Dive computer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A wrist watch sized dive computer incorporating an electronic compass(Suunto D9)
A wrist watch sized dive computer incorporating an electronic compass(Suunto D9)

A dive computer or decompression meter is a device used by a scuba diver to measure the time and depth of a dive so that a safe ascent rate can be calculated and displayed so that the diver can avoid decompression sickness.[1]

Contents

[edit] Purpose

Dive computers address the same problem as decompression tables, but are able to perform a continuous calculation of the partial pressure of inert gases in the body based on the actual depth and time profile of the diver.[1] As the dive computer automatically measures depth and time, it is able to warn of excessive ascent rates and missed decompression stops and the diver has less reason to carry a separate watch and depth gauge. Many dive computers also provide additional information to the diver, for example, the water temperature, information on the diver's oxygen toxicity or the pressure of the remaining breathing gas in the diving cylinder.

Because of the computer's ability to continually re-calculate based on changing data, the diver benefits by being able to safely remain underwater for longer periods of time using an equal volume of gas. For example, a recreational diver who plans to stay within "no-decompression" limits can in many cases simply ascend a few feet each minute, while continuing the dive, and still remain within safe limits, rather than adhering to a pre-planned bottom time and ascending directly. So-called multi-level dives can be planned with traditional dive tables, but the additional calculations become complex and the plan may be cumbersome to follow. Computers allow for a certain amount of spontaneity during the dive.

UWATEC ALADIN PRO dive computer showing the log of a previous dive
UWATEC ALADIN PRO dive computer showing the log of a previous dive

[edit] History

The Office of Naval Research funded a project with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography for the theoretical design of a prototype decompression analog computer. The Foxboro Decomputer, Mark I was manufactured by the Foxboro Company and evaluated by the US Naval Experimental Diving Unit in 1957.[2]

In 1965, Stubbs and Kidd applied their decompression model to a pneumatic analogue decompression computer.[3][4]

The first recreational mechanical analogue dive computer, the decompression meter was marketed by Scubapro in 1972. It was very simple in principle: a waterproof bladder filled with gas inside a big casing bled into a smaller chamber through a calibrated porous ceramic cartridge (to simulate tissue in/out gassing), whose pressure was measured by a manometer whose graduation indicated decompression stops. The device was eventually nicknamed bend-O-meter.

Several analogue decompression meters were subsequently, some with several bladders for illustrating the effect on various body tissues, but they were sidelined with the arrival on the scene of electronic computers.

Early examples of recreational diving digital, electronic computers, from 1979, are the Hans Hass DecoBrain and Orca Edge.

In 2001, the US Navy approved the use of Cochran NAVY decompression computer with the VVAL-18 for Special Warfare operations.[5]

[edit] Display information

Dive computers provide a variety of visual dive information to the diver.

Modern dive computers display the following information on a LCD:

  • Current depth.
  • Maximum depth reached on this dive.
  • No stop time, the time remaining at the current depth without the need for decompression stops on ascent.
  • Dive time, often measured from the end of the last longer surface interval.

Many dive computers also display additional information:

  • Required decompression stop depth and time.
  • Water temperature.
  • Ascent rate.
  • Dive profile (often not displayed during the dive, but transmitted to a personal computer).

Some computers are designed to display information from a diving cylinder pressure sensor, such as:

  • Gas pressure.
  • Estimated remaining time based on available gas and rate of gas consumption.

Some information is only shown at the surface to avoid an information overload of the diver during the dive:

  • "Time to Fly" display showing when the diver can safely board an airplane.
  • A log of key information about previous dives.
  • Maximum non-decompression bottom times for subsequent dives based on the partial pressure of the gases in the tissue.

[edit] Audible information

Many dive computers have warning buzzers that warn the diver of events such as:

  • Excessive ascent rates.
  • Missed decompression stops.
  • Maximum operation depth exceeded.
  • Oxygen toxicity limits exceeded.

[edit] Operation

Modern dive computers are battery-powered computers within a watertight case. These computers track the dive profile by measuring time and pressure. All dive computers measure the surrounding pressure to estimate the partial pressure of gases in the human tissue. More advanced dive computers also include additional information into the calculations, for example, the water temperature or the diving cylinder pressure.

The computer then uses the profile and a decompression algorithm to estimate the partial pressure of inert gases that has been dissolved in the diver's tissues. Based on these calculations, the computer estimates when a direct ascent is no longer possible, and what decompression stops would be needed.

Examples of decompression algorithms are Bühlmann tables, the Multi-Tissue Model, the Varying Permeability Model, and the Reduced Gradient Bubble Model.

Many dive computers are able to produce a safe decompression schedule for dives that take place at altitude, which requires a slower ascent than at sea level, because the computers measure the atmospheric pressure before the dive. When divers travel before or after diving and particularly when they fly, they should transport their dive computer with them in the same pressure regime so that the computer can measure the pressure profile that their body has undergone.

[edit] Algorithms

Algorithms vary by model from each manufacturer but only a few algorithms have been developed. An algorithm used may also be a modification of an existing algorithm. When considering a dive computer, the main feature to consider is the algorithm that the air decompression limit monitor uses. If you’re unaware which algorithm the model that you’re considering to purchase uses, don’t purchase it until that is known. The subcontractors and child companies that make the dive computers market these under an array of brand names.

The algorithm used prevents you from getting decompression sickness (DCS). Diving scientists use known data that is recorded and averaged from previous divers to form an algorithm. Interpreted data that the computer receives is used against the algorithm to determine deco and no-stop times. An algorithm tries to account for magnitude of pressure reduction, repetitive exposures, rate of ascent, and time at altitude. Scientists may not be able to account for age, previous injury, ambient temperature, body type, alcohol consumption/dehydration, and patent foramen ovale when determining how to form an algorithm.

The newest dive computers on the market use:

[edit] Special purpose dive computers

Some dive computers are able to calculate decompression schedules for breathing gases other than air, such as nitrox, pure oxygen, trimix or heliox. The more basic nitrox dive computers only support one or two gas mixes for each dive. Others support many different mixes.[6]

Most dive computers calculate decompression for 'open circuit' SCUBA where the proportions of the breathing gases are constant: these are "constant fraction" dive computers. Other dive computers are designed to model the gases in some 'closed circuit' SCUBA (rebreathers), which maintain constant partial pressures of gases by varying the proportions of gases in the mixture: these are "constant partial pressure" dive computers.

[edit] Precautions

The ease of use of dive computers, however, also exposes the diver to other dangers. Dive computers allow divers to perform complex dives with little planning. This may lead divers to exceed their competence and experience by relying too much on the computer rather than proper planning, discipline and monitoring.

Many dive computers have menus, various selectable options and various display modes, which are controlled by a small number of buttons on the front of the computer. The diver should become familiar with the control of the computer on a series of shallow and undemanding dives before relying on it for more challenging dives.

For safety reasons it is recommended that a dive plan should be established before the dive and then followed throughout the dive unless the dive is aborted. This dive plan should be within the limits of the decompression tables. This increases the margin of safety, and also provides a backup decompression schedule based on the dive tables in case the computer fails underwater.[1][7][8] The main problem in establishing dive computer algorithms is that the gas absorption and release under pressure in the human body is still not completely understood. Furthermore, the risk of decompression sickness also depends on the physiology, fitness, condition and health of the individual diver.

A diver wishing to reduce the risk of decompression sickness can take a number of precautionary measures such as:

  • Use dive computers with a conservative decompression model
  • Use safety factors with dive computers (e.g. using a high altitude dive mode for a dive at sea level)
  • Add additional deep safety stops during a deep dive
  • Make a slow ascent
  • Add additional shallow safety stops
  • Have a long surface interval between dives

Many computers go into a "lockout" mode for 24 hours if the diver violates the computer's safety limits, to discourage continued diving after an unsafe dive. While in lockout mode, these computers will not function until the lockout period has ended. Other computers, for example Delta P's VR3, will continue to function, providing 'best guess' functionality whilst warning the diver that a stop has been missed, or stop depth exceeded.

[edit] Manufacturers

There are only a few dive computers manufacturers:

Others are selling computers clones made by Seiko(Apeks, Cressi, Dive Rite, ScubaPro, Tusa, Zeagle) or Pelagic Pressure Systems(Beuchat, Genesis, Seemann, Sherwood) or Benemec Oy(A.P.Valves).

[edit] Market Share

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (May 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Pelagic is currently the global market leader in dive computers. Suunto announced in December 2005 that they had manufactured a million dive computers.

Statistics of dive computer manufacturers by market share are welcome to be posted and updated here.

Dive computer market share worldwide estimates by brand as of May 2008:

  • Suunto 31.6%
  • Oceanic 27.0%
  • Aeris 11.9%
  • Uwatec 6.6%
  • Mares 5.3%
  • Cressi-Sub 3.8%
  • Sherwood 3.5%
  • Scubapro 3.1%
  • Genesis 2.8%
  • Tusa 2.0%
  • Aqua Lung America 1.3%
  • Seaquest 0.8%
  • Zeagle 0.2%

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Lang, M.A. and Hamilton, Jr R.W. (1989). Proceedings of the AAUS Dive Computer Workshop. United States: USC Catalina Marine Science Center, 231. Retrieved on 2008-05-02. 
  2. ^ Searle Jr, WF (1957). "Foxboro Decomputer Mark I". US Naval Experimental Diving Unit Technical Report NEDU-7-57. 
  3. ^ Stubbs R.A. and Kidd D.J (1965). "A pneumatic analogue decompression computer". Canadian Institute of Aviation Medicine Report 65-RD-1. 
  4. ^ Stubbs R.A. and Kidd D.J (1965). "Control of decompression by analogue computer". Canadian Institute of Aviation Medicine Report 65-RD-8. 
  5. ^ Butler FK, Southerland D (2001). "The U.S. Navy decompression computer". Undersea Hyperb Med 28 (4): 213–28. PMID 12153150. 
  6. ^ Huggins KE (2006). "Evaluation of Dive Computer Options for Potential Use in 300 FSW Heliox/ Trimix Surface Supplied Scientific Diving". Proceedings of Advanced Scientific Diving Workshop. Retrieved on 2008-05-02. 
  7. ^ McGough EK, Desautels DA, Gallagher TJ (1990). "Dive Computers and Decompression Sickness: A Review of 83 Cases". J. Hyperbaric Med 5: 159-162. 
  8. ^ McGough EK, Desautels DA, Gallagher TJ (1990). "Performance of Dive Computers During Single and Repetitive Dives: A Comparison to the US Navy Diving Tables". J. Hyperbaric Med 5: 163-170. 

[edit] External links