Posted by Kendall Raine on December 26, 2000 at 10:19:59:
In Reply to: DIR question posted by Max Bottomtime on December 22, 2000 at 14:58:16:
Max;
Streamlining is an important part of the issue, but not the whole issue. A typical console houses an SPG, Depth Gauge and Bottom Timer ("DG&T") and a compass. Most consoles put the SPG and DG&T on one side and the compass on the other. Rigged to your hip, the DG&T is tough to read and the compass is unusable. The console therefore requires you to unclip it, read it, and reclip it. That in turn requires the use of one hand. Regardless of how it's stowed, the console is bulky. The fact that everything is in one place offers no advantage. It's dive industry BS. The fact is you need to check depth and time more frequently than pressure. You generally check both those more often than course.
With the DG&T on the wrist, you can read it without giving up use of the hand. You can therefore check it while using a video, riding a scooter, running a line or carrying something. With the compass on the wrist, you can check course easily without having to unclip and contort the console. The only thing on your hip is the SPG. This can be read upsidedown without unclipping it. Since it's luminous, you don't need to redirect the light, either.