What are the advantages of using a dive computer?
Dive computers do not use tables. They use highly complex math models of human tissue compartments (usually between 16 and 32 separate loading compartments). They inform the diver of this information either in a graphic format or in time available format (often in both). If the computer is a Non-Nitrox/Nonintegrated unit then all it can record is depth, temperature, and body-nitrogen exposure time (starting pressure group/ ending pressure group information). Nitrox Capable/Nonintegrated computers report oxygen toxicity information as well. (Yes, any amount of oxygen over 20.9% inhaled underwater can be very toxic.) If the unit is Air Integrated then it also records starting pressure, ending pressure and usage data on a given time interval (2 to 6 seconds is a normal sampling unit). Air Integration information along with Nitrox information, for the most part, is all the data an Open Circuit Diver could ever want from a dive computer. Semi-closed Circuit Rebreather (SCR) and Closed Circu
