How do you dive?

[scubadada]

There has been considerable discussion on SB regarding the many ways to deal with the depth, time, and gas for diving. I would like to get a rough idea of the distribution of various options. I am mainly interested in open circuit, recreational diving, perhaps with occasional light deco, rather than technical diving. I know, I'm sorry, light deco is technical diving.

Edit, sorry, left off choice for AI computer and SPG, added after 39 votes. You are able to change your vote in this poll

 

[MaxBottomtime]

When I dive deep I make my own tables. I recently bought an AI computer but keep my spg.

 

[caruso]

I've been diving for about 35 years, Got my first computer about 20 years ago and dived with it, a single AI wrist computer until a few years ago with no issues. Then on a dive vacation out of the country we ran into a slew of problems between mine and my girlfriends computer- one computer malfunctioned, another flooded after a battery change and on a different dive trip the battery failed and the extra batteries I had in my save a dive kit turned out to be no good even though they were within expiration dates- we ended up finally finding a shop in the town of that 3rd party country that had a smaller 3V lithium battery- used a foreign coin to fill the gap and it worked. Found the coin recently when changing the battery and sort of chuckled to myself about it.

Anyway after those trips I said to myself this is not going to happen again so I tripled down- on my rig, my girlfriend, and her son's rigs all of which I set up originally, and maintain and service we now all have primary AI wrist computer, backup identical AI wrist computer on a retractor in a BCD pocket AND a mini spg on a thin hose tucked out of the way on the left side of the BCD.

The two AI computers are synced to the tank transmitter, and I also carry a spare transmitter and another AI computer in my save a dive kit plus plenty of batteries and O rings.

 

[AdivingBel]

Non-AI DC and SPG. I'll take and carry a backup non-AI DC on liveaboards.

 

[rongoodman]

AI computer with SPG backup, although I rarely look at it any more.

 

[Preach]

Most of the times: bottemtimer, spg, deco on the fly/ratio deco.

 

[Marie13]

Perdix AI with two transmitters, Geo 2.0. I also have a SPG for single tank and a SPG on each first stage bungeed back to first stage) for sidemount.

 

[Kharon]

AI computer with SPG - I use both, a bit more the computer than the SPG.

 

[Dan]

I like to have backup DCs during a long liveaboard trip. If one of them caput, I can still continue diving with the other one while maintaining the same nitrogen loading history of those consecutive 4-5 dives / day in a week or two long dive trip.

My set up consists of a non AI wrist DC (Suunto D4), small SPG and AI console DC (Suunto Cobra 3). The AI is through HP hose. Still don’t want to use AI transmitter, yet, which would add another potential problem (source of failure).

SPG is a backup gauge in case the Cobra3 is caput (run out of battery or flooded) I still have D4 & SPG to continue my dives. The SPG is also can be used to compare the gas pressure reading from the Cobra3, making sure that I don’t miss read the numbers and they are still about the same (none of them out of calibration).

Same brand DCs (Suunto) are used so I have the same algorithm & similar NDL.

 

[Trailboss123]

Nice topic, Craig! I dive with 2 AI computers linked to transmitter and I keep an SPG in the save a dive kit/bag, and there it has stayed for the last 7 years. Have yet to need or require it, for any reason. But, I will make sure to always keep it on hand- because as soon as I don't, I am sure I will need it.