Posted by Kendall Raine on March 05, 2001 at 11:26:36:
In Reply to: Re: Fabulous Presentation:Some additional thoughts posted by AADIVER on March 05, 2001 at 10:53:37:
Hey, Frank. Welcome back. Sorry you couldn't make it Saturday.
You're right, tables are fixed unless you have a software program and can cut your own schedules. Many of the ones available today have lots of ways to modify the parameters. Whether you're using a dive meter or desk top software to compute NDL's, the old rule of garbage in garbage out still applies. Blind reliance on any model is just that-blind. The real point is not computers v. tables. The real point is knowing enough about deco theory to make informed decisions about ascent rates, stops, SIT times, gas mixes, hydration, thermal issues, etc.
As for economic Darwinism in the dive industry, you can't conclude that only a few companies would survive. You certainly can't conclude which ones. Dive Rite for example makes good stuff which is DIR and poorly designed stuff which isn't. There is no DIR regulator, per se. Some designs are better than others for different applications. As was also pointed out in the presentation, some designs work great on the bench but have such design flaws as to exclude them from DIR. If, on the other hand, as a result of widespread acceptance of DIR certain designs were recognized as poor or sub optimal, and certain manufacturers were recognized as having really good quality stuff, I would be in favor of that. Wouldn't you?