Dive Slate Mark up for Deco

[awalker]

Hi All
I have been diving with a VR3 for a year and a half doing 45M ish dives on Nitrox with accelerated Deco.

Tail end of last year I got a dive timer so I can be a bit more redundant if the worst happens. I have got a arm slate to mark up using deco software GAP, V planner etc.

My question really is what is the best way to mark up the slate.
I have not done any TDI courses or similar for Nitrox diving just the BSAC basic and Advanced Nitrox course.

I know you are going for an ideal, deeper, longer and no deco gas schedules but what is the best way to get all that down on the slate and am I missing anything?

Any examples would be really helpful and greatly appreciated.

Happy safe diving

Adam

[Tim Ingmire]

Easiest is to cover the slate with masking tape and then just draw a table - left hand column all the stop depths and then title the colmuns as ideal, and then your variances ie: +3/+3, -3/-3, No deco etc etc. In each column put all the times for each stop for that depth and time. You can also put a cross at the gass swtich depths. Make sure you write clearly and don't clutter. When done just peel off the masking tape. If you have the slates with pages then ideal on top slate, variances in second 'page' and then lost gasses on last slate.

If your know you are going to do a series of dives with the same profile and gasses then use a program to generate the stops, transfer them to Excel and print them out as a series of small tables, laminate them, punch in hole in the corner and tie them together. These are re-usable.

Sorry I have no pictures.

[RichW]

I'm assuming you use the VR3 as your primary means of knowing what deco you need.

That means then that the written tables are your backup. It would then seem more sensible to have them in a pocket, as you don't need them all the time, only in the "rare" event that a computer fails

As far as working out what numbers to put on, I used to just use a base table for the planned bottom time at the expected depth. Adjustments can then be made on the fly quite easily. As far a a loss of deco gas goes, I generally use a rule of thumb like doubling the stops. Much easier.

Cheers,

Rich

[wreckferret]

Hi,
This is how I write my slate, prob too much detail.

EXAMPLE ONLY!!!

46m - 27min.

depth stop arrive leave deco gas

30m 2 29 31 35%
23m 2 32 34 35%
15m 1 35 36 35%
12m 1 37 38 35%
9m 4 39 43 35%
6m 21 44 65 90%


I carry back up slates with bail out tables simillar to the above, I try and
keep them simple, if stressed I can read + understand them

I have been using this system for 10 years + it works for me.

[turbanator]

I did the same as Rich is suggesting.

This way, you will also build up a 'library' of slates that you can take on appropriate dives, rather than write them down on a wrist-mounted slate for every dive.

hth
Paul

[Ainsleyberryman]

What ever you write remember you will have to read it when your in the shit. So make it so simple anyone can read it.

I write mine out on one of those three page slates. You can write on the back so its actually more than 3 pages. I manage to get 18 deco stops and three gasses on it.

Clean the slate with Ajax first to take the shine off then the pencil writes much better.

I write the Depth, Stop Time, Run Time thats it. I underline the gas swithches, but your tanks should be labled anyway so thats easy.

So as an example only:



Depth Time Runtime
30 15 15
20 1 17
15 1 18
________________________
9 2 20
6 4 24
3 6 31

There is an extra min to count for the ascent time from 30 to 20 plus the stop time. So 15 plus the ascent of 1 plus the stop of 1 = 17. The smaller gaps for the stops are done ever three stops add a min.

The line would indicate a gas switch.

Write some up and see if anyone else can understand it, if they can then its pretty simple and may work.

You could just save up and buy a second computer though !

[JohnD]

I would write mine similar to Ainsley, but with the depths marked from deepest at bottom and shallow at top. Bowstone do a nice 3 pocket slate that you can fit sheets into which is really good.

[beanie]

excel colour printer (preferably laser) and laminator (not that expensive)

then do tables for what you require

use colours to differntiate different gases
ie
clear bottom mix
yellow 40%
green 80%
(pick colours that stand out and are differnt)

[JohnD]

Originally Posted by beanie

excel colour printer (preferably laser) and laminator (not that expensive)

Lidls are doing one for £17.99 at the moment, by the way

[awalker]

Thankyou all very much for all the help.

We have a laminator here at works so I will have to run off some tables.

Maybe a second computer later

But I do like to feel like I have covered a few more bases. I think I have done that with a dive slate and dive timer.

All the best

Adam