As a former dive shop manager and owner, I have accumulated a dive computer collection over time ranging from the Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC 2N, VR3, Suunto D6, Suunto Vyper, Mares icon, Aladin Sport, Aladin Air X NitrOx and the Aladin Pro.

Of those, the HW OSTC 2N, Mares icon and Suunto Vyper have failed – the Heinrichs Weikamp screen was faulty straight out of the box actually. Still going strong is the Aladin Pro, my computer of choice for deep air decompression diving. The screen is large, the numbers are easy to read at depth where nitrogen narcosis is an issue and the display is uncluttered. With the exception of the VR3, the Aladin Pro is my computer of choice for air dives.

As I always conduct deep air decompression dives on a square profile, backing up the ZHL-8 Buelmann algorithm with IANTD Buelmann derived tables on my slate is simple. As I also use my VR3 as my secondary device during these dives, the profiles match. The VR3 as the secondary device you ask? For me, failing eyesight makes reading other dive computers a real struggle; I should be getting some laser assisted vision pretty soon.

It has been argued the variable ascent rate model is outdated, if you time your ascent rate from depth to 9 metres per minute then you will have no problems, a skill a decompression diver should be able to perform comfortably. A deep stop, although not scientific shows anecdotal evidence of less fatigue post dive slows your ascent rate at depth, a gas switch to EAN36 @ 30 metres also enhances decompression safety when the initial stops are taken on bottom mix.

The final 10 metres in a decompression dive is spent at each individual ceiling depth anyway, the diver moves very slowly from depth to depth off-gassing slow tissues. The focus then is to limit the bubble seed nuceli ascending from depth using correct ascent techniques of an advanced diver. The fast tissue compartments, 2.5 and 5 minutes are resent within 30 minutes as the EE washout reset these tissue compartments very rapidly, the slower tissue compartments reset slowly and are thus the controlling factor for repetitive dives.