FritzCat66, you just gave me my Avatar that I will make for myself. Stay tuned!
I see it now, Thomas. LOL! Magnificent! :rofl:
As for some of the other comments regarding learning tables as backup for computers: This doesn't really work, because you have no idea what your pressure group is to move onto a table. Sure, you could look at your buddy's computer, but if you're going to do that, might as well just dive based on his computer anyway. You could guesstimate and backtrack your prior dives, or if you're a risk-taker maybe dive with your buddy or group that did the prior dives and be very conservative and come up with the first of them.
Either way:
tables = useless. If a critical piece of dive equipment fails, you're probably done diving for the day whether you're a computer diver with a locked-up device or a table diver with a flooded SPG. Sure, you could buy some redundancy in both cases, but that's a whole 'nuther argument.
Yes, tech dive agencies teach tables. They also teach deco. What does either have to do with a beginner OW rec diver? And given that SDI is an offshoot of TDI, I think they were well aware of tables when they decided to ditch them and teach computers to their OW students - a good call, IMO.
OK, this is the New Divers forum and I've already gotten into this enough. I think the OP has heard enough opinions to make his own decision.
My final advice: Don't listen to all these salty old sanctimonious Mennonite Divers, dude! Get a good computer and don't look back. Don't worry that what I'm saying is the minority here - in the real world, it's the other way around. Believe me, I'm on boats out of your area all the time and essentially NOBODY really dives tables!
OK, I've said my peace. Back to your regularly scheduled SB Mennonite sermons...
>*< Fritz