Do you use a conservative setting on your dive computer?

[scubadiver888]

Many dive computers have the ability to be more conservative. You can set the computer to give you a shorter time to NDL. So do you use this or just leave the dive computer on the least conservative setting?

 

[ajduplessis]

Conditions, workload and other factors change even during a dive. I therefore like a DC where you can change the shape based on these changes with applied common sense. Generally during rec (ndl) dives I keep the settings as-is.

The Suunto "haters" will shortly add their bit.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Having given up VPM in favor of gradient factors, I'm not sure how to answer. Is 70/70 more or less conservative than 20/90, and how much helium do I have to add to the equation before your answer changes? One thing I do like is that on my SWs, I can change the surfacing limit anytime I want during the dive. If I suspect I might need more of a cushion, I can punch in a lower surfacing GF and see what that does to my ascent profile and gas requirements; conversely, if I want to generate a 99/99 GTFO of Dodge profile because something has gone seriously wrong, that's available too.

I have stopped caring about NDLs. Whether the computer says I have 45 minutes of NDL or 30 minutes of NDL and 15 minutes of deco obligation for a given BT/gas is computer semantics...my gas loading isn't changing because the screen says I do or don't have NDL time left. If it's marginal, the more conservative approach would be to plan for and do the stops (IMO).

 

[Kharon]

My dive computer (Mares Icon 4.0) is already pretty conservative so I voted no. I'm only 67 and when I get old I will probably bump the conservative setting up.

 

[tbone1004]

I'm with Lecter, being able to control the GF's on the Petrel is huge, especially since all dives are different. A nice easy relaxing cave dive is a lot different on the body than cold wreck diving in currents, so I change my GF's accordingly.

 

[lowviz]

Almost always bump up 10% and do whatever light deco my plan calls for. Don't like to exceed 15min, starts getting 'technical' and more junk to carry.

 

[Scott]

Since I have fairly conservative computers I use the most liberal settings.
I'll revisit those shortly as I'm changing computers that allow the use of GF's.

 

[drbill]

I wear two dive computers. One is more conservative than the other. I try to dive it most of the time but knowing what the other tells me gives me some "safe" wiggle room

 

[victorzamora]

My primary computer is a Petrel as Dr. Lecter and Tbone mentioned above, so it's hard to answer from that perspective.

When I was diving my Hollis DG03 (more "normal" conservatism settings) I always dove with least conservative status. If I was doing a NDL dive, I'd always thumb it a few minutes before my NDLs. Moreso if I was in bad shape/conditions, less so if I knew I was comfortable, warm, and well hydrated. If diving in deco, I'd normally make sure to ascend extra slowly and give my 20ft and 10ft stops a couple of extra minutes. Normally, I'd clear deco (light deco) before even switching to O2 but I'd give myself a few minutes on O2 at 20ft and 10ft just to be sure.

 

[Steve_C]

+1 for what Dr Bill said.