This information talks about everything about Scott LaPlant â€" a Network Engineer.  His many personal and professional activities set him apart from his peers. Raised in Escanaba, Michigan, He attended college in Wisconsin before relocating to Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

His days as network engineer, He also has served as Dutchland, Inc.'s IT Manager since 2006. A gifted analytical thinker, He tried to reduce the company's telephone communications costs threefold over the last three years while simultaneously increasing efficiency. Reporting directly to Dutchland, Inc.'s president, He also taken on significant additional responsibilities, including the re-architecturing of the company's various technology networks. He also received recognition as Dutchland, Inc.'s Employee of the Month on two separate occasions.

In addition to his work as at Dutchland, Inc., He has developed new software applications. He is also particularly adept in Linux and participates in CPLUG, the Central Pennsylvania Linux User Group. He also devotes his time to systems security, another of his technological interests.

A member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Scott LaPlant is dedicated to sound business practices. He also strives to help his community by supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters, Milagro House, and Special Olympics basketball.

He resides now in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. When he is not dedicating his time to Dutchland, Inc. software development or his work with community groups, He maintains a blog at scottlaplant.com, where visitors can stay abreast of his personal and professional projects. In his leisure time, He likes to fish, scuba dive, bike, and cross country ski. He loves music and the work of John Grisham and Robert Fulghum.

Scuba Diving Computers Required

Author: J Allen

More and more dive operators are making them mandatory. Some even include a wrist dive computer as part of the gear provided to their customers. This is especially true for live-aboard dive boat operations.

Of course that only makes sense for these "dive your brains out" deals. You're doing a ton of diving, spending serious time underwater, and a computer not only makes it easier, but helps avoid compromising safety.

And don't misunderstand, live-aboards are great. It doesn't get much better than five or so dives a day, and merely rolling out of bed to get to the site. Put that together with great food, pristine reefs off the beaten path, & falling asleep under the stars, and it's a super vacation recipe.

Aside from their obvious usefulness in the live-aboard world, dive computers make sense for most all diving situations. In fact, anyone serious about the sport shouldn't make another dive without one. From maximizing bottom time to calculating complex dive plans without compromising safety, these wrist computers are invaluable.

Even the dive operators who don't make them mandatory, will separate the computer divers from the non-computer divers, requiring those without personal dive computers to follow a much more conservative profile, which most often results in a shorter dive.

Now there's nothing wrong with being conservative, but not to the extent of cutting a dive needlessly short. And that's the whole point behind using a computer. It allows more time at depth and/or underwater while still helping you stay within safe limits.

There may be a handful of very experienced scuba divers who are so skilled with the dive tables, they can recalculate complex dive plans on the fly during their dive with some proficiency. But even they can't beat a computer in terms of speed and accuracy. And most, if not all those guys, still use a computer simply because they prefer to get the most from their diving.

Whether you need the full functionality of variable gas mixtures, extensive dive logging, complicated multi-level dive profiles, deep or decompression dives, etc., or just want to stay safe while allowing for slight changes to your dive plan, a good dive computer is an excellent investment.

They really should be considered required equipment. Prices have come down so far that cost just isn't an excuse anymore, especially when thinking about safety. Get the most out of your diving by making a wrist computer an integral part of your dive gear.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/scuba-diving-computers-required-126482.html

About the Author
Learn more about getting a wrist dive computer, along with other articles by John Allen on scuba gear and diving, at his website which sells dive computers and watches at www.mydivewatch.com

Dive Computer Algorithms

Author: Simon Hemmings

What are Dive Computer Algorithms?
The dive computer is used to calculate your maximum dive time which allows for a longer and safer dive. The dive computer as took over from the dive table as the diving tool to calculate all your necessary parameters to enjoy scuba diving.

Dive computers use algorithms to calculate these safe diving limits. They will make adjustments for both fast tissue groups and slow tissue groups. It uses this information to estimate the nitrogen in your body. Based on the amount of time you've been submerged and your depth, from this the computer then calculates how much longer you can safely remain underwater.

Different Type of Algorithms
Algorithms vary by model from each manufacturer and only a few algorithms are actually used. Some algorithm used may also be a modification of an existing algorithm. When you want to consider buying your next dive computer, the main feature to look at is the algorithm that the air decompression limit monitor uses.

Algorithms with different manufactures use some varying factors in their algorithms such as mentioned with fast and slow tissue groups. The solubility, permeability, and blood contact for a given tissue, say for example a kidney, is called a "tissue compartment or tissue group." Dive computers use these "tissue compartments" to simulate the effect of a gas on your body at depth. The more "tissue compartments" a computer measures, the more accurate (theoretically) the computer can gauge the effect of a dive on your body. 9 to 12 compartments is fairly standard, but a few consumer models have 16 or more.

Here are four of the main algorithms used for dive computers:

Group 1: Haldane/Spencer Algorithm
The Haldane/Spencer model uses test results from PADI's Diving Science and Technology and was developed by Rogers and Powell. Within their algorithm they use 12 separate tissue compartments. Oceanic and Sherwood use this algorithm model for their dive computers.

Group 2: Modified Haldanian Algorithm
This algorithm model was used by Mares and is based on nine tissue compartments. Now the latest Mares dive computers use the Reduced Gradient Bubble Model.

Group 3: Suunto Reduced Gradient Bubble Algorithm
This model is based in part on work by Wienke and Hamilton and uses nine tissue compartments. Suunto were the first to use the RGDM and now other manufactures are starting to use it too. The big difference of this algorithm is they consider micro bubbles that are in the blood stream as a result of nitrogen build up. The theory was they consider that these micro bubbles are a precondition of larger bubbles which can lead to DCS.

Group 4: Uwatec Buehlmann ZH-L8 ADT Algorithm and the ZH-L8 ADT MB.
This algorithm model uses eight tissue compartments and has been recently updated with two additional letters, the Buhlmann adaptive model has been expanded to be called the ZH-L8 ADT MB which stands for micro bubble. This algorithm is used by Uwatec and Scubapro.

Short fall of Algorithms
Algorithms may not be able to account for age, previous injury, ambient temperature, body type, alcohol consumption/dehydration, and patent foramen ovale(hole in the heart).

Which Algorithm is the best?
Removing of factors like cost, looks, other features etc then the more "tissue compartments" a computer measures, the more accurate (theoretically) the computer can gauge the effect of a dive on your body. 9 to 12 compartments are fairly standard nowadays, but a few dive computers are now using 16 compartments.

Even if two algorithms have the same results, manufactures will add there own factor of safety so they can set there dive computers to aggressive or conservative. An aggressive computer gives more bottom time than a conservative dive computer, and it's wise to understand the properties of one's own dive computer to ensure it fits the skill and comfort level expected.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/scuba-diving-articles/dive-computer-algorithms-976975.html

About the Author

Simon James has been diving for 15 years and is an authority in the field so take a look at this website called M2 Nocturnal Lights and SLX 300 Nocturnal led dive lights