I have spent many hours thinking about why some members of the board are so anti-computer and some are pro-computer (with appropriate backup, of course). Finally the reasonings began to make sense. If someone is diving a "square" profile with an absolute bottom and very little depth variation (which it seems most of the anti-computer guys are doing), than a computer is a very ignorant tool to be using. A computer does nothing for you here that tables won't do.
The reason I am pro computer is because my typical profiles are nowhere near square. We have cave systems in Florida that have depth variations in excess of 100 feet. The profiles are very up and down. In this scenario, tables are very damaging as the hangs become very long very quickly. Planning a multi-level dive of this magnitude (with no knowledge of how the system depths vary) is not feasible.
For example, in a two hour dive at Ginnie, if you planned for max depth of say 100 feet but spend most of your time between 50-80, your hang would be quite lengthy. With a computer (using tables as redundancy in case of failure), your hang is cut significantly (and SAFELY). Throw in the deep stops that almost everyone advocates and you are good to go.
For the die hard computer haters, I understand why your profiles lend themselves so easily to disliking computers. I use tables on wrecks and have a computer for profiling/BT.
Sometimes you have to appreciate the value of a tool if used properly.
Cheers and safe diving
The reason I am pro computer is because my typical profiles are nowhere near square. We have cave systems in Florida that have depth variations in excess of 100 feet. The profiles are very up and down. In this scenario, tables are very damaging as the hangs become very long very quickly. Planning a multi-level dive of this magnitude (with no knowledge of how the system depths vary) is not feasible.
For example, in a two hour dive at Ginnie, if you planned for max depth of say 100 feet but spend most of your time between 50-80, your hang would be quite lengthy. With a computer (using tables as redundancy in case of failure), your hang is cut significantly (and SAFELY). Throw in the deep stops that almost everyone advocates and you are good to go.
For the die hard computer haters, I understand why your profiles lend themselves so easily to disliking computers. I use tables on wrecks and have a computer for profiling/BT.
Sometimes you have to appreciate the value of a tool if used properly.
Cheers and safe diving