air integrated worth 2x the price

[CompuDude]

Diver0001, it sounds like you had a lousy AI computer. Mine loses sync maybe once per dive... for all of a second. Aside from that, no such problems. Perhaps the trick is to not buy a bargain basement AI computer? My SmarTEC wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny, IMO. Of course, I had the pennies. If I hadn't, I might feel otherwise.

Necessary? Absolutely NOT. Nice? Oh, yeah...

 

[PerroneFord]

So I'm curious, PF, why did you spend money on a computer if you only use it in gauge mode? I understand why so many divers find computers completely superfluous (because they are), but I'm not understanding why you'd buy a computer that you don't plan to use.

I needed a way to download my dives. The Cochran DDR is great, but the software is lousy. If I could have downloaded with a Uwatec Bottom Timer, that's what I'd own.

 

[PerroneFord]

See, this is where I disagree. Recreational diving encompasses such a BROAD range of uses, it's hard to pin down.

For diver who gets out there and does a couple dives on a Saturday to 60 or 70ft, I agree. There is NOTHING really wrong with this. But now you take that same recreational diver, and put him or her on a liveaboard, doing 3-5 dives a day (if they do the night dive) to varying depths, with varying surface intervals, no oxygen to clean up on, and often just on air. They dive the PADI tables. Are you going to tell me that you'd feel comfortable sending a diver in the water 4 times a day for 5-6 days on air with no cleanup at all, with just tables?

Well, maybe you would, and maybe you feel thats' safe. But I sure don't. I understand that NAUI has released a set of RGBM tables without SI's or Pressure groups. I might feel better about those.

I do agree with you FULLY about the issues of hydration, physiology, etc. But look how many recreational divers end their day with a couple of beers, and late nights. Now the hydration is off, we're doing multi-dive, multi-day profiles with poor rest possible reverse profiles, etc. I consider that unsafe.

But everyone is different in their feelings, and as a diver with your experience, I certainly respect yours.

Sorry if I sounded like a snob.. totally unintentional.

The simple truth is that for recreational "no deco"(or no required stop) diving simple statistical empirical proof of suitability has occurred with computers. The DSAT (PADI) tables also have no VPM/RGBM like characteristics yet are the most dove tables out there. They have a proved safety record for the average diver. If you are purchasing a computer for that type of diving, more conservative IS a negative in your purchasing. There has been lots of deco study in the last 10-20 years and outside of technical diving or those pushing the envelope with "no deco/no required stop" type dives (every dive to the limit on time and/or depth) there are no PROVED safety advantages. It is theory and marketing. The individuals physiology on a given day has more bearing on possible "bubble trouble" than choice of computer as does other aspects like fast assent, hydration, skip safety stop, etc.

 

[Diver0001]

Diver0001, it sounds like you had a lousy AI computer.

It was a Genesis Escort. Not a lousy computer but the transmitter didn't work well in extremely cold conditions.

R..

 

[CompuDude]

It was a Genesis Escort. Not a lousy computer but the transmitter didn't work well in extremely cold conditions.

R..

I stand corrected. Sounds like you had a lousy AI computer... for your conditions. Same system under more normal temps would probably have been fine. Shame manufacturer literature tends to be somewhat silent on issues like that.

 

[immersed]

...download my dives.

gotcha

diver in the water 4 times a day for 5-6 days on air with no cleanup at all, with just tables?

Well I would have before you said this - now I'll feel compelled to do more research before hopping on a liveaboard..

 

[TSandM]

It's interesting that some people prefer to read a digital display. There are actually some studies (can't remember where) showing that analog information is more quickly and more accurately perceived, which is one of the reasons why speedometers almost all remain analog.

I had an air-integrated computer, and I never paid any attention to the "air time remaining" part of the display. I just watched my pressure. Now I have a Mosquito, which is not air integrated, and an SPG. The SPG is something I can interpret, even if I can't read the numbers, because I know the position of the needle. The only thing I miss is having the ending pressure recorded in the computer's memory, because by the time I get home to write up my dives, I have a hard time remembering what I ended with, so I don't do my SAC calculations as often as I used to.

 

[PerroneFord]

Why not just write your starting and ending pressure on your wetnotes? Along with your profile info?

 

[H2Andy]

is it really worth it to cough up the extra dough and get a computer that features air integration?

no

 

[TSandM]

Oh, I could write it in my wetnotes (although with shore dives, your ending pressure is when you stand up, and I'm usually focused on getting my fins off and keeping my balance getting out of the water). Or I could put a little notebook in the back of my car, and record it when I leave and return. But requires being organized and thinking about it, and the computer did it without being told. I guess that's another example of computers being good for lazy divers.