Dive Computers - Pros and Cons

[jmohns]

I am not sure that I have enough experience to add my two cents in here...... well I know I don't!! But I feel the need to try. I do not own a computer, and have been diving for a sparse two years. I am not AOW certified. My dive buddy and myself have lived by the following rules....
1. Learn your dive tables.... before you buy a computer
2. actually be able to use the tables for more than padding in your dive book.
3. Always use your dive buddies help when planning a dive, He/she might see a mistake that you missed.
4. If you buy a computer, always verify it with the charts.
5. the charts are, sorry for the pun, "IDIOT PROOF" with a lot of safety built in for that reason, the computer will give you more time, but beware of what you are doing and understand what it is telling you.
6. and this is a no brainer... dive within your experience.
One final thought and then I will get off of my soap box. I am not by any means a seasoned diver with less then 50 dives under my belt I have been using the charts with much success and would like to get a computer to enhance my dive experience but I have been yielding on the side of safety for a few years now and have never been nor have I heard of someone getting bent using the dive charts and diving within there knowledge range. I understand that the tech diving realm adds significant complexity to the dive tables, but I think with a little work a person could be as safe as possible. I hope I don't upset too many people with this post as I don't have enough experience to give my two cents, but here it is.