Computer: Right/Left

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I would rather want to know what is the rationale of mandating keeping the compass on the left wrist. because if using it you need to concentrate on it quite a bit and normally bend your arm to be able to see it in correct angle. then your left hand is totally occupied and in an angle where it is difficult to hold a light in it. If you move the light to your right hand now all your arms are occupied and will screw up both buoyancy control and primary donating whenever you need to do that OR alternatively you just lose sense of the direction if using the left hand every now and then for the regular tasks. I would think the compass should be on the right wrist if the dive computer is also there and if using lights on left hand. but if NOT using a light then it would probably be easier to have the compass on the left because then the right hand is more task loaded.

I find the computer being much easier to read when on the right. That is probably mainly because I almost always have to use lights when diving here and using the light on the left.

I have no problem btw to control the wing inflator with either hand. I don't know if it's different in sidemount but at least normal wing inflators are pretty usable with both hands so I tend to use the hand which is less occupied at the moment

I've assumed Compass in left was for scootering. Like most things though, everything is a compromise, and while your computer needs to be instantly visible at all times during ascent / descent and the dive, the compass probably does not. Make a visual reference, swim to it, etc.
 
I have my computer on the right wrist, dump air through my back deflator while staying horizontal during the ascend. I'am likely to be a Darwin award winner according to this DM as I understand it. Don't understand how I managed to survive almost 600 dives :D
 
I keep it on the left wrist. On the right is my back-up and the slate with the run time, so in case it is needed, I can shine at the slate with my primary light on the left, thus without having to switch around anything.
 
I switched to primary on right some years ago, and prefer it. It comes into play more, when having to control students, where you might be holding their BCD with the right hand and sorting buoyancy etc with left.

The only time my left mounted backup is used for preference is after shooting a dsmb, because my right hand is winding the spool/reel it's easier just to monitor the ascent on the left.

My wife on the other hand prefers computer on her left, she has no issues (900 dives)
 
The reasoning from your instructor ...

Not my instructor.

The guy is the owner of a local shop that I have been a client of. We bumped into each other at a local dive site this past weekend. The discussion began with him asking me if I wanted to work for him as a divemaster. He commented that he would love to have me work with him but my equipment configuration would need to change as it did not fit what he requires of his students, instructors, and divemasters.

He noted my use of a 7ft hose, my octo on a bungee necklace, the fact that my octo hose is not yellow, and that I wear my computer on my right forearm. I asked him what the concern was with my computer on right forearm and he started discussing how it is unsafe to wear it there as it increases the risk of blocking the airway, and if you are facing a diver when ascending in a shared air situation one's right hand would be controlling the OOA diver's inflator hose, which would make it hard to impossible to see the computer.

He mentioned that over the past 8 years teaching he has developed a training "method" that emphasizes efficiency in the learning process, reduction of risk, and standardization.

I have no intent to work with this shop/instructor.

I fully accept that I do not know everything about diving and that I can always improve. After 24 years I still enter the water with the endeavor to learn something about how I dive to improve my competence, confidence, and capability...

...but I also enter the water to leave the craziness of the rest of the world behind for the short amount of time that I am below the surface. There were other things mentioned that didn't sit right with me and I am not willing to enter into an employment situation where there may be all sorts of craziness lurking just below the surface (no pun intended).

-Z
 
What about if you have a console integrated computer like the Proplus series? I’ve considered this a lot. Do you have it router to the left, where your SPG usually is, or routed to the right, where the computer usually is?

I’ve tried both and feel more comfortable having it on the right side. I also added a small bungee loop that I can use to throw it over my wrist when I’m getting towards the end of my dive so I can check my air/depth without losing the mobility of my right hand. Seems to work pretty well thus far.
 
I wear my Perdix on my left wrist. I got it straight after I did my OW before doing my AOW. No one said where to wear it, I just whacked it on the left and it felt right lol
BM or SM I use my right hand to dump, so it works.
As I get into Tec and have to wear a slate, I'm hoping to fit that on my left as well.
 
Sounds like the shop owner has read or been taught something and extrapolated an entirely spurious reason for it. It is good practise to look up when ascending (just in case of boats, other divers etc) but not because of it keeping the airway open. If you are breathing, it is open anyway! If not you have bigger problems than looking at your computer!

I can understand where he is coming from with regards to the comments about the 7ft hose etc as, for a lot of recreational divers, they will never see a tec set up let alone buddy with someone who uses it. Therefore it is easier to teach within the "standard" rec set up and to have a set up that mirrors their own.

I have my computer on my right wrist - makes it easy to read while my left is adjusting buoyancy (I have a wing so have one kidney dump on the LHS and the corrugated hose which is also routed to the left).
 
The shop owner/instructor was explaining to me that the computer on the left wrist/forearm puts it above the head while ascending and venting via the corrugated hose which helps contribute to keeping the airway open. He stated that with the computer on the right wrist the tendency is to look down which could lead to blocking the airway which can lead to pulmonary injury.

Always on the right and all of the above is irrelevant when ascending in a horizontal position, using the butt dump. :)
 

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