@waynehungwaylow2110
#ask Mark, your videos have been extremely helpful in me researching. My wife and I are getting ready to sign up for our open water course. Should we buy a dive computer to use during our course? Also is it worth it to do the nitrox course at the same time? Thank you in advance for your knowledge.
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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E learning… Not a fan. Instructors in the day was hands on… Also learn RDP Dive tables….. Sad Realy the way teaching has gone……Navigation is a good course… Night Dive also….. Sophistry is coming into diver training… Learn your key skills. I have known nitrox divers who can’t navigate. A joke.
#askmark how does someone go about getting certified to actually service equipment? Regs, BCDs, full face agua.
My fire dept has a dive recovery team and annual servicing of our equipment takes half to three quarter of our budget. To cut down we’re trying to get certified to service our equipment ourselves.
Contact the manufacturer or one of their suppliers near you. They usually run servicing courses to industry professionals a few times a year.
I’ve done some servicing courses online, it really depends on the manufacturer. Get in contact with whoever makes your gear and they should be able to point you in the right direction. Then it comes down to investing in the right service kits and any specialist tools from the manufacturer.
I just got started online lessons for OWD and at the same time planning to upgrade my Garmin smartwatch.. So the Garmin Descent MK2i is already my wishlist because it does not only work as my dive com but also will become my smartwatch for my other activities.. So for me it’s a wise choice 😃👌
#ask mark, wheres the seal suit review ?
Patience….
But, the video goes live Wednesday
You may want to consider when buying a dive comp early in your diving is whether or not you want an air integrated system. Since if yes then you better start by buying one that supports air integration rather than go with a standard and then buy a new one with air integration capability not long after.
Mark, I think it would be useful if you tell us why should we have a dive computer. I think if you have it you have important information that you might not have. Also it would be more in front of you, more accessible to you, specifically in critical situations, what are the features that would help you be safe. You know what I mean? Thanks!
definately NDL calculation and timing is the use of a dive computer, depth display easily readable from your wrist, and SI timer. Deco mode is when you exceeded the NDL, the computer calculates the deco. And in the unfortunate event of DCS and you have to be brought to a deco chamber, the doctor in charge will check the details of your last dive based on your personal dive computer.
Other features that are good to know is dive planner, gauge mode, ascent rate alarm, max depth alarm, ppo2 settings, conservatism settings etc
I’m going to throw a different perspective. I DO advocate a computer early on “IF” the new diver is passionate about continuing an advancing pathway, of continuing dive education. The computer is you dive history , and with modern cloud storage, provides a permanent log, in addition to your paper log. For many casual holiday/vacation divers I’d still invest in something cheaper (or used), as a minimum. For enthusiasts, diving is not an inexpensive pastime, and anything that can give you a safer experience, particularly a good computer and quality regs, could be a life-saver. Newer colour screen models such as the Shearwater Peregrine, will nudge the careless diver(and we’ve all seen them), with yellow and red banners, beeps and vibrations, to take IMMEDIATE action. Then of course we have the age old argument, of how much is a life worth. I expect some pushback regarding the learning of dive tables, and while ideal, the fact of the matter is, they are rarely taught these days, so anything that can give the novice diver the added edge of safety, is money well invested.
You dont need to as youre still starting out and dont know if this is the hobby for for you. But if youre dead set and already know you want to take it further than just OW, then yes get your own.
Totally agree with Mark …. Wait till you do more dives before you lay the bucks down. Less stuff to keep up with.
My course came with bcd and ref/computer rental included with the course
Rent the computer if you don’t have a long term plan in mind. Pretty much all shops will have rental computers.
Anybody who says “you don’t need a computer” is behind the times and any decent shop will insist you have one. There are many scenarios where a computer comes in handy for recreational divers (a triple dive day, for one).
Having said that, you don’t need a fancy computer. Most computers have a “gauge mode” which is just depth and time tracking which is a lot better than nothing – so after that the next few trivial features you’re looking for are ascent rate alarms and no-deco timer. Something dead simple and cheap like a Suunto Zoop will suit most recreational divers their whole career – but if you want a nice easy to read screen and to make logging your dives easier then get something with Bluetooth (can’t go past a Shearwater IMO).
I had my own dive computer for my OW and used it together with one provided by the school. They were very different and I’m glad I tried both at the same time. We were diving in a pathetic mini-lake with horrible visibility – I could barely recognize the fins almost kicking me in front of my face 😹. I was forced to use the compass at some point and the compass in my Garmin Descent G1 did a better job than the analog one attached to the SPG. So if you can afford it, get a dive computer that is also a good sport smartwatch – you’ll be wearing it all the time. Also, apart from own mask and snorkel, it’s good to have own regulator if you’re progressing beyond basic OW. It’s super gross to put the reg in the mouth after seeing regs being dipped in a tank with questionable quality water…
I ask my students to NOT have dive computer or even a wach during the OW course at least until the last dive.
They have so many things to think about and focalise to: their aquaticty, buoancy, trim, kicking, etc that I think a dive computer, or a cam, or other distraction are not good for them.
yes, new students not neccesarily need to wear dive computers during pool session, confined water practice, however dive computers are not a distraction, new students should learn to observe NDL, ascent rate beginning from their OW course
@1003willy I do not agree. But my course is a long time course as it lasts at least 4 months with more than 4h per week and I explain how to use the computer in the theory part. I let them have a computer only if their buoyancy is ok, at the last 1 or 2 dive of the owd course (so I do not certificate them until they are good enough and they have tried to use the computer too, but only in their last dive).
@Alessandro Actis Dana yes i agree with u, my last comment was hanging actually… what I wanted to say is that dive computer should start using beginning from their OW dives in the open sea after qualifying all the skills. And it is great that you teach theory about dive computers
@1003willy the important thing is that they have to manage the US navy table before and use their computer only as a plus, after the main important things (good aquatics and other skills).
No one needs a computer for an open water course. A very simple Seiko watch with a rotating bezel will be just fine. Save your money for later.
I agree you don´t need your own computer for the OWD Course, use the dive centers computers, borrow or rent a computer first, after the OWD course, Keep it simple first, that goes for a BCD as well, just make sure your first computer you buy has Nitrox capabilities, over time and experience you can learn what you really prefer and upgrade.
I would advise on buying good fins (mares avanti Quattro for example), and it´s easier to concentrate on buoyancy control, you use less air because of less exertion/less stress, which means longer dive times l. You pay alot of money to dive on vacation or local dive sites, as a beginner you want to stay underwater for as long as possible. Every minute you stay longer underwater will make you a better diver. A computer won´t teach you how to relax and breath slowly and how to control your buoyancy.
When you start doing deeper /multiple dives thats when you want your own computer!
The dive center where I did my AOWD, offfers a set where you pay more in this set you would get a Cressi divecomputer.
I bought mine after the tens dive about a month befor I did the AOWD.
I see the benefit of getting the Computer from beginnig, it becomes more a mate to you, because you started with your own divecomputer.
The positiv about to buy a mask while doing the OWD is: you had the chance to try it and the instructor would help you to find the right one which would fit you best.
So I would look if they offer a set with a nice divecomputer and a mask. I know, after a while you may look for a different Computer, as soon you got a lot of dives, but a divecomputer is never lost money because it can be use as a backup Computer. 😊
My Shop asked me to go Advanced the day after Passing the OW Class.
thats how they meet their 1k, 5k ,10k annual certifications quota & receive awards and recognition from their agencies
@1003willy Not sure about that. The shop I used is a Small, Locally owned business.
Do you feel YOU are “Advanced”. Which agency if I could ask? I would propose that there be some dives in prior. Don’t fool yourself, you are still a new diver.
@Paul Clissold PADI. Out of the two groups I was with, Pool and OW portions, I did better at most of the Skills. I ended the Dives with more air than the others. When i was Separated and Lost in 2 Ft Vis, I handled myself properly. Not panicking. Unsupervised Ascent from 30ft. Found my Bearings. Rejoined my Class.
Don´t do that, just go diving first, with an experienced Buddy, after 20-30 dives then do the AOWD. The Instructor can teach you alot more, take you a bit deeper, if your buoyancy / basics are OK, maybe put you in a Trocki, or teach you to work with DSMB and reel in different situations, drift dives and so on.
If your enjoying your diving then do a Nitrox course and AOWD!
Me? The Shop supplied a computer as part of the Console. I have my own Genesis Centauri Watch. Which I used for the OW Class. The Rental unit was hard to see. Genesis has an App, Dive Story, That I Uploaded my computers info onto my phone when I was done. It also told me No Fly for 24 Hours. My only gripe was the Wristband. Too short. Used the Extension. Which I had to have all the way in. And slid down my Wrist the deeper I went. 7mm jacket. I might’ve been able to squeeze it on without the extension. I wish Genesis made it an inch longer. Then no problem.
DIVE COMPUTERS CANNOT BE SHARED WITH YOUR BUDDY!!!
EITHER USE YOUR OWN PERSONAL DIVE COMPUTER OR GO MANUAL GAUGE & WATCH
I think it should be mandatory for new divers to own their personal dive computer if they are really serious on getting OW certified… in Malaysia there are many certified divers even advanced ones who still shares a dive computer with buddy, which shows ignorance and lack of knowledge of safe diving.
It’s very expensive, I normally rent it as I only dive for one week annually
@Saul renting, as long as it is your personal dive computer for the trip, is still acceptable, but in many countries they practice sharing like 2/3 divers to 1 dive computer which is unsafe