publicity photo with the divers octo completely unsecured is making want to punch the computer screen.....

When did I become that diver

 

[Itsacon]

That seems great - until it stops working. Then what? Will the diver have the skills to safely ascend and descend?

But doesn't the same apply to diving with a computer? Most OW certification skims over dive tables really quickly nowadays.

As long as the diver knows
a) If something goes wrong, surface
b) If you need to surface quick, ditch weight and don't hold your breath
he'll probably be just as fine as with a normal BC (maybe even better, as this thing will vent air automatically if he goes too fast.)

I think it's probably best to view this like cruise control: It takes over something that's easy to do yourself, but also is nice to hand off if you're doing something else. I can imagine a photographer having use for this, for example: "Computer: Hold me steady at this depth, don' let me touch bottom." And as mentioned before, it can be useful for intro-dives.

 

[Pinecube]

I think it's probably best to view this like cruise control: It takes over something that's easy to do yourself, but also is nice to hand off if you're doing something else.

Until you hit a patch of ice or wet road and the cruise control works against you.

I would be worried about what happens if you get pulled up/down due to currents. The BCD may struggle and overcompensate.
What about weight belts? I'll assume (and hope) that the integrated weight pockets would be tied into the computer somehow, but what if you run into problems and drop a weight belt while the BCD is trying to hold you there? Even if they warn against weight belts with this BCD, the odds are someone will still wear one for whatever reason (i.e. lost a weight pouch...)
If you have an unresponsive diver underwater would you be fighting the BCD trying to bring them up? Especially if you've never seen a BCD like this before.

Maybe everything has been thought of and it's a great system, but I'd like to see it in action first. Especially before putting it on people who have never been diving before.

 

[Wookie]

Goddamn kids, get off the lawn!!!

I am old enough to remember when nitrox was devil gas. Most of you were around when the President of PADI flat out said that PADI would never have a buddyless diver program. It's just the evolution of scuba, nothing but a thing. As long as no one shows up with one on my boat, it's all good.

 

[jboneng]

Connect a Dive Guard to the SUBA system, throw in some spareairs and see the universe implode.

Bouncy control is the most basic skill in SCUBA, so there shouldn't be a market for a gadget like this, but sadly there probably is.

Also, I am skeptical to any technology that uses a "magic box" (ref. the video on the webpage).

I can see some usage for this in a DSD / try-scuba type of program, where the main goal is to let a uncertified person experience scuba diving and have fun, and it also might be useful for some disabled divers. But a danger is that dive-shops and certification-mills pushing this to newly certified divers, which makes the diver less capable underwater if something malfunctions.

Also, the statements from the instructors on their testimonials page makes me cringe.

---------- Post added September 10th, 2015 at 03:25 PM ----------

But doesn't the same apply to diving with a computer? Most OW certification skims over dive tables really quickly nowadays.

Which is a shame, but not entirely true. Some agencies skims over it, other still have comprehensive training in table usage.
Here in Norway it is actually required by law that diving schools and instructors teach table usage and theory.

 

[Itsacon]

Which is a shame, but not entirely true. Some agencies skims over it, other still have comprehensive training in table usage.
Here in Norway it is actually required by law that diving schools and instructors teach table usage and theory.

I did my OW a year ago, and yes, it is still included (and since I was interested, our instructor went into more depth). But the course material was definitely phrased like: This is how it works, you need to know this, but when you buy a computer you can pretty much forget it.

 

[Diver0001]

RJP posted this link in another thread Features | SUBA. Who in all of Gods creation would think that this contraption is a good idea? I browsed there site and I am just shaking my head.

I wondered when someone would take this idea to production. The idea isn't new by any means but this is the first time I've seen a production model.

I don't know what they didn't just go full monty and install it on a Mares Hub. That's kind of a match made in heaven, if you ask me.

Kids, never forget. Don't be that guy who throws gear a skills problem! Fix the skills problem and keep your gear as low-tech and failure proof as humanly possible. For the same reason a cruise control is pointless in the city, this gizmo will be pointless on any dive with a bottom topography more complex than the bottom of a swimming pool.

Dive within your skills and comfort zone and be safe.

R..