So I have been reading this and the BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) Incident report and would like to say that that suggests that there is no clear correlation between level of training and incidents. Infact if you read the reports it seems that the incidents are mostly due to people exceeding their limits (i.e. their training level, fitness, etc.) rather than being inherently under trained. I was recently on a trip for example where a Divemaster got bent (badly bent - neurologically bent) and there were lots of open water/ advanced open water divers on that trip who didn't get bent. Only one data point of course, so utterly useless statistically speaking.
I agree though, the physical activity thing seems to be totally understressed in dive classes.
Now, as far as tables and computers are concerned, it seems to me that it depends a lot on how you dive with them. For example, do a 100 ft dive for 20 mins. That is the limit of the PADI RDP. Then ascend at 30FPM or less and do a 3 min stop at 15 ft and surface at less than 30FPM. Should be OK according to the table. However, my Suunto Cobra will not let me dive that long, it only lets me go to 100 ft for 17 mins so if I follow that to the limit then ascend in the same way, I must be safer than with the tables, no matter what the other factors.
If I dive to 100 ft for 10 mins, then ascend to 50 ft for 10 more minutes and surface as before, I have followed the tables (because max depth counts) but will be safer than in the previous example. If I use my computer in this case though I can stay much longer at 50 ft before I get to the limit. In which case it seems to me that I will probably be more likely to get DCI by using my computer.
These are only two examples, I have ignored the wheel for simplicity, but I hope that it is obvious that there are an almost infinite number of dives, some of which are safer with a computer, some are safer with the tables and some are dangerous with either.
In conclusion, choose a conservative computer, don't push its limits, ascend slowly, spend a few extra minutes at your safety stop and relax while you are there. Finally it is better to pee in your suit than to be dehydrated.
Piscean.
P.S. Check out my friend's website:
www.coltonscuba.com