Atomic Aquatics Cobalt Dive Computer

[scubafanatic]

Yes, although again it's far from a perfect fit.

The Cobra2 with the quick disconnect is longer and slightly wider than the Cobalt, so the Cobra2 sleeve is even longer and wider. The Blue Reef sleeve I got for the Cobalt, though, is a good bit longer and even wider still. I got it because I traded my Cobra2, and the sleeve along with it, for some other gear. So I had to get another sleeve and didn't want to spend any more money on it than necessary while waiting to see if Atomic will (finally) release one.

Obviously, a computer sleeve isn't necessary when the computer's resting comfortably in my reg bag in the closet. But it would be stupid to travel without one and risk damaging or breaking an expensive piece of dive gear, which is why I don't understand how Atomic could have overlooked this.

I actually feel that the generic Leisure Pro 'Blue Reef' computer sleeve is a perfect fit for my Cobalts (2), I have good sized SS clips attached to my Cobalts and I need the 'extra' space inside the sleeves for the SS clips, so I think the Blue Reef sleeves are actually just barely big enough to comfortably fit everything....and I couldn't care less if they don't have some big flashy 'Atomic' label monogrammed on them.

My pet peeve is why Atomic doesn't provide/include a HP hose 'terminator' to seal off the HP hose from contamination when the computer is disconnected from the HP hose. My Oceanic Pro Plus II's all have this feature/accessory that allows me to close off the HP hose when the computer is removed from the reg set with a little HP quick-disconnect plug 'thingy' .

While I do commend Atomic for all the thought put into the Cobalt, it does astonish me that within 5 min of examining my Cobalts I was able to immediately spot 3 'faults' with the computer:

1) no padded console cover included (or offered even at extra cost)
2) no available HP hose quick-disconnect plug/cover, which cheaper competing computers have offered for many years!
3) no standard/easy way to attach a SS clip to the unit (unlike my 'old' Oceanic Pro Plus II's which make it very easy to attach an SS clip to) I had to get creative and invent my own solution to attach SS clips to my Cobalts. The trick isn't attaching SS clips to the Cobalts, it's figuring out to attach SS clips to the Cobalts so that the clips stay in one place!

Luckily I'm pretty used to upgrading/modifying/building my own custom scuba gear to remedy oversights/poor design faults...and I'm pretty good at making my 'mods' look like they're 'factory' mods and not cheesy homemade tackiness!

Not to single out Atomic, but it never ceases to amaze me that in a matter of minutes, sometimes only seconds, I'm able to spot design faults/deficiencies in scuba gear that manufacturers have sometimes spent years 'perfecting' !

 

[BoltSnap]

3) no standard/easy way to attach a SS clip to the unit (unlike my 'old' Oceanic Pro Plus II's which make it very easy to attach an SS clip to) I had to get creative and invent my own solution to attach SS clips to my Cobalts. The trick isn't attaching SS clips to the Cobalts, it's figuring out to attach SS clips to the Cobalts so that the clips stay in one place!

Luckily I'm pretty used to upgrading/modifying/building my own custom scuba gear to remedy oversights/poor design faults...and I'm pretty good at making my 'mods' look like they're 'factory' mods and not cheesy homemade tackiness!

Can you please show a picture of your modification to take care of this issue?

 

[Downing]

Good point on the lack of a hose plug. I had forgotten about that one.

I also don't care if the sleeve has the Atomic name on it, but I would prefer a sleeve tailored to the dimensions of the Cobalt. The Blue Reef sleeve is actually a good value for the money.

I'd love to see a picture of your setup.

 

[jimpeachey]

That software update is still 'coming soon'........................'im doing IDC in Egypt in April, i would quite like it by then, any idea if it will be available by then?

 

[RonR]

My Cobalt is on its way and I am looking forward to poking around the USB interface. Is the USB interface two way or read only? Do you have any kind of test harness for it that is or could be available to developers?

The interface is standards compliant USB, so it communicates both ways. It's used for both downloading dive log data and updating the firmware. The computer comes with an adapter and cable, which is all that is needed to connect via USB. I'm not sure what you mean by a test harness, but if you are asking if we are providing help in interfacing with third party desktop or dive log applications, the answer is yes, we are encouraging it.

 

[Akimbo]

Does the Cobalt use a standard HP SPG hose with adapter to the QD or a proprietary hose? If an adapter is used, does anyone know the part number? I have several regulators and it would make swapping a lot easier.

 

[Osric]

Does the Cobalt use a standard HP SPG hose with adapter to the QD or a proprietary hose? If an adapter is used, does anyone know the part number? I have several regulators and it would make swapping a lot easier.

I took my cobalt and a crescent wrench diving in Oahu and had no problem swapping the computer for the SPG on three different regulators ... it's just a HP hose.

Osric

 

[RonR]

That software update is still 'coming soon'........................'im doing IDC in Egypt in April, i would quite like it by then, any idea if it will be available by then?

I certainly hope so. Are you looking for the Windows or Mac version? As of last week there were supposed to be a few details still left to fix. When anything is available I will post here.

 

[RonR]

Does the Cobalt use a standard HP SPG hose with adapter to the QD or a proprietary hose? If an adapter is used, does anyone know the part number? I have several regulators and it would make swapping a lot easier.

The QD fitting can attach to any HP hose. I'm sure they would be available from Atomic as a separate item if you wanted, but I don't have a part number.

 

[Akimbo]

I took my cobalt and a crescent wrench diving in Oahu and had no problem swapping the computer for the SPG on three different regulators ... it's just a HP hose.

Osric

Thanks. I have tons of HP SPG hoses, some in special lengths for cylinders worn valve-down. If the cost of the adapter isn’t too absurd, it would be easiest to install a QD/adapter on each HP hose/regulator. Otherwise, I would probably use a wrench to remove the adapter and swap to other hoses… now that RonR has confirmed it is an adapter/QD.