Contents Gauge or Depth AND Contents Gauge?

[Kazlikesshoes]

I have bought a set of Mares regs from a friend, but need to buy a gauge to go on them.

Do I just stick to a contents gauge or a depth and contents gauge?

I also have bought a second hand computer, so this would tell me my depth. So do I actually need a depth gauge??:confused:

[tony J]

I have bought a set of Mares regs from a friend, but need to buy a gauge to go on them.

Do I just stick to a contents gauge or a depth and contents gauge?

I also have bought a second hand computer, so this would tell me my depth. So do I actually need a depth gauge??:confused:
No right answer, personal preference.

I normally dive with a pressure guage on my regs and a computer on my wrist. I don't dive with a watch or a depth guage. I think this is because when I started I did not have a depth guage or computer all the time, we shared them one bewteen two (and now SUUNTO computers can tell you the time)

Others will have 2 ways of recording time and depth in case one fails (I would use my buddy's).

I prefer not to have depth measuring on my regs, but on my wrist - but that is because my first depth gauge I put on my reg and I found it hard to do rescues .

Tony

[Paul Duckworth]

No right answer, personal preference.

Full agree there :)


... I prefer not to have depth measuring on my regs, but on my wrist - but that is because my first depth gauge I put on my reg and I found it hard to do rescues .

Tony

Same here.

I have a D-Timer as back up which I wear next to my computer. I prefer this to having a depth guage anywhere else as, if the computer dies (they have been known to :rolleyes:) then I don't need to do anything different to check depth.

[Moya]

I dive with a depth guage on my regs (with contents guage) and then have a computer on my wrist - this is so i can be dependent if anything happens and if my computer fails - i prefer to have both just incase - but this is a personal preference

[Roz]

Personal preferance. Fully agree there :)

Same here.

And I concur.

However, I prefer to have a depth and pressure gauge, because there will be that one dive where your computer goes pearshaped and stops working underwater, or you jump in without it. And yes both have happened to me.

I tend to run the dive watching my computer, but when I check my air, I will glance at the depth to see that it is reading what it should (ie matches my computer). On ascents I will watch my computer.

There are some really beautiful dinky double combo gauges out there now. I know that Poseidon does a particularly gorgeous one.

[Nigel Hewitt]

I had a depth gauge on one of the SPGs of my twinset (two? yes I'm a heretic) and never used it to the point that when I did finally look at it, when I was putting the regs in for a service, it was still reading 40meters. (oops)

I haven't bothered since. The computers do depth and time for me.

[Tony Dwyer]

And I concur.

However, I prefer to have a depth and pressure gauge, because there will be that one dive where your computer goes pearshaped and stops working underwater, or you jump in without it. And yes both have happened to me.

I tend to run the dive watching my computer, but when I check my air, I will glance at the depth to see that it is reading what it should (ie matches my computer). On ascents I will watch my computer.


Me too!

I once had a computer quit while on a relatively shallow dive in the Red Sea. I continued the dive refering to my 'get out of jail' slate, on which I had 'planned' my dive.
Started a new dive squence the following day using a spare computer.:)

[Alex Liddon]

I have a contents gage and dive using an Aladin Dive Timer & Aladin tec computer.

[MattS]

I have bought a set of Mares regs from a friend, but need to buy a gauge to go on them.

Do I just stick to a contents gauge or a depth and contents gauge?

I also have bought a second hand computer, so this would tell me my depth. So do I actually need a depth gauge??:confused:Personally I consider I learnt my lesson from my first contents + depth console. I still use the contents guage but the depth guage bit the dust 9 years ago. For a while I had the hole left in the console gathering silt but eventually found a big enough hack saw to chop the console in half [1].

So personally I would buy separates so you don't end up left with one or the other and a big hole. Electronic depth guages (computers, d-timers) are in my experience vastly more robust than analogue ones.

[1] And when the swivel went I hacked off the rest of the console leaving just the guage. These days I hack the boots off before I fit the guages.

[Fiona]

Single SPG for me, I stopped using a console type years ago.

I wear a computer and sometimes carry a spare timer, as for jumping in without your computer a buddy check will ensure that shouldn't happen :)

My buddies computer once failed on a dive in the redsea, I handed off my spare and we were diving as a buddy pair anyway.

[bakerstreet]

Depth and air contents gauge for me. An extra 2in sq isn't going to make a massive difference. I admit I haven't paid any attension to the depth gauge iun years, but there is no way I am ditching it.

I'd get an Aqualung double set. The gauges are nice and clear

[Paul Oliver]

Personally i have 2 methods of measuring depth in a 'puter and bottom timer, so no need for a depth gauge on my rig.

When i only had the computer i had a depth gauge just incase it went wrong.

Nothing is infallible so redundancy is good :)

Then again i carry 2 or 3 of most things i.e. Cutter, torch, DSMB, reel, goody bag, lifting bag as i often dive solo :o

[northern_diver]

preperation and planning prevents p**s poor performance, as my dad taught me. is it not good practice to have a reserve like bakerstreet and paul oliver says just incase it one fails or a buddy check fails to pick up on it.

even though i'm still doing 'noddy':rolleyes: dives i have a depth/contents guage and a computer...just like the reserve really and to check each other.

whatever the user feels is an acceptable layout and safety level is the only real acid test.

john

[Matt-75]

Like everyone else has said, very much a personal thing.

I have an SPG on my main reg set, a computer to do everything else. I also have a buddy to enable me to reach the surface safely should everything die. If the buddy disappears i have a dsmb with 6m and 9m marked on the reel cord. Two dashes = 9, 1 dash = 6.

Since i initially plan my dives on 88's for emergencies, i would assume that profile and count on the stops.

[TerryH]

Always 2.
Have a SPG and D-timer on a console and a computer on my wrist.

TBH it's pretty rare for a computer to go pants up, but it can happen.
More likely is that you've actually lost it/straps broke etc. even with a
lanyard.

Thats why I prefer a d-timer that's attached to my kit by that HP hose.

Having a computer and a d-timer in the same place on my wrist has always
seemed to me, not exactly a good idea in terms of a backup.

But hey, that's me :)

[Twinsetmad]

I'm with most of the other guys.... When I first started I had a triple console with Contents, depth gauge and a compass in... but very soon realised I didn't need it all....

Lets face it.... who actually remembered to reset the needle on the depth gauge before every dive... I know I didn't ...Mine is sitting in my spares box. I now have a simple Suunto pressure gauge with the compass on the back...

If I were to start again, I think I would go for a double console... SPG and a Dive Timer.....Uwatec do a really nice set. Then that with a computer on my wrist I'd have full redundency and I'd never forget it as it would be with my reg set...:)

[Richard Whitcombe]

I started with a big bulky suunto triple console.

Eventually decided it was too heavy, the compass was far nicer on the wrist and a depth gauge also.

Result i now have a single SPG connected to my tank, a wrist mounted compass, a dive computer and backup dive timer.