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Hmm, probably a confusing subject line but never mind, it's the best I =
could
come up with ;-)

I'm hoping someone can help me solve a conundrum I think I have.

I write as a relative newcomer to diving [based in the UK] who is very =
much
of a mind to be thorough about my dive planning.

I am now the proud owner of a Suunto Solution Nitrox dive computer (DC), =
and
a very capable piece of kit it looks too. However what I am looking for =
is
an appropriate paper-based table to closely match the characteristics of =
the
DC to use to help plan my dives and to have with me in laminated format =
as
backup should the DC go belly up in mid-dive. Unfortunately I am not sure
which set of tables would suit my purpose (and have access at the mo' to
only a few anyway) and it is this point that I am asking advice on;=20

I _know_ I'm not going to get a perfect match but what I am looking for =
is a
best fit compromise, so which tables would best suit my purpose? In
particular I am looking for opinion of tables others than those I've =
listed
below... i.e. tables that I have not yet seen or may be totally unaware =
of.

(I should also mention that I am looking for air tables.)


Here are a few of my own thoughts / observations:

- Both the DC and PC-based software have simulation capabilities but =
these
are restrictive in terms of quickly assessing permutations (as with the =
DC)
or accessibility (as with the PC-based software).

- The Suunto manual mentions that the algorithm they use are derived from=
 US
Navy tables with modifications based on research by Dr Merrill Spencer...
but the standard US Navy tables are not conservative enough for my liking
(and don't correspond very well with the actual characteristics of the =
DC).

To look at other tables I am using as a benchmark the max no-stop dive =
time
in various tables to a depth of 30m, and then comparing divetimes at =
other
depths to try and get a close fit.

- The Suunto DC at setting A0 (least conservative) gives 18mins @ 30m
- Buhlmann '89 gives 17mins @ 30m (=3D1min mandatory stop: as per all =
dives)
- BS-AC '88 gives 20mins @ 30m
- US Navy 1973 gives 25mins @ 30m

=46rom advice I have taken it seems that 20 minutes is a sensible =
cut-off,
anything longer than that is "too long".

Any advice or opinion would be very welcome, as would be any pointers to =
web
sites with table(s) that I might use.

Many thanks,






Steve...
--
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