Ricky B
Contributor
If a dive computer does not have a fresh-water setting, does using such a dive computer in fresh water result in a dive that is slightly more aggressive than it would be in seawater?
Seawater = 1 ATM @ 33 feet.
Fresh water = 1 ATM @ 34 feet.
If you are in fresh water 68 feet, the computer will think you are in seawater at 66 feet, and you would be at a 3.03% greater depth than the computer is using for its calculations, correct?
My dive computer has a resolution error of 1 foot of depth. I suspect that is common. So if the reading is 66 feet, you might be one foot deeper or three feet deeper.
Most dive computers have a personal adjustment setting to make the algorithm more conservative, but the amout of conservatism that is introduced by the setting is unknown to the diver and may be far more than what is needed to compensate for the difference between fresh water and seawater.
Does using a dive computer with only a seawater algorithm require any special adjustments on the part of the diver when diving on a single tank in fresh water to 100 feet or shallower?
Seawater = 1 ATM @ 33 feet.
Fresh water = 1 ATM @ 34 feet.
If you are in fresh water 68 feet, the computer will think you are in seawater at 66 feet, and you would be at a 3.03% greater depth than the computer is using for its calculations, correct?
My dive computer has a resolution error of 1 foot of depth. I suspect that is common. So if the reading is 66 feet, you might be one foot deeper or three feet deeper.
Most dive computers have a personal adjustment setting to make the algorithm more conservative, but the amout of conservatism that is introduced by the setting is unknown to the diver and may be far more than what is needed to compensate for the difference between fresh water and seawater.
Does using a dive computer with only a seawater algorithm require any special adjustments on the part of the diver when diving on a single tank in fresh water to 100 feet or shallower?