You're not in the wrong place and we're a lot more likely to offend you than
you are to offend us.  We tend to be rough bunch, s you'll soon realize.
Stick around long enough to learn how you fit in and you're likely to find
an awful lot of very good information here.

If you understand your dive computer and  get the information you need in
order to be safe from it, you're in good shape.  Comfort with using it will
come with time.

Let's first dispense with the word "need," replacing it with "should."
There's very little a recreational diver needs to do, but a lot of things
they should do for various reasons.  Everything following is my opinion.
Take what you like, reject what you don't.

I think it's a good idea to continue your dive planning, at least until you
get more comfortable with your new computer.  By the time you're more
comfortable with it, you'll have a better idea how much planning is
appropriate for each dive.  Most of us at least plan our maximum depth time.
Often as not, the depth is determined by where the bottom is and the time is
determined by what the boat operator will allow.  The more complex the dive,
the more we're likely to plan.  The deeper the dive is, the more likely
things like gas supply are to be important, particularly on dives where some
decompression obligation is likely.  Some computers provide information on
air consumption, but none that I know of do a particularly good job of it.
A wise diver thinks about such issues before the dive starts.  Planning is a
good thing, but how much planning you do is very much a matter of personal
preference and risk assessment.

Filling out a log book is a different issue.  The short answer is that there
is no requirement for filling out a log book and certainly no requirement
that you do it while you're still on the boat.  A log book can be handy for
a couple of things.  First, and foremost in my opinion, a log book is a
history of your diving.  Years from now, it's been more than 40 for me,
you're likely to appreciate the kinds of things you'll chose to record now.
Good dives, bad dives, equipment issues and everything else is part of your
history as a diver.  If you don't record it, you'll lose it.  Personally, I
wish I had kept a log book for all my dives.  I try to now.

Depending on your certification agency, there may be other reasons to keep a
lot book.  Some agencies require certain levels of experience before issuing
some certifications.  While the number of dives you've logged is not a great
indication of your experience, it's all the agencies normally have to go on.
If your agency requires something like that for a course you think you might
eventually take, it's a good idea to provide for it now rather than try to
recreate it later

You used the right word, "tool."  A computer is a tool.  Except for those
who never progress beyond the simplest of dives, a computer does not relieve
you of the need to understand what you're doing.  You should not depend on
your computer to warn you when it's time for you to begin your ascent or to
warn you if you're ascending too fast.  It's nice that it does, but both of
those are something you should be sufficiently aware of that you don't need
the warning.  Further, keep in mind that your computer's ascent alarm means
you are ascending too fast.  If you hear that alarm, you've already made a
mistake.

You're welcome.

Lee

PS:  We sure do prefer at least a first name for people here.  We're a
friendly, if a bit rough, bunch and it's always nice to be able to put a
name with an e-mail handle.

First, welcome to the group. Someone will be along shortly to ask about
your attire ;-).

If you want to dive within the guidelines of traditional training,
using the computer for dives within the NDL is fine. It will keep you
at least as safe as the equations are. The problem is what if you do 1
or more dives and want to do another but something has happened to the
computer (malfunction, fell overboard, stolen, etc). If you at least
write down the times and depths of each dive, you will be able to go
back and figure out your pressure group so you can continue diving.

You will also find that because it samples your depth constantly and
calculates LOADING based on actual depths, the computer will "let" you
stay longer than the tables will and the dive you just did may be a
"deco" dive by the tables considering only your maximum depth.

Amazing.   A nice person asking about diving!  I glanced through Lee's
response and can't add anything.  His comments were good as usual.  

Have you ever dove at Monastery Beach?

Ron Lee

If you want to keep the information permanently you will need to fill out
your dive log or download the information from the computer and complete the
dive log.  Either way you are adding information to the record so the answer
is yes.  The procedure necessary to capture critical information is more
time consuming without downloading from the computer.  When you are writing
take frequent breaks and look out to the horizon.

 Oh, no offense at all...

 Welcome to Rec.scuba.

 What color panties do you have on?

 Does she dive?

 Twins, by any chance?

 Just curious...

 Seriously, you can do that stuff later, post- dive (very).

 You might think of the problem from another angle, treating yourself for
the potential seasickness a little better.

 The dive logging is pretty important (for future reference) until you can
make snap decisions about weight and thermal protection from experience in
all different environments.

 I usually suggest logging the first 150 or so, for reference to advanced
training (Divemaster, Instructor, ect).

 You may not have that intention now, but who knows.

 Myself, I just download my dives, and have for years.

 I assume you have the download gear for your computer?

 It will only store a finite number of dives.

Don't forget that yer computer logs only x number of dives, then
starts to erase the oldest.

Many old time divers do keep a log, we just don't fill it out on
the boat, and most of us have our own set of data that we keep,
not the stuff that's in the pre-printed log forms.

Not likely.  :-)

What Lee said - great suggestions!

*
i'm much more than a princess but you don't have a name for it yet here
on earth.

Welcome aboard.  Suggest U read your manual again, talk 2 folks who have
that computer and get real comfy with it--very important tool that you need
to get comfy with.  If you can't get the hang of it, sell it and buy
another.
No need filling out your logbook on the boat--do it back at the room/home.
Download capabilities for your computer are the heat and are a great place
to stash your comments.  Just make sure you print them out, as dive software
isn't the most reliable stuff around.
Oh, just dive, baby.