rjack321:Thank you for the learning experience and comparisons to my known universe (e.g. cars, planes, etc.)
So I'm sitting here a GUE Tech1 diver. Normoxic trimix + 1 deco gas. Gauge + ratio deco planning on the fly. About as anti-potted-computer-monitored-injector as you can get.
I don't have a ton of dives this way but the thought process makes sense to me. My brain likes linear functions of time and depth with gas proportions remaining constant. I have no need or reason to return to using my old Vyper in computer mode. Or get a VR3 for that matter.
I also have very limited desire to get Tech2 to only then try an RB80. (I don't think there are any intro RB80 classes out there )
So which units are:
a) constant gas parameters (you're on 32% the whole dive, not you run a ppO2 of 1.2 the whole dive)
b) compatible with mental deco planning on the fly??
Not a problem. I spent many a year on OC and while not GUE trained, was a pretty heavy drinker of the Kool-aid. One day after lugging 3 sets of doubles and a dozen or so stage bottles on board for a few dives, I said - that's it. 6 months later I had my meg and was happy. I don't own a VR3 and until I got my meg, had never followed an in-water computer profile (I'm still kind of skittish about it - a couple of years later)
In my opinion, the RB80 and its clones are the best of the SCR breed. I do, however, feel compelled to quote my CCR cave instructor by saying that my bail-out off of CCR and onto SCR is the RB80's best-case scenario.