Question for divers..

[buddy13]

Ok I have a question for you divers who do not use a dive computer..

Which tables do you use to assess decom stops/time etc..

I mainly stick to no decomp diving when I do not have a buddies computer at hand, where I still stop at half depth for 1 minute and 3 minutes at 3m...but let's say I happen to need to calculate decomp time from tables. I know how to use (and used) PADI and BS-AC 88 tables which are very different..

Which do you use and deem the safest if you plan to do a decomp dive? Thanks!

A photo of my equip ..

[Danand]

Padi. But I try very hard (as I was trained) to only do nondecomp dives. Always do a safety stop at 15 feet though (3-5 mins depending on depth, time).
Cheers

[buddy13]

Originally Posted by Danand

Padi. But I try very hard (as I was trained) to only do nondecomp dives. Always do a safety stop at 15 feet though (3-5 mins depending on depth, time).
Cheers

Yes..I try that too, but thing is...I noticed that unlike many coasts the sea gets deep, fast as you get off the coast here in Malta...

Besides many nice wrecks are located at 30-45m..so it's easy to spend 12 minutes instead of 10 minutes at 45 metres..in this case I normally stop 1 minute at 20m, 2 mins at 6m (as on BS-AC tables) and a further 3 minutes at 3 metres..

[Jason71]

I have sent you a PM with some pertinent info

[buddy13]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I have sent you a PM with some pertinent info

Replied ...

[buddy13]

forgot to add...I also make sure to ascend at around 10m/min (I make sure that if I am at 30m I allow 3 mins to get to the top, rather than keep looking at the depth gauge and the watch all the time...)

also I have mates using a dive computer and a watch (typically G-Shock, aqualand,SKX007...). I 'only' use 1 watch on my dives...guess I trust my Seiko's and Rolex's a lot .. do you use a back up?

[ArcticMoose]

I use the SSI tables, however this is only my backup plan in case the computer fails. Normally I'll rely on the computer since it dynamically recalculates my times based on the actual dive profile, not the plan, giving me much more bottom time in some cases.

[Jason71]

I use a Rolex diver as my primary bottom timer, and I use a Uwatec Alladin Tec 2G digital gauge. The digital device can be used as a computer, but I lock it out in gauge mode. I like this device because it constantly calculates average depth (as well as current depth), and keeps track of your bottom time. However, it is up to the diver to decide when it is time to ascend, and what a reasonable ascent profile should look like. I have never felt so liberated as when I quite diving with a squawking, obnoxious dive computer. I also feel that my bottom times are just as long if not longer than when I was diving a computer.

These are the only 2 devices that I use besides my trusty Halcyon SPG and I also have a mechanical depth gauge as a back-up to the electronic gauge

[Ebruner]

Padi tables.


-Eddie

[ArcticMoose]

Originally Posted by Jason71

These are the only 2 devices that I use besides my trusty Halcyon SPG and I also have a mechanical depth gauge as a back-up to the electronic gauge

Yay, show your gear time! :-)

There were a lot of reasons I gave up the Suunto D9, the noise was one of them.

However, now I am very content. I couldn't imagine how liberating hands-free diving would be until I tried it. Now I can't imagine going back to a standard computer, or only tables, for that matter.



Advantages:

• The data is always right there, no fiddling. This is a huge advantage if you are holding a camera with two hands, attempting to stay at a constant depth. (Or ascend/descend at a certain rate, or whatever.) I could go on and on about the different situations where this makes life so much easier.
• Night dives are much nicer when you don't need to turn on lights just to check gauges.
• Just a single hose, the one supplying air.
• Safety stops on a line are a much better experience, especially in bad conditions.

The only audible alarm is "you stupid ****, you have no more air", which I don't mind. The rest can be disabled. The batteries are even hot-swappable, so you don't lose data between dives in a set. (Which would only ever happen if you've been ignoring the low battery indicator for months.)

[subkrawler]

Etienne, honestly....if you're asking this question on an internet watch forum, you have no business decompression diving. Deco diving isn't something that's approached on a whim. You need specific training and additional equipment to execute it safely. You don't just start a recreational dive, with recreational gasses, and recreational gas capacaties, and then decide to turn it into a decompression dive, because you see something interesting down deeper. Get the training, and you'll know the answer.

[buddy13]

Originally Posted by subkrawler

Etienne, honestly....if you're asking this question on an internet watch forum, you have no business decompression diving. Deco diving isn't something that's approached on a whim. You need specific training and additional equipment to execute it safely. You don't just start a recreational dive, with recreational gasses, and recreational gas capacaties, and then decide to turn it into a decompression dive, because you see something interesting down deeper. Get the training, and you'll know the answer.

Thanks for your reply. Yes I know what you mean perfectly...in fact I do no deco dives normally..but was just curious about other's opinions

I have the advanced course, I know what nitrogen narcosis is and why is it so dangerous, I am also a mech eng. so I do know a thing or two about decreasing pressure, micro bubbles growing etc..

Thanks for your reply. This summer I plan to take an advanced course either on Trimix diving/Instructor not really sure yet ...