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What Does a Dive Computer Do?



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A dive computer will provide the main piece of information, which is the no stop limit. The computer program will calculate the no-stop limit by taking into account air depth and air volume. It will also provide data about when to start or stop decompression. This data is also known to be the "no stopping time remaining".

Preferences of different people

Diver computers come in many different forms, but they all have the same basic functions: tracking nitrogen loading, logging dives, and displaying depth. Divers may choose to use one type of dive computer instead of another because it gives different NDL times. Divers may choose to use a different type of computer than what is recommended. As such, it's important to plan a dive before buying a dive computer and to compare different models before deciding which one will work best for them.


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Functions

A dive computer can help you remain safe while you're under water. It runs calculations based on your information, and then compares that information against the corresponding dive tables to determine how much time you have at depth. It doesn't take a genius math mind to understand the calculations. However, you should have an idea of where your diver computer falls on the liberal-conservative spectrum. Liberal-leaning computers are the best for maximizing your bottom time and ensuring safety.


Display

The dive computer's display screen, whether mounted on a wrist-mounted pressure gauge or mounted on a submersible water gauge, provides data that can help to avoid decompression. Divers may find it useful to have additional features such as water temperature and compass direction. Dive computers can even be used to save data to a personal computer. This may prove useful for accident investigators. A dive computer is able to perform many functions, including helping to determine the cause of an incident.

Safety limits

Diver computers use a range algorithms to calculate decompression rates. The acceptable DCS levels range from two to five percentage, but they can vary depending upon individual susceptibility or accidents. The US Navy and the commercial diving community often wish to achieve 0.1 percent mild or 0.025 percent serious DCS. To ensure safety, a dive computer must be capable of running the correct decompression algorithms. Diving with a dive computer is not always easy.


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Cost

Choosing the correct dive computer for your needs is essential to prevent any accidents while diving. These devices use algorithms that determine how long a diver can remain underwater. The algorithms of most dive computers are fairly generic, but each diver will have slightly different body composition or fitness levels. Different machines will recommend different stops. Some will recommend more stop options than others. Whichever dive computer you choose, it will help you stay underwater longer and reduce the risk of decompression sickness.



 



What Does a Dive Computer Do?