The Great Dive Podcast

Episode 11 - Ratios and Rants

6/9/2017

What's all the fuss about decompression about? After receiving more than a few requests to touch upon the subject of ratio deco, the boys finally cover this voodoo decompression witchcraft... as well as the prim and proper use of dive tables and the ancient and forbidden knowledge of dive tables...
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2 Comments

mike

8/17/2017 05:44:26 am

Could the availability of more conservative tables in computers be used against you? As in something bad happens to you even though you followed the ascent and deco stop directions on your “old” computer, but the manufacture’s attorneys say “sorry, you should have followed the plan built into our “new” computers”.

Brandon C. Schwartz link

8/18/2017 12:42:49 pm

Hi Mike,
I'm not sure if the availability of more conservative tables can be used against you. I would tend to believe that if you use and follow the computer's manual to the tee and you still get bent, they would always fall back on the disclaimers in the manual. That is, they really hold no responsibility. Ultimately the diver does because decompression is theory based and you CAN do everything right and still get bent. Even if the computer malfunctioned and gave completely wrong decompression profile, I would believe the owner of the computer agrees upon use of the computer that he/she is ultimately responsible for their own actions. Equipment not only can fail, it WILL fail. The manufacturers of gauges/computers (actually their well paid team of lawyers) know this and also know how to avoid responsibility for any accidents involving failure of a dive computer. From my research, I cannot find a single instance of a court case where a dive computer was held responsible, period. I would believe that a "more conservative" built in plan on one computer could not be used to defend a different computer with a less conservative profile. The computer uses constant millisecond readings to obtain average depth and plugs that info into an algorithm to obtain a deco profile... it's not possible to use an algorithm from another computer that is not even on the dive.
Ultimately, the diver is responsible for their own safety and becoming knowledgeable and skilled is the most prudent prophylactic for ensuring your safety while diving. Complete blind trust in any piece of equipment (IMHO), is not a great idea... especially electronics. Yes, they do greatly contribute to our ability to enjoy more diving and especially in tougher, more demanding environments but I think one should know what is happening when they dive... learn tables and know them well if your diving is taking you to depths/places where decompression profile is critical (i.e. outside recreational limits), understand how that computer works, and most of all, gain experience that allows you to grow into doing those types of dives.
I know I rambled on a bit there at the end and may seem irrelevant to your question, but I didn't want to just say "no, they could not say that"...:-)
Mike, thanks so much for listening and for participating in the discussion by sending in the questions and comments!! We really appreciate it!!

Best Regards,
Brando

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James & Brando comment on diving in their own, unique way. An original take on SCUBA diving and their shared passion for exploring the underwater world and the diving community.

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Episode 11 - Ratios and Rants