ams511:
The old saying is "Plan your dive and dive your plan". Would not one of the newer more sophisicated computers that actually record the whole dive be beneficial in seeing that you actually dived the plan?
Depends on what you call "the plan" I guess -- do you really plan your dive down to the exact amount of PSI you will use every 30 seconds ?
Generally, I'm going to plan max time, depth, average depth, rock bottom, ascent profile (min deco or mandatory deco), turn pressure, gas rul (all, 1/2, 1/3, 1/6 etc.)
I think it can be good to see your depth over time, and that's why I wear a computer in gauge mode that tracks the dive.
I then usually measure my SAC (cft/min) by averaging out my depth, and using start/end PSI.
Generally I restrict the SAC calculation to the "bottom" time of the dive and exclude the ascent (since I breathe less when ascending usually). So I just measure psi on the bottom and when we start to ascend.
Also, tracking PSI over time and SAC is harder for a computer to do when you start doing staged diving or staged deco -- are you really going to take transmitters for every stage and deco bottle ?
I also (think) I saw an "AI" this weekend attached to a 1st stage. Didn't play with it (not my gear to touch) but it did look like one good whack and it could break off...
