No depth gauge just computer?

[BoltSnap]

What's a "depth gauge"? Is that different from a dive computer?

 

[Dubious]

What's a "depth gauge"? Is that different from a dive computer?

 

[BoltSnap]

View attachment 621460

Oh, wow! An old underwater watch of some sort. This is like the phone my grandfather has. You have to use your finger to rotate a dial to make calls. So ancient I have never seen before. This probably what divers used to use before God made Shearwater.

I am amazed at the things I learn on SB, every time I get on SB, I learn something new. WOW!!!

But, what do the numbers mean on the thing here? Is zero the start of time? I have to find a very old guy who knows what this watch does and explain it to me. Thank God for the Shearwater calculator phones we have now.

 

[broncobowsher]

Last analog depth gauge I used was about 18 years ago. Computer ever since.
As eluded to, pretty much the standard depth gauge and timer is now a computer.

Now what computer to use? Shearwater is very well regarded everywhere. Typically the benchmark others try to compare to. So much so there style is copied. And recently they introduced a new entry level computer. read the specs, if they match or exceed your needs then that is a good choice.

 

[Dubious]

Oh, wow! An old underwater watch of some sort.

That is the XS Scuba Depth Gauge Module still sold today. When in Jamaica we noticed that the rental gear used a similar module in the counsel.

 

[boulderjohn]

That is the XS Scuba Depth Gauge Module still sold today. When in Jamaica we noticed that the rental gear used a similar module in the counsel.

Rental gear frequently includes a depth gauge because they cannot be sure the renter will have a computer.

It has been well over 10 years since I first used a dive operator that required all divers to have computers, but I doubt if many operations do even today. It's not like the no-computer divers are using tables, though. Lots of divers, sadly, really do nothing at all except follow a divemaster. Such divers don't even need a depth gauge, but the dive operation feels a need to provide one.

 

[tursiops]

Is it considered bad if I skip the depth gauge on my next set of gear? Just using a computer for depth and a wrist compass? Looking at getting back into diving with a travel size setup. I have never dove with a computer before. Just paper charts and analog gauges. But it seems like this is a good way to eliminate some clunky equipment?

Just normal holiday fun diving, nothing fancy.

Thanks

You MUSY know your depth, time underwater, and gas pressure; that is the minimum info for a safe dive. HOW you know that info is not that important. Your computer will tell you all but gas pressure.

 

[RogueClimber]

You MUSY know your depth, time underwater, and gas pressure; that is the minimum info for a safe dive. HOW you know that info is not that important. Your computer will tell you all but gas pressure.

And some computers even tell you gas pressure

 

[broncobowsher]

And some computers even tell you gas pressure

Those are called "air integrated" and can be had on the end of a hose, or wireless.

 

[CuzzA]

I should note I do have an SPG I keep in my dive bag if for some reason the AI failed. After 200 some dives using AI exclusively I've never had a problem.