Learning to use Mares Puck

[Meredith78]

I recently bought a Mares Puck, and it's my first dive computer. I'm having trouble understanding the ascent rate indicator. On my last dive I got the "slow" indicator, but not the fast ascent indicator, and no alarm went off. The number indicating my ascent speed says 69. If the maximum allowable limit is 39 ft/min, as the manual states, does that mean I was going nearly twice as fast as I should have been going? And does this mean I came up too fast after my safety stop, or even before it? I went to 50 ft and the dive lasted 33 min, if that helps.

Also -- and yes this may be a silly question -- what would happen if my dive time exceeded no-deco limits? Would the computer set off an audible alarm? Or will it just switch to DEEPSTOP mode?

 

[peterrobbemond]

The slow signal shows up to indicate you should take it more slowly. If you go up too fast for a longer period of time an alarm will sound. If you exceed the limits then after the dive the 'fast' indicator shows up to indicate you made an uncontrolled ascent and for all I know, the computer will lock up.

I understand the confusing here, I had to read my manual through multiple times before I understood what the icons meant, but once you get the hang of it, it's all good.

If you go over the No Deco time limit, an alarm will sound. It will whenever there's something important going on.