and if you want to use that analogy, what happens when you change speed? and don't realize it, and your passengers are asleep? all of a sudden that distance isn't relevant anymore
Okay, so the parametres of the dive are changing, diver 1 is unaware and the entire team is snoozing -
I'd guess that team has big problems (probably navigation would be the first one in a long line), and I don't think that trying to mask those problems with a gear solution is a solid way forward. Do you, on a general basis? It's clear to me that in this scenario, this team is
way out of capacity to function as a unit, even in the absence of failures, mistakes, deco obligations, etc.
We may as well turn to electronic compasses that measure out degrees with two decimals and sound alarms if/when you make a turn, if we subscribe fully to such an arch of logic.
This is exactly the problem with automated solutions. Not the automated solutions themselves, but the use of them to mask inaptitude, referencing the example you illustrate. I don't have a problem with computers per se. If I wasn't able to look at this in a nuanced fashion, how would I ever get a ppO2 reading?
The 8 cases of decompression sickness that I know of personally were all UTD divers using Ratio Deco. That group includes the two mentioned above.
I'll be honest; I can't help but maintain reservations - but I'd be happy to hear more from you about the instances you tell me about - I'm based in Europe, and I don't think the water's all that different. Would you mind expanding on this via pm with me?
I can't really relate to an incontextual narrative, I'm sure you understand.
- They miscalculated their average depth. They were taught to run an average in their head by checking their depths every few minutes. The computer profile showed that as they dived, they would descend a bit, check their depth, correct, descend a bit, check their depth, correct, etc.
- After basing their planned deco on that mistaken average depth, they ascended to their first deep stop at 3/4 of that depth to begin the deco. That ascent should have taken about 30 seconds. It took over 3 minutes, a very common problem with technical dives. (Technical divers who are told to ascend slowly often ascend too slowly, thus adding to their bottom times.)
- They miscounted their deco stop times. They thought they had done the required (too little) deco for their dive, but they somehow lost count and shortened the last stop especially.
I know, circles, but - again, are you really sure these divers were UTD-trained to dive at the level they were diving? We're not talking about doing a quick workshop on RD and off we go sort of scenario here..?
I'll reiterate that pm may well be appropriate if you're willing to share details.
Keeping a team together using computers like the Shearwater is easy as pie.
You start by using similar gases.
Yes. Because, obviously, if you run the same algorithm on different gases, the computer will say different things. That's what I mean. If one diver is on the loop and another is bailing out, how do you maintain certainty that the ascend will be similar so the team can stay together throughout, regardless when in the dive the bailout is executed? And what if you're donating?
Can you give me an example of a scenario where I would bail from CCR and be forced to leave my buddy who is still on his CCR? I have done deco dives on OC, with a CCR buddy, and we've always been able to stay together. We planned our gases such that, to the best of my understanding, if he had to go to BO, we would still have been able to stay together all the way to the surface. I don't understand why it would have been any different if I had also been on CCR.
The scenario I'm relating to is the other way around - if both divers are on ccr and one swaps to o/c. They won't be breathing the same gases anymore, as the loop is mixed of a diluent and O2 during ascend on ccr.
As RD maintains an average ppO2 of 1,2 throughout the ascend, and the CCR does the same, the ascent will be seamless if a team member bails out.
Do you use an analog depth gauge and an analog timer? If you use electronic ones, do you realize than an electronic depth gauge is actually using a pressure sensor and employing a mathematical algorithm to tell you what your depth is?
If you bring a 100m stick and dive to a depht where your depth gauge says "100m", it'll fit.
If you say your computer's algorithm is perfect, you'll be sat around on the boat discussing GFs all day long, rather than diving.