imasinker
Contributor
How conservative are dive computers.
Have had this discussion a few times and have read articles here, with statements in regard to some computers are too critical when it comes to being conservative. I compared my Suunto Cobra 2 by running it in dive plan mode to the PADI RDP and here’s what I found.
Computer settings, RGBM 100 % - Deep stops set to off - Computer mode Dive Air (21%) Desat, Time of 0.00
Suggested NDL
Depth --------- Suunto Cobra 2 (min) ------ RDP (min)
50’ ----------- 69 ---------------------- 80
60’ ---------- 50 ---------------------- 55
70’ ---------- 36 ---------------------- 40
80’ ---------- 28 ---------------------- 30
90’ ---------- 22 ---------------------- 20
100’ --------- 17 ---------------------- 16
110’ ---------- 13 ----------------- ----- 13
What I can gather and please someone correct me if my assumptions are wrong. It seems the differences between Suunto and the DRP in allowable dive time would almost equal the 3-5 minute safety stops at 15 feet being Suunto has subtracted the allowable safety stop time from the dive time, thus increasing the safety stops to almost double the time required compared to the RDP. Yet when you get to the deeper depths of 90 – 110 they compare the same allowable time at depth. It almost seems the computer is more conservative at shallower depths than deeper. Could this be because the average depth most recreational diver’s dives are at these depths? Could anyone explain this, am I reading this wrong. I would greatly appreciate any information or facts relating to this. I am just trying to better understand my dive computer.
Have had this discussion a few times and have read articles here, with statements in regard to some computers are too critical when it comes to being conservative. I compared my Suunto Cobra 2 by running it in dive plan mode to the PADI RDP and here’s what I found.
Computer settings, RGBM 100 % - Deep stops set to off - Computer mode Dive Air (21%) Desat, Time of 0.00
Suggested NDL
Depth --------- Suunto Cobra 2 (min) ------ RDP (min)
50’ ----------- 69 ---------------------- 80
60’ ---------- 50 ---------------------- 55
70’ ---------- 36 ---------------------- 40
80’ ---------- 28 ---------------------- 30
90’ ---------- 22 ---------------------- 20
100’ --------- 17 ---------------------- 16
110’ ---------- 13 ----------------- ----- 13
What I can gather and please someone correct me if my assumptions are wrong. It seems the differences between Suunto and the DRP in allowable dive time would almost equal the 3-5 minute safety stops at 15 feet being Suunto has subtracted the allowable safety stop time from the dive time, thus increasing the safety stops to almost double the time required compared to the RDP. Yet when you get to the deeper depths of 90 – 110 they compare the same allowable time at depth. It almost seems the computer is more conservative at shallower depths than deeper. Could this be because the average depth most recreational diver’s dives are at these depths? Could anyone explain this, am I reading this wrong. I would greatly appreciate any information or facts relating to this. I am just trying to better understand my dive computer.