With or without a dive computer, any diver can suffer from decompression sickness. And sometimes, the condition can be fatal. Following the dive tables, and using a good dive computer can minimize the risk. Divers can suffer decompression sickness, commonly known as the Bends, when they rise to the surface too quickly. The effects of this condition can be serious: everything from joint pain and paralysis to death.

The recent tragic death of a National Geographic diver highlights just how dangerous decompression sickness can be. The British diver, 37-year-old Carl Spencer, died while diving off the coast of Kea, a small island about 150 nautical miles southeast of Athens. Spencer never regained consciousness after being airlifted by helicopter to Athens Naval Hospital. He was eventually pronounced dead at the medical facility. This tragic example provides important lessons to less-experienced divers. Spencer was a diving veteran. At the time of his death, he was leading a 17-member National Geographic team on an expedition to film the undersea wreck of the Britannic, the sister ship of the more famous Titanic.

According to news reports, Spencer was deep under the surface when he began convulsing while filming the bow of the Britannic. Spencer then reportedly began to ascend to the surface too rapidly. He supposedly missed several decompression stops on the way. This rapid ascent, according to the reports, is what most likely killed Spencer. Before diving, all scuba divers should be aware of how decompression sickness is caused, and monitor their ascent with a dive computer.

The sickness affects divers who breathe in gas that is at a higher pressure than surface pressure. Because the pressure of surrounding water increases as divers descend, the risk of decompression sickness increased when dives dive for long periods of time or to deep levels without slowly ascending and making decompression stops. The decompression stops are important. They help eliminate inert gases- a scuba diving computer can dynamically figure these out, as well as alert you if you miss a stop.

Deaths by decompression sickness are relatively rare. In fact, most divers suffering from decompression sickness can be treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy in recompression chambers. Those divers treated early generally have a far greater chance of seeing good outcomes from this treatment. Divers can reduce the risk of decompression sickness by avoiding long and deep dives. They should also ascend to the surface slowly. Dives that have intervals that are less than 16 hours between them increase the risk of decompression sickness. Other risk factors have more to do with personal habits. These include a diver’s weight, alcohol use and age.

Decompression sickness can be a tragic event. However, with some training, research and common sense, divers can avoid this condition. Good planning with the dive tables, as well as a dive computer, may very well save your life.

The most basic dive computer measures depth, tank pressure, ambient water temperature, and time. The information is displayed to the diver using a waterproof and pressure resistant liquid crystal display or LCD. The functions of the computer are controlled by specially designed microprocessor and customized diving algorithms.
The primary function of a dive computer is to automatically calculate your diving profile to prevent decompression sickness. As any diver who has passed the basic PADI certification knows, you can do this planning yourself using a pen and paper with the diving tables. As a matter of fact you should continue to use the manual methods to plan your dives as a backup even if you dive with a computer.

The advantage of the dive computer is that it takes your real-time depth into account and allows you to plan a dive with either no or minimal decompression stops. The dive computer also allows you more bottom time since the calculations are based upon the actual time you spend at depth.
Another advantage of a scuba diving computer is that they remember your previous dives, and take that bottom time in to account for future dives. By basing the calculations on actual data, you end up spending more time on the bottom during your vacation. Diving computers work by using a mathematical algorithm to estimate how much nitrogen has been absorbed in your body's tissues.

Diving computers can also give you the audible alarms when you ascend to quickly, miss a decompression stop, or are running low on air. Another nice function is the ability to record data, such as maximum depth and reached. Many of the more modern computers can upload your dive profiles directly to your own personal computer.
Finally, a good dive computer will run the timer countdown for how long you should wait until you fly or travel the higher elevations, at least 12 hours but most likely 24 or even 48 hours. While modern dive computers make diving easier and more pleasant, you should ensure you are familiar with all of the functions and displays of your computer before a dive. Also make sure that you have a backup manually prepared diving profile; it's often easier to plan your dives so no decompression stops are required, that way if you have a failure you can safely ascend without worrying about decompression stops.