Diving without a depth gauge

[wildbill9]

My integrated depth gauge took a proverbial dive in Bonaire. No worries I had my computer. Of course my incredible dive partner and wife said " great.....Now you are getting new equipment ". As much as I love wearing out my my equipment and buying more I can't see a reason to replace this unit. Does anyone still use an integrated unit and a computer? Bill

 

[CuzzA]

My integrated depth gauge took a proverbial dive in Bonaire. No worries I had my computer. Of course my incredible dive partner and wife said " great.....Now you are getting new equipment ". As much as I love wearing out my my equipment and buying more I can't see a reason to replace this unit. Does anyone still use an integrated unit and a computer? Bill

I have never owned a depth gauge and about a year ago left the SPG in the dive bag. A.I. computer is all that is needed for no stop diving, IMO.

 

[moose_grunt]

Nope. Dive computer. If mine fails I have my buddy’s. If I’m solo diving I take two computers. If I have two computers fail on the same dive I’m really unlucky, but I’m pretty sure I can guess 15-20ft depth and count to 360 if I really had to.

Jim

 

[STIDVC]

I dive with SPGs with no depth gauge other than my 2 computers, i guess i too could count to 300 and launch my DSMB while holding on to my 6m line which i marked. I think the question is, how much risk are you willing to take if shyte hits the fan. But i must add, although i don't use AIs, but if i did, i would still want my SPG with me

 

[Scuba Lawyer]

I know I'm the aberation, but if I'm going out for a one tank beach dive locally, I know I won't get deeper than 50' and I know I have 45 min of air max in my tank. For those dives I don't take a depth gauge, watch, computer... etc... and have never missed them. I do use a SPG. If I'm showing someone how to dive vintage I'll substitute a watch and J-valve for a SPG. Otherwise, if I am doing multiple dives/days I'll use my AI computer and that's it. A back-up computer is a good idea but I've never gotten around to getting one. So far luck has been on my side and haven't had a computer crap out on me on a dive trip. I did lose a computer in Cocos back in the early 90's but I just finished the week on tables. My 2psi.

 

[TMHeimer]

On boat dives or dives with a majority of time below 30' I use a computer, dive watch and analog depth gauge and SPG in my console. 30' or less I don't take the computer.

 

[Neilwood]

I have never owned a depth gauge and about a year ago left the SPG in the dive bag. A.I. computer is all that is needed for no stop diving, IMO.

Pretty similar for me - I did have a console with SPG and depth gauge but after buying the computer (Perdix which has air integration) I have ditched both. If the computer craps out, it is dive over and I am making my way to the surface. I will carry a spare SPG on a long trip (as well as a back up computer- still have the first DC I bought) so in case of disaster, I can swap the SPG for the AI pod and use the back up for the rest of the dives.

 

[rongoodman]

I've never owned a depth gauge. One computer for rec dives, two for tech.

 

[lexvil]

Isn’t a computer without a depth gauge a bottom timer?

 

[Saniflush]

Like most I started out with a SPG and depth gauge in a console. When I moved to an air integrated computer a few years ago I considered removing my gauges but decided against it since it would be more like what my students would have.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when a group of us were fun diving in Honduras and my AI transmitter ceased to work on the second day of the trip. I still had all of my console gauges in tact and although I was only faced with having to track my air on the console and not depth or time I was glad to have had the backup and it reinforced to me the comfort of mind of keeping my console gauges.