What computer would you recommend for Tek Diving?

[chachee99]

I recently finished my Tek 1 course and looking for a new dive computer. I thought my old computer would work, but it locks for 2 days if deco is reached. So basically i was forced to switch my computer for a bottom timer. Now I am looking for a new tek computer. I plan to continue with tek diving and complete my trimix certifcation in the future. I want to purchase a computer i won't have to replace for many years.
Any suggestions?

 

[Captain CaveMan]

Most of us tech divers do not use computers to calculate deco but use bottom timers. We just plain our dive with tables and dive our plain. I would never use a computer on the fly. I'm 100% DIR so my answer will not be the one your looking for.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

OMS or UWATEC bottom timer and tables. Until you actually get into full trimix you won't really know what your requirements are. You'll still have to cut tables as backup anyway. So this will be great practice. If you insist on a computer though it will need multigas, switchable on the fly, whatever deco software your tables are based on, and easily used. So VR3, Liquivision, Nitek X, or perhaps a Cochran or Shearwater. In any case you will spend at least $1000 USD and likely alot more.

 

[BabyDuck]

i got a used vr3, but if i suddenly became really rich, i'd get a liquivision.

 

[SDAnderson]

I recently finished my Tek 1 course and looking for a new dive computer. I thought my old computer would work, but it locks for 2 days if deco is reached. So basically i was forced to switch my computer for a bottom timer. Now I am looking for a new tek computer. I plan to continue with tek diving and complete my trimix certifcation in the future. I want to purchase a computer i won't have to replace for many years.
Any suggestions?

You're looking for an OC trimix computer and they (a) are few in number, (b) cost a ton of money, (c) may cause as many problems as they solve, and, (d) aren't really the answer. CCR is a different world but by the time you can be ready for that everything will have changed.

Better to invest in a PDA that you can load one of the programs (GAP, VPlanner, DecoWeenie) that will allow you to plan your dives and cut custom decompression tables. Take your tables and a bottom timer in the water with you and leave the computer topside.

That said, here's what I do: I plan my dives using GAP and/or VPlanner on a PC or my PDA and print out tables specific for each dive that I carry with me in the water. I use a Vytec as a computer for recreational multi-day/dive days and put it in gauge-only mode as a back-up bottom timer for the decompression stuff because I like it's log functions. On decompression dives, I bring along a ScubaPro Tec2 as my primary bottom timer because it's easy to operate the countdown timer with heavy drygloves on - it's a better (though more expensive) bottom timer than my bottom timers.

 

[ianr33]

(c) may cause as many problems as they solve,

Could you expand on that? I am trying to justify a Shearwater. What problems could it cause?

 

[Jorgy]

Can I ask you to explain your comment........

"but it locks for 2 days if deco is reached"

Thanks......

I have gone deco 4 times on my Suunto, once by accident with me even realizing, I only saw the deco when I downloaded the profile, the other times I knew I was in deco. I just made sure the computer cleared the deco obligation before I surfaced.......no issues.....

M

 

[dab]

Liquivision X-1

 

[wedivebc]

Most of us tech divers do not use computers to calculate deco but use bottom timers. We just plain our dive with tables and dive our plain. I would never use a computer on the fly. I'm 100% DIR so my answer will not be the one your looking for.

Do you actually believe that most tech divers are DIR? Only on the internet. I think most tech divers actualy do use dive computers once they start seeing the benefits.

 

[Captain CaveMan]

Do you actually believe that most tech divers are DIR? Only on the internet. I think most tech divers actualy do use dive computers once they start seeing the benefits.

Some of tech divers do like (CCR and Cave divers) like to use computers but in ocean and lake diving our profiles are so square there's no need for a $$ computer. If you base your dives on the fly with a computer and the computer fails THEN WHAT? SOL is what.
Written tables and backup tables are the way to go. This the best to go. Look at Wkpp exe.

Plan your dive, dive your plan. If the dive hit the fan get you backup tables out and come home alive and safe.