Whats a dive computer do?

[bmw]

I used a watch and an air gauge :)
b.

[Zmann]

A dive computer can do many things basically Ill tell you what mine does 1. It gives me decompression info down to 324ft which means it tells me where I have to make a safety stop and for how long.2. Tells me how long i have beeen under water also how long I have befor I have to make a safety stop.3. It tells me how much air I have left and how long it should last me, gives me how many breaths per min im using.4. tempature of the water.5 depth 6.mine also compensates for water temp so if the water temp is colder it will lessons the time I ahve under water before i have to make a deco stop.My computer is all downloadable on to my PC so that I can see my total dive profile on a graghed chart. It all depends how much you want to spend! Just like reefing its an exspensive hobby if you like to have your own equipment and not rent

[billsreef]

BMW LOL

A dive computer will let you to multilevel diving and the better ones will provide deco data if you push your limits to far. As someone who often needs to buddy up with someone on the dive boat having a computer is an avantage as most people use them nowdays, however it is still necessary to know the tables as a back up, computers can and do fail on occasion.


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Bill

If damsels grew as big as sharks, the sharks would run in fear!
My dive photos (http://hometown.aol.com/billsreef/)
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[bmw]

"Computers do fail on occasion"
Interesting.
So these things are to substitute for what you should know how to do in the first place?
Or, it seems on how to maximize a dive time without decompression? And "multi-level" dives? What isn't a multi-level dive? 30 feet and up?
Sorry--could not resist. I apologize.
I did do a little looking on these things on the internet, and I did remember that some such was starting to pop up in the mid 80's.
As far as sport diving is concerned they are 'gagdets". Comforting for some, useless for those that know what they are doing in the first place, at least in a sport diving situation.
IMHO
(I think I got that acryomn right)
BTW--diver since '65
b.

[Zmann]

multy level dives are when you goto one depth for a certain time, then to another than another usually your deepest depth should be first then so on.

[Etgar]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bmw:
I used a watch and an air gauge :)
b.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

BTW - diver since '85 ( a newbee compared to you :) )- I used a watch and pressure guage, and depth guage for the last 15 years - not any more ( only for backup ). I used to feel the same about dive computers - and I'm a computer geek.

The main benefit that no one is mentioning is that while using the tables you must credit youself with total dive time at your max depth - even if you've only been there for 1 minute - while a computer will actually only credit you with that 1 minute at your max depth and adjust your no decompresion limits accordingly. As you can imagine this will lead to substantially longer dives and repetitive dives - safely. An more time under water is more fun to me!

As a matter of fact some dive operators are REQUIRING divers to use computers - they supply them if needed.

Etgar

[bmw]

Well..drats!
I have not been able to dive for 7 years and will not again. Hence, my journey into aquariums, and to this board.
I thought, ahh--here is something I can contribute to (seeing how as I have yet to add water to my reef tank ;) ).
But I see I come from a far different diving experience than the people here, or those that will seek info here.
I grew up in Miami about half amile from the ocean. Underwater was always my "woods in the back of the house" so to speak. I was snorkling at five, was selling lobsters to the neighbors by 10 ($1 a piece, BIG money),rode my first dolphin at 11 and thanks to some older cousins was doing scuba at 12. My mother would probably have killed me if she had known.
I never used the dive shops except to fill air, by a piece of equipment now an then, and for a couple of years I would trade helping with the tourists for rental gear for a girlfriend or two. Someone always had a boat(eveyone had a boat-just one that was working was the trick), to use, always someone up for a dive. Did alot of diving.

But no one else was calling the shots--no one to "require" that we do this or that, have this piece of equipment or that. I am certainly not going to be of help there. I was not reckless--probably more conserative than people trying to eek out another few minutes below. (But I usually had very little air left anyway--and it would seem that most of the tourist would run out of air before they had to come up.) If you only dive once in a while, I can understand trying to do as much as possible. Are they making larger tanks now?
Safety? Well consider how dangerous an activity is that,accourding to one site, hundreds of thousands of people a YEAR are "certified" to do. Geez-(1) don't panic,(2) don't hold your breath-ever,(3) see 1. I mean, you can come up from 75 feet on half a lung of air, blowing bubbles the whole way, and not feel desparate, if you don't panic.
The dangerous part is sticking your hand down a hole that you cannot see all the way in(well, I didn't claim to be the smartest kid--but moray eels are good teachers!)

I ramble. See you all on the reef board when I get the water in the tank. Be counting on you for help. :)
b.

[Aquaman]

bmw,

LOL, any gadget should never take the place of your watch, air gauge, and Dive tablet,Common Sense and a good dive buddy.

If you are diving with someone that isn't using a table or can't read it very well DON'T partner with them. I've used a number of Dive computers and had several fail in the middle of my dive. Seals do leak and we all know what salt can do to any electronic equipment.



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Teach what you have known for years as if you learned it yesterday,
Teach what you learned yesterday as if you have known it all you life.
Life is short so Reef Hard

www.magicnet.net/~jwhite/aquamans.html (http://www.magicnet.net/~jwhite/aquamans.html)