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Well... I just thought I'd throw in my $.02 worth, as a confirmed "deco-weenie"... As I understand it, a lot of hard-core tech-divers use deco tables that are either custom made for their specific kinds of diving, or are based upon what they consider "best" for their physiology/diving applications. These folks generally think poorly of computers, and the weenies that use them. Now, from my perspective, I find computers to be quite valuable, and here's why: 1) While I'm not exactly a fat slob, I'm not in perfect shape either, and to get in that "perfect" shape, I would have to dedicate my life to diving, which is something I do mostly to make money (filmmaking). Now I know a lot of you "perfect body" people will feel that I am a useless slug who is making excuses, but every one of us is different in our attitudes regarding what is "best" for health. What works for you, may not work for me. I am happy and content - and enjoy life more than many I know. For this simple reason, I'm not interested in holding my body as a shrine that must be catered to every waking minute. Heart is good, lungs are good, I can run up several flights of stairs without passing out, and can carry my own gear (which gets heavier every year, it seems). Given the above, a computer designed for a lazy, fat, smoking diver affords me extra protection in terms of deco. Plus, it allows me to concentrate on what I am trying to accomplish underwater, which is why I am there in the first place. 2. When I am underwater, I am generally trying to concentrate on the task at hand, usually assisting my partner in the filming of cool animals, or cool things. Sometimes, I am busy "hosting" the show underwater, which means that I am trying to remember lines of script like "I'm standing next to the Kasi Maru, which was sunk here in Bairoko Harbor in July of 1943..." When my mind is preoccupied with saying the right things, it's comforting to know that I've got a computer keeping track of my deco for me. Once again, this may make me sound lazy, but I really do have a lot to remember and work on while down there. 3. Unlike many cave divers who know their max bottom depth, quite often, I have no idea how deep we will go, for how long. That is why I bought a CCR-155. Depending upon the circumstance, you might have a short bounce to the deep, or you may spend a fair amount of time at deeper depths. In order to keep track of this up and down, a computer is invaluable. 4. "The Deco-Weenie Clause" - Being a Class "A" Naval Yard Deco Weenie (NYDW) means that I never want to get bent. Never, ever. Am I afraid of getting bent? Yup. Class "A" like I said. Getting bent while on-location in the Solomons would suck really bad. Getting bent while diving off Catalina would suck less, but would still be in the "This Sucks" catergory. If it means that I've got to stay in the water an extra 15-30 minutes more than some of you folks who use more precise or specific tables, because of this weenie classification, then so be it. I do what I do - not to push some envelope of personal endurance or stamina, but to get a specific job done. And getting that job done year after year means you do not want to get bent ever. Now if this makes me a "pansy" (I've altered the expletive, but you all know what I really mean), then bring on the flower-print shirt, and gimme some lipstick, 'cause I have joined the ranks. 5. Computer Failure: Now many of you argue that what do you do if your computer takes a dump in the middle of your dive? Well, I DO constantly monitor my computer, as well as other gauges/meters. So when I go into deco, I know how much time the computer said I had to do before it went ka-ka. I would simply end the dive (since I don't do cave dives, that's a lot easier for me to do than some of you folks - you cavers got balls made of brass as far as I'm concerned), and add a significant amount of extra deco just to make sure. On a final note about us weenies: One thing that I notice about this tech diver list is that opinions fly around here like sermons from a Baptist minister. Most times, the individual who posts feels that they are absolutely right, and that all others are full of shit. Now, we are all capable of being full of shit from time to time, that is a given, but each one of us here does things differently, depending upon our specific training and experiences and body compositions. It seems to me that the best thing one can do in ANY endeavor is to keep an open mind, and offer advice to those who you feel are approaching a problem from the wrong direction. As an example - I am an Emmy Award winning filmmaker - yet I accept advice from everyone, from my musicians, to grips and gaffers on how to make my films better. Sometimes I take their advice, sometimes not, but I always listen with an open mind. If their suggestions are ridiculous, I calmly explain to them why it won't work - the reason is simple, I want them to KEEP making suggestions, 'cause one day they're going to have a better idea than me, and I will use it. Sure, I've got an ego. I wouln't be in this business if I didn't, but my ego is quite flexible through years of training. If you pontificate, you'll get the same respect as the Pope. Most of us catholics ignore him, and do our own thing anyway... As for computers - my next residual check will probably go to the guy who built Rod's computer for his CCR. I'll use it in good health for many years to come, hopefully. As I have said in the past, and will say again: A nice straight weenie is always preferable to a bent weenie. I intend to keep this weenie nice and straight, and polished like a new penny... Like I said, just one man's opinion... Kevin. HeyyDude
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