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Baker's Dozen for not
using a Dive Computer
By Jarrod Jablonski
1) Dive computers tend to induce significant levels of diver dependence,
eliminating the awareness so common and essential to all diving but particularly
obvious when diving tables2) Dive computers do not allow proper planning as
divers can't properly "study" the impact of various mixture and decompression
choices.3) Dive computers are of very limited educational benefit as they do not
induce questioning, or proper planning discussions as can be found with tables
and most particularly with deco programs4) Dive computer programmers often play
games with computational process so that they can take insulate themselves from
the risk of taking largely square profile data and utilizing it on a multilevel
dive. These games tend to result in odd and often ridiculous levels of
conservation.5) Dive computers are expensive and in some cases leave divers with
limited resources carrying equipment that is of far less benefit than other
equipment that may have been purchased.6) Dive computers significantly limit the
likelihood that divers will track their residual nitrogen groups.7) Dive
computers do not allow for Helium diving in any formats but the bulkiest and
most questionable format.8) Dive computers will often generate longer
decompressions than could be figured by an astute, well-educated diver with
experience.9) Dive computers often create confusion by giving the user too much
useless information, sometimes even obscuring depth and time in favor of
blinking CNS and/or deco limitations.10) Dive computers can become very
difficult to properly if a deco stop has been violated. Some computers lock up
completely while others just beep or generate erroneous and distracting
information. Divers using mixed gasses are likely to often violate computer
profiles.11) Dive computers do not allow for the educated diver to properly
modify their decompression to account for advancing knowledge such as the use of
deeper stops in a decompression profile.12) Dive computers do not offer divers
as much flexibility in the generation of profiles with varying conservation. For
example the right mix would allow 100 min at 60 vs 60 at 60 but I might prefer
to do one or the other and indeed might like a compromise. Computers confuse
this issue by not providing divers with the proper information.13) Dive
computers users often ignore table proficiency and therefore do not learn tables
properly. When confronted with a situation where they can't dive the computer
(failure, loss, travel etc) these divers are at a serious handicap.
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