Sas
Contributor
When I started diving I bought a second hand Uwatec Smartcom computer - its relevent features include: air integrated, console, have to send away for battery change, nitrox 21-100%, can download profiles to computer and gauge mode.
However I recently bought a backup computer - Uwatec Aladin as it was going really cheap and seemed to do all that I wanted in a basic backup computer. Wrist computer, user changeable batteries, can download profiles to a computer, nitrox to 40%, no gauge mode.
Two days later I went away on holidays and somehow the Smartcom had drained itself of batteries since I had dived last (was on 36%) before my first dive so I was left with my backup computer only and an SPG kindly loaned to me for free by the dive shop I was diving with. I MUCH prefered this set up - wrist computer and SPG so I am considering switching over to it permanently. Also I found I did not miss air integration and the basic Uwatec model served me fine for the diving I do currently (all recreational stuff). I do most of my dive planning via tables before my dive and then follow my computer underwater. I have a backup SPG (OMS spg - the 'Bar' one ) already that I am using with the Aladin whilst my Smartcom is fixed.
So as I have discovered I really do not like diving with a console computer, I was wondering what to do about my Smartcom. I am considering the following options:
1. Keep the Smartcom as a backup SPG + computer and use it with my wrist computer like I was planning to. The benefits of this are that I know the computer, and it doubles as an SPG and also a computer all in one. However the downsides are I don't really like a console for a computer at all, it has decent resale value locally (400-450USD or 600-700USD) from what I have seen (and I will be selling it straight after a battery replacement + service, which should count for something) and also it won't be appropriate for future training (which over the next few years will include BSAC Dive Leader, Cavern, possibly Fundies) I am told.
2. Sell the Smartcom and replace it with a backup SPG + backup computer using the money I make from the sale . The spare SPG I would have in my 'save a dive kit' in case the other one breaks, and it would be a fairly cheap one I imagine because of this. But as far as a backup computer goes, well I am not sure what to get. I would like another wrist computer, a fairly simple one that does gauge mode and has user-replaceable batteries. Would one with a gas-switching option be a good idea? I was recommended to get a bottom timer by a few friends and my instructor too, so that is an option instead of a second computer as well. The pros of option 2 are that I would have a computer that has gauge mode or a bottom timer (in some of the courses I want to do I will need a computer in gauge mode or a bottom timer), it will be a wrist one which I prefer, I'll have backups for an SPG and also a computer, and I won't have to send away my computer each time I want new batteries (they expired after only a year and I am not the original owner so it has been, umm, difficult to find a place that will replace the batteries for free). The downsides are I need to bother with doing tonnes of research about what to replace my Smartcom with, I have to find a buyer and it might not just be easier to keep the Smartcom as a backup as it works as an SPG and also a computer, and has gauge mode if I need.
So, anyway, interested to hear people's preferences for backup computers and their reasoning behind it And what people think of either option as I am sure there is stuff I might not have thought of yet.
Cheers
However I recently bought a backup computer - Uwatec Aladin as it was going really cheap and seemed to do all that I wanted in a basic backup computer. Wrist computer, user changeable batteries, can download profiles to a computer, nitrox to 40%, no gauge mode.
Two days later I went away on holidays and somehow the Smartcom had drained itself of batteries since I had dived last (was on 36%) before my first dive so I was left with my backup computer only and an SPG kindly loaned to me for free by the dive shop I was diving with. I MUCH prefered this set up - wrist computer and SPG so I am considering switching over to it permanently. Also I found I did not miss air integration and the basic Uwatec model served me fine for the diving I do currently (all recreational stuff). I do most of my dive planning via tables before my dive and then follow my computer underwater. I have a backup SPG (OMS spg - the 'Bar' one ) already that I am using with the Aladin whilst my Smartcom is fixed.
So as I have discovered I really do not like diving with a console computer, I was wondering what to do about my Smartcom. I am considering the following options:
1. Keep the Smartcom as a backup SPG + computer and use it with my wrist computer like I was planning to. The benefits of this are that I know the computer, and it doubles as an SPG and also a computer all in one. However the downsides are I don't really like a console for a computer at all, it has decent resale value locally (400-450USD or 600-700USD) from what I have seen (and I will be selling it straight after a battery replacement + service, which should count for something) and also it won't be appropriate for future training (which over the next few years will include BSAC Dive Leader, Cavern, possibly Fundies) I am told.
2. Sell the Smartcom and replace it with a backup SPG + backup computer using the money I make from the sale . The spare SPG I would have in my 'save a dive kit' in case the other one breaks, and it would be a fairly cheap one I imagine because of this. But as far as a backup computer goes, well I am not sure what to get. I would like another wrist computer, a fairly simple one that does gauge mode and has user-replaceable batteries. Would one with a gas-switching option be a good idea? I was recommended to get a bottom timer by a few friends and my instructor too, so that is an option instead of a second computer as well. The pros of option 2 are that I would have a computer that has gauge mode or a bottom timer (in some of the courses I want to do I will need a computer in gauge mode or a bottom timer), it will be a wrist one which I prefer, I'll have backups for an SPG and also a computer, and I won't have to send away my computer each time I want new batteries (they expired after only a year and I am not the original owner so it has been, umm, difficult to find a place that will replace the batteries for free). The downsides are I need to bother with doing tonnes of research about what to replace my Smartcom with, I have to find a buyer and it might not just be easier to keep the Smartcom as a backup as it works as an SPG and also a computer, and has gauge mode if I need.
So, anyway, interested to hear people's preferences for backup computers and their reasoning behind it And what people think of either option as I am sure there is stuff I might not have thought of yet.
Cheers