– Essentials of the GUE equipment configuration
COMPUTERS & TIMERS
TEXT DIMITRIOS FIFIS PHOTOS JULIAN MŰHLENHAUS, DERK REMMERS & KIRILL EGOROV
GUE has long been skeptical of dive computers. In most cases, these reservations have been justly deserved— computers have historically produced ill-conceived and sometimes potentially dangerous profiles. Inconsistent reliability was also a common problem for many years. More recently, the technical capacity and reliability of dive computers have greatly improved, and today’s decompression computers can very closely approximate current GUE diving protocols.
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istorically, GUE divers were reluctant to embrace dive computers; the devices were imperfectly designed, and divers’ blind trust in them (despite their inconsistency and undesirable decompression algorithms) was unsettling. Modern-day computers, however, have become more reliable and, to a reasonable extent, have incorporated improved decompression algorithms. The devices still aren’t perfect, and their overall increased reliability has potentially made the impacts of the remaining malfunctions even more severe. After just a few positive experiences using them, divers could become more reliant upon their computers and grow complacent. Because of this, GUE allows divers to use computers as a backup but adamantly discour62
Quest · February 2023
ages using these devices without first understanding how to dive without them. GUE courses continue to teach important decompression techniques that give divers a full grasp of the concepts, which lets divers remain entirely independent of any decompression computer. Many divers choose to run their computer in gauge mode (displaying just time and depth) to use it as a bottom timer. Instruments with clearly readable screens are the norm.
Bottom timers
If all you need is an accurate indication of depth and time, a bottom timer can do the trick. With accurate depth and run time information, divers can calculate the proper decompression obligation if required. Digital gauges with large displays are preferable, and interfaces should be easily readable in low light conditions. An easily