How often do you actually need a computer?

[Teamcasa]

Even in this case (air permitting) you could have extended the dive if you had wanted to as long as it was in the 30 foot and above range.

60 deg F. Is this a minimum temp and is that possible in California or was this on vacation?

I could have spent a few more minutes at 20 or so feet but my other buddies were done in.

60 was the temp at that depth. Min temp on that dive was 55. We dive that spot (Casino Dive Park, Catalina) frequently.

 

[FredT]

If you have a 40-60 foot hard bottom do you still need a time and depth gauge and if so why?

I can easily get bent on a single dive with a single 72 in 60FSW breathing air, and I know many other divers who can too! Give me an 80 or 100 and that bent before out of air crossover depth thing moves into the 45 to 50 FSW range.

My longest single no deco dive was over 8 hours installing equipment for NOAA at a lighthouse foundation in about 17FSW. The ears wouldn't clear properly and the job HAD to be done that day so I did it as one dive with the boat crew dropping full bottles down to me, both of air and fresh water, to minimize the wear and tear on my ears. I had a watch but no computer with me. The reg was due for a rebuild anyway so after swapping it our underwater a few times I did a rebuild on it that night.

I learned this game back in the dark ages, and we learned the navy tables including the first 3 deco stops for each depth bracket. With depth and time we could get up OK if we didn't oilcan the tank. At that time computers, BCs and SPGs were still dreams we didn't even know we had.

 

[b1gcountry]

I'm like El Orans, the thing I bring my computer along with is primarily for the dive logging. All the other info I get off my watch now.

Tom

 

[Reallydg]

Don't need a computer for diving, just like I don't need a laptop. But sure is nice to have.

 

[tarekaly]

Using the computer is not for the salke of calculating the Deco stop.
Many more simple other reasons like logging the dive and calculsting the safety stop

 

[--tom--]

Need? Rarely to never if you wish to spend that much mental effort. On the flip, what are you diving for? What are the issues that you need to address?

On my personal, private, fun dives I probably don't ever need a computer. Plan the dive, dive the plan. Then there is the dive with the unpredictable element. Recently on a dive in the Caymans, one of the group got distracted. She was on 32% & I caught her at 135fsw (I was 32EANx also). I could have aborted the dive & gone through the half-depth off-gas safety stops, but why? Check the computer, confirm the estimations & enjoy the rest of the dive and add an extra five minutes at 15ft. Did I need a computer? No, but it calculated versatility into a dive because it was calculating every 20 seconds, where I calculate on a multi-level dive (at best) every 10 minutes or so. & when I do that, I use Navy Tables because I know them better.

So do I need it? No. But it can be nice to have. Just remember that a tool is only as good as the craftsman that uses it; a computer is a wonderful calculator, but a terrible crutch.

 

[drdaddy]

For most of my dives I do not need a computer. Just like, for most of my offshore fishing, I do not need a GPS. But if I do not use them regularly, I will become rusty and I will have to think about what I am doing rather than doing it automatically. I always dive with the same setup, whether it is a 40 ft or a 100 ft dive, I dive with my computer and my redundant air supply. When I am asked why, I answer that to be thoroughly familiar with your equipment, you must use it consistently.

I also like to look at my dive profile on the computer and remember what I was doing there - it's just fun to think/reminisced about diving when I'm not diving - which is most of the time, because, while I dive frequently/weekly, I am not a fish.

 

[Jupiter31]

I did a 20 ft beach dive last weekend with my cobra suunto. My computer told me tank pressure, how much time I had left, when I was layiing on the bottom, how much time I had left when I was swimming, how long I had been under water, what my depth was, what my max depth was. Combined with the compass it gave me constant useful information during the dive.

All I needed was a compass and air pressure but the other stuff was nice to have in the palm of my hand. I like having all my info in one spot.

And knowing the algorythm that computer uses, it probably prescribed 2 deco stops based on the profile you just described -

Sorry, and not to hijack; I had that computer, and could not stand it - way too conservative

To answer the OP's question:

Since the late '80's if I'm diving, I use my computer - doing the Blue Heron Bridge (average depth 12 ft) or the "Hole in the Wall" (you hit 135 - 140' ft) - does not matter

I use 2 as a mattter of fact - my primary is an Oceanic (bet you could guess that based on my previous comments ) - and its gas integrated, so I have to use it - the computer times the dive, lets me know my gas, gives the water temp - I don't have to worry if I do another dive that day.

Even if you just use a wrist, or non gas integrated, why would you not use one? :doh2:

 

[Teamcasa]

So do I need it? No. But it can be nice to have. Just remember that a tool is only as good as the craftsman that uses it; a computer is a wonderful calculator, but a terrible crutch.

Excellent point.