Thoughts on my new Aeris AI

[DougNR]

I recently replaced a well used Atmos 2 with a shiny new AI computer.

When I got the Atmos 2 I have to admit I made an error regarding interpretation of what the "no decompression dive time remaining" really meant. Before you say "DUH!", hear me out...

As a diver getting up in years, I chose to adjust the segments for nitrogen loading to a more conservative level. My assumption (yeah I know) was that the ND time would adjust downward as well, meaning it would hit zero when my prefered level of saturation had been reached.

Well, It only took one dive to realize that was wrong and in fact all I got for setting the lower level is an alarm. Okay - no big deal I can deal with that and the Atmos2 gave a nice loud alarm.

Now on to the AI. The programming is pretty much the same, and I continue to reduce the nitrogen bar from full no DC limit. I now have the added feature of my computer telling me if my time is limited by nitrogen loading or gas consumption whichever is lower.

My first outing with this computer was yesterday with two dives just under 60 feet. The first was about 50 minutes and the second about 45 minutes with an appropriate interval in between. Here's what I noted:
1) The audible alarm on the AI is much quieter than the Atmos 2. When my alarm for hitting my nitrogen segment sounded on dive 2 I barely noticed it and could have easily missed it under other circumstances.
2) It bugs me that on dive two the AI clearly indicated I would be limited by my gas supply when in fact the limiting factor was my self imposed nitrogen loading bar setting. Yes it's all for the same reasons I'd become accustomed to with the previous computer, but now there is information that is questionable. My dive "might" be limited by my air consumption, but I don't really know until I hit my bar setting first or not so you have to question that time remaining value.

I think it would be a great change if Aeris / Oceanic allowed at least an option for the limit to be based on your nitrogen bar setting rather than the full NDL. This option would put the method used by the computer of displaying the shorter of nitrogen loading or gas time remaining back in synch with your real dive plan. For the sake of accuracy I realize the computer also tracks and displays O2 limitations using the same criteria, but is less likely to be an issue.

Do computers you may have from other manufacturers have similar issues? Since my computer is new I'm unlikely to buy something else strictly on this issue, but now that I've been considering it your thoughts would be appreciated.

Doug

[mitsuguy]

Do you really not pay attention to it that much?

I have the Oceanic Geo that has similar settings, however, I do not count on being able to hear the beeping - audible alarms, unless grossly overdone, can be not heard all too easily - excess noise in the water, someone elses alarm going off, etc - too much other stuff to count on... I keep an eye on mine, just by a simple glance, but then again, it's on my wrist, no harder to do than check the time on a wristwatch...

The same goes for when I had my Atmos 2...

Relying on the audible alert is not very smart, in my opinion, as again, it can go unnoticed... Instead, you need to keep a visual on it... That's the main reason I own wrist computers - much easier to keep tabs on...

[DougNR]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

Do you really not pay attention to it that much?

Relying on the audible alert is not very smart, in my opinion, as again, it can go unnoticed... Instead, you need to keep a visual on it... That's the main reason I own wrist computers - much easier to keep tabs on...

Thanks a ton Mitsuguy for assuming I don't keep any eye on my computer. I see nothing in my OP that would lead you to such an obsurd concluson. Perhaps you're looking for a reason to tout the benefits you get from your wrist computer...

My point was simply that the audible alarm on the AI is much softer than the Atmos 2. There are other more important reasons to hear a dive computer alarm above and beyond the specific issue I was discussing in my OP. I will not list those details here as I assume you are in fact "smart" enough, and again not on topic.

In the future you might consider not responding at all if you can't constrain your comments to the topic of the thread.

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by DougNR

Thanks a ton Mitsuguy for assuming I don't keep any eye on my computer. I see nothing in my OP that would lead you to such an obsurd concluson. Perhaps you're looking for a reason to tout the benefits you get from your wrist computer...

My point was simply that the audible alarm on the AI is much softer than the Atmos 2. There are other more important reasons to hear a dive computer alarm above and beyond the specific issue I was discussing in my OP. I will not list those details here as I assume you are in fact "smart" enough, and again not on topic.

In the future you might consider not responding at all if you can't constrain your comments to the topic of the thread.

I'm sorry you took it that way... But the way the original post was written suggests that you simply get in the water and wait for the beep signaling the dive is over...
"1) The audible alarm on the AI is much quieter than the Atmos 2. When my alarm for hitting my nitrogen segment sounded on dive 2 I barely noticed it and could have easily missed it under other circumstances." makes it sound that way... The idea behind the alarms in dive computers is that they should only go off when you are in violation, not to signal the end of the dive... The manufacturers, all I've seen at least, have it so the alarms are set when you reach a max po2 alarm, max depth, max dive time, minimum dive time remaining, ascent rate too fast - all things you don't want to happen - ideally, you should really shoot for the alarm to never go off, which is why I stated it didn't seem like you paid attention to the visual aspect of the computer, as that should prevent these alarms ever going off... When I dive, I know, within 2-3 minutes, my dive time remaining, at any depth below 30 feet, per the ndl that the computer gives me...

I do not know if the AI has it, but my Geo's have a conservative factor that can be applied instead of relying on the max number of bars on the nitrogen bar graph... this still leads to having 5 bars full, but the interval to get to the full 5 bars is actually shorter, as the computer pretends you are at a higher elevation, thus more conservative...

[Zenagirl]

I'm wondering if there have been so many complaints from divers about loud alarms that they were toned down. Personally, I turned the alarms off after the first dive when the danged thing went off a couple of times and was irritating me.

I think it's a good idea to have the ability to set your system to be more conservative by the user. It would be very helpful if you wanted to be out of the water with only green nitrogen bars loaded that you could see your DTR based on that setting if you choose.

[DougNR]

Originally Posted by mitsuguy

I'm sorry you took it that way... But the way the original post was written suggests that you simply get in the water and wait for the beep signaling the dive is over...
"1) The audible alarm on the AI is much quieter than the Atmos 2. When my alarm for hitting my nitrogen segment sounded on dive 2 I barely noticed it and could have easily missed it under other circumstances." makes it sound that way...

I don't see how I could have been taken your comments otherwise, but I'll hand it to you for your attemp at a recovery if nothing else...

"Other Circumstances" - a violation alarm perhaps?? The example of the nitrogen bar alarm was used simply because it was the only alarm to occur.

If posters need to write in such a way as to eliminate any potential for this kind of criticism they will become long and boring indeed.

I for one call this disagreement concluded.

[DougNR]

Originally Posted by Zenagirl

I'm wondering if there have been so many complaints from divers about loud alarms that they were toned down. Personally, I turned the alarms off after the first dive when the danged thing went off a couple of times and was irritating me.

I think it's a good idea to have the ability to set your system to be more conservative by the user. It would be very helpful if you wanted to be out of the water with only green nitrogen bars loaded that you could see your DTR based on that setting if you choose.

Zenagirl,

I guess what you suggest about alarm volume is possible. I can't say I recall being bothered by other diver alarms, but who knows what people can think of to complain about?!

You're right. I think many divers choose to set their computers in a more conservative mode for a number of reasons. For me, I happen to use a computer that is known for having a somewhat liberal algorithm. That and the fact I'm 54 tells me it is in my best interrest to surface before I hit the calculated NDL.

Thanks for your reply as it tells me you got the gist of my OP that others may not have.

Regards,

Doug