Contents gauge or Depth AND Contents gauge

[Jenb]

Hello all,

I decided some time ago to quit diving, sold my beloved kit on e-bay for half the price I paid for it, and then 12 months on felt the overwhelming craving to get back in the water. I am now very much regretting flogging everything and am in the process of replacing - not a cheap exercise!!

I have just brought a new BCD which comes with a free contents gauge.

I still need to buy regs, and my question is, can I just use the contents gauge that's come with my BCD, or would people recomment I have a mechanical depth gauge also. I have a computer, which I rely on for depth readings, and never check the contents gauge, but appreciate in the unlikely event that my computer packed up underwater, a depth gauge would be very useful.

What do people generally think and use? Do many people dive without a depth gauge and only rely on their computer?

Thanks

Jen

[Noel Johnson]

Hello Jen

I think its always a good idea to have some kind of backup just in case anything goes awry underwater.

I personally dive a twinset and have 2 contents guages, 1 depth guage a watch and 1 computer (Vyper) The one console is a combined depth guage and contents.

If you want you can always have a back up depth guage on your wrist or even in a pocket intead of it being on a hose, but it's a good idea to get one.

HTH

Noel

[recurve]

A backup depth gauge or dive timer is very common. If you go for the depth gauge option, it would be normal to carry a watch as well at least.

[tom]

Rather than a mechanical depth guage, I'd suggest getting a backup computer or dive timer that gives you depth information. The price difference between a d-timer and a simple gauge is very small, and you'll get increased functionality (redundant timing, ascent rate info etc).

presumably you meant 'never check the depth gauge' not contents, in your post!

[Lou]

I agree with Tom. Keep the single contents gauge and use that. It is more streamlined and less bulky than a depth and contents console.

Then get a back-up for your computer in the form of a depth timer like this one. then you have a useful piece of kit that can help you do ascents and stops if your computer packs up, and would also be useful (or saleable) if you decide to move your diving on.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Jenb

What do people generally think and use? Do many people dive without a depth gauge and only rely on their computer?

I no longer own a working mechanical depth gauge but I do always dive with two electronic ones. Either a Computer and a Depth/timer or two computers. It's one of those things that comes on the list of 'if you must have one take two'.

[chrisch]

A back up is fine, but what are you going to do if the computer packs up? Head up and call the dive? If so the backup wasn't much use was it?

I wouldn't bother myself.

If you want a belt and braces approach a second computer is the answer then if one goes wrong (about as likely as seeing a mermaid unless you buy an Apeks Quantum ) the backup can then complete the dive and indeed go on to do the second dive of the day and the rest of the week on a liveaboard/weekend on a boat. The former of which is about the only time I would bother. The cost of a backup 'puter compared to losing a days diving on a livaboard makes it worthwhile. (hey go rent one!!)

Redundancy is a good thing, but hardly a priority on shallow recreational dives. A depth gauge without a timer and tables doesn't tell you much you can't guess just by looking up at the surface.

Chris

[Lou]

Well, a back-up in the form of a D-timer lets you head up safely, using depth and ascent rate guides, and complete a sensible stop.

When diving with deco obligations taking a set of back-up tables means if your computer (if you were diving off of that, of course) goes kaputt you can complete deco safely using only the d-timer.

So, a back-up computer at £300 or more, or a D-timer at £60 doesn't seem much of a battle to me!

[Scuby]

Originally Posted by chrisch

A back up is fine, but what are you going to do if the computer packs up? Head up and call the dive? If so the backup wasn't much use was it?

Gets you out of the water without a bend, sounds like a good backup to me! For the very low chance of the computer failing, I don't think i'd mind ending one dive a little early.

Personally I don't even carry a spare depth gauge / d-timer or anything, working on the basis that i'm not doing anything spectacularly deep and dangerous, I could just follow my buddy up to stops, if i'd lost my buddy its possible to predict ~6m fairly easy even on a free ascent, on a shotline its even easier, and the line on both my DSMBs has depth marks on so I can just stick that up and know exactly where I am anyway!

David

[BJ]

I always dive with at least two computers rather than a computer, watch and depth-gauge. Why? Because a watch and depth gauge might get you back to the surface safely but you will then need to wait 24 hours before diving with another (working) computer. A second computer will not only give you back-up for the first dive, but will be up to speed with your deco requirements for the following dive.
Electronics are not only more reliable than mechanical solutions but they are cheaper. My very expensive Rolex is a nice piece of jewellery but I would not rely on it nowadays to tell the time! The same goes for pressure gauges, mechanical depth gauges and other clockwork.