Time For Some Industry Standards for Dive Computer Alarms

[divad]

If the industry will not adopt these measures on their own accord, then perhaps it's time to propose a bill to set a standard.

Feedback?

This is alarming.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I bought my Predator because one of the features is that Shearwater assumes I know WTF I am doing and don't need nor want alarms, air integration, and a way to make buddy skills be taught to even more piss poor levels than they are now.

More technology in that area is just what we need (HELL NO!) with instructors setting people up to get hurt or killed by not focusing on real buddy skills and then reinforcing that piss poor education by leading them on single file swims on checkouts.

And we have just seen how well the govt can F up anything. Why the hell would you get them involved in Scuba. That'd make sure we had more dead divers with those incompetent asshats on the job.

 

[Mike]

Not just no. F no!

If an alarm bell is your first warning you've let yourself get low on air, well, that means you have bigger problems.

I can't even comment on the bizarre masochistic nature that would cause a person to request more government today.

 

[Scott]

If the industry will not adopt these measures on their own accord, then perhaps it's time to propose a bill to set a standard.

I propose a $20 bill. That will be the fee for me to turn off the alarms on your computer.

I have never cared for a computer that beeps, vibrates or iluminates a screen. I can seldom hear them through a hood or feel them through a dry suit.
Once I have the dive planned I don't want to spend the time having to 'reprogram' settings for the next dive, I have them 'programmed' in my mind and written them on a slate or wet note already.
To each there own.

 

[tomfcrist]

I bought my Predator because one of the features is that Shearwater assumes I know WTF I am doing and don't need nor want alarms, air integration, and a way to make buddy skills be taught to even more piss poor levels than they are now.

More technology in that area is just what we need (HELL NO!) with instructors setting people up to get hurt or killed by not focusing on real buddy skills and then reinforcing that piss poor education by leading them on single file swims on checkouts.

And we have just seen how well the govt can F up anything. Why the hell would you get them involved in Scuba. That'd make sure we had more dead divers with those incompetent asshats on the job.

Tell us how you really feel Jim LMWAO

 

[Spatial Agent]

I propose a $20 bill. That will be the fee for me to turn off the alarms on your computer.

I have never cared for a computer that beeps, vibrates or iluminates a screen. I can seldom hear them through a hood or feel them through a dry suit.
Once I have the dive planned I don't want to spend the time having to 'reprogram' settings for the next dive, I have them 'programmed' in my mind and written them on a slate or wet note already.
To each there own.

I would propose that computer's administer electric shocks. You wouldn't have to worry about hearing it you would feel it, especially in salt water and it wouldn't bother other divers unless you yelped through your reg. This would get your attention and after two or three shocks you would learn to pay attention like you should have in the first place.

 

[fnfalman]

i turned the stupid alarms off too. If I were to want to hear electronic beeps, I'd stay at home and play video games.

---------- Post added January 2nd, 2013 at 09:38 PM ----------

This is alarming.

Yep. Getting the damn government involved in things that they don't need to be involved in.

 

[soltari675]

My computer has several alarms, all turned on. The thing is, I never hear them, because I never get to the point where I should. Sure, my computer will beep at 500psi, but I've never gotten to 500 psi at depth. Same for MOD on nitrox, etc. The alarms should be nothing more than a "Oh ****, I wasn't paying attention!" and a very last resort. At all times you should be able to look at your computer and already pretty much know what it's going to say. My instructor said something in OW that stuck with me. "You should never look at your computer to find out information. You should be looking at it to make sure it says what you know it should say." Meaning you already have an idea what your air should be. Your depth, etc. A big part of this is knowing the equipment. When I bought my computer, I sat down with the manual and went through every single screen it had and made sure I fully understood it. I read what it did in dive mode and I went to a training platform and just played with it underwater. Anything I didn't get, I looked up right away when I got out of the water. I did not do any serious dives until I fully understood every possible thing my computer did. That's not bragging. That's just good sense. I want to be surprised by wildlife and wrecks; not my equipment. If your buddy can't take the time to do that, they're not going to take the time to learn to be a good buddy either.

As for the buddy alarm or flashing light, again, if you have a good buddy and you're doing things right, you'll never need it. At any point in a dive I know exactly where my buddy is. I can tell just by hearing his breathing rate if he is ok, stressed, or in trouble. We have planned and practiced methods to alert each other for anything. (We're close enough, usually him grabbing my fin or me turning around since I lead most times) Pretty much all of our equipment is different from one another, but I know how his works. He knows mine. It's just constant awareness and taking the time to plan.

I admire your intent. I can see where it might be considered, but it's not a good plan. There are too many variables to standardize. I love my air integrated computer, but another diver may not like it at all. I love mine being a wrist computer, someone else may prefer console. It wouldn't be right to force either into something they don't want because a few odd divers can't develop good diving skills. And a bill?! The last thing any of us want is any regulation. We do well policing our own.

 

[Mike]

Ten most dangerous words you will ever hear :

"Hi, I'm from the government and I'm here to help!"

 

[DaleC]

I propositioned Bill. He wasn't interested in setting a standard but for $50 he said he'll take me upstairs. Now what?