Mares Puck or spend a bit more for a Suunto Zoop?

[Tbar]

I use this cable for my Pucks Smartinterface – Your online shop for dive related accessories its a lot cheaper that the Mares one and works perfectly.

 

[Steve_C]

Play with the buttons. For whatever the reason I have found some computers a bit of a PITA to set and navigate the needed windows. On other computers I found the operation very intuitive and never had to check the instructions.

Computers have uses other than just tracking NDL. You can use them to make sure you have a safe return to the surface. You can use them for tracking a safety stop. I computeriize most assents.

Stuff happens. What happens if you get separated from your guide? I do not go on guided group dives much but has happened to me twice. Once on a drift off Jupiter and once in St. Thomas. What if there is a current or another issue and you wind up a bit deeper than the guide for a bit. You are no longer on the same profile. What if the guide starts up, you hesitated for a minute or two while the partner finishes up a photo or takes care of an issue. You are no longer on the same profile. What if on the way up you realize your ears are not equalizing correctly so you have to drop a few feet and then start working your way up slowly. You are no longer on the same profile.

Get a computer. If for no other reason than it is fun to play with over a beer as you fill out your log book at the end of the day.

 

[rhwestfall]

being from the generation of divers pre-dating dive computers (my first big upgrade was The Wheel), I truly see the benefit they bring. They simplify things like ascent speed monitoring, don't make calculation mistakes, track your surface interval, and account for non-square profiles. If you are going to be diving more than two dives a day, they are quite valuable tools.

Having your own means you CAN know how to use it properly, and be familiar with it in regards to how it is displaying its information.

As to the brands, my criteria is that it runs a commonly recognized algorithm rather than some custom one that isn't predictable with the group diving (be it the "team" or the "boat").

I'm a techno geek, so download cables (or other methods such as BT) and software appeal to me for logging & reviewing dives.

 

[DiveNav]

...... Have been looking at the Mares Puck for $219 and the Suunto Zoop for $300. Looks like the Zoop is pretty popular. For our intended use is there any benefit in spending the extra $81?

They are both good computers, but they look and feel different.
You can see them in actions in our simulators and online classes.
Whatever brand / model you end up purchasing make sure to learn how to properly use it.
One additional benefit of owning your own dive computer is that you can see / log / analyze your own dives. And nowadays you can do that right away with your smartphone/tablet and our DCbuddy bluetooth interface.

 

[thegrandpoohbah]

So far we have only done private guided dives. Nassau will be our first experience with a group dive. I have contacted Stuart Coves and they informed us that they take care of all the dive profile planning for the group. What should we expect when we show up? We have been told that having a computer is not necessary. What say you to that?

 

[Steve_C]

So far we have only done private guided dives. Nassau will be our first experience with a group dive. I have contacted Stuart Coves and they informed us that they take care of all the dive profile planning for the group. What should we expect when we show up? We have been told that having a computer is not necessary. What say you to that?

I would have a dive computer with me as well as an SMB. Stuff happens. I would expect to stay with the group. I would be capable of a safe assent with safety stop and signaling to a boat if for some reason there was separation.

 

[Tbar]

So far we have only done private guided dives. Nassau will be our first experience with a group dive. I have contacted Stuart Coves and they informed us that they take care of all the dive profile planning for the group. What should we expect when we show up? We have been told that having a computer is not necessary. What say you to that?

I would say not wise... but why? Well that might need more information.

I expect anyone diving with me, whether I am leading or not, to have computer (and know how to use it), safety sausage (SMB), whistle and a cutting device.

How many dives will you do a day?
Will you dive over consecutive days?
Will you dive with the same group and dive leader for all dives?
Will they use tables and create a repetitive dive profile for your? If so how do they know YOUR max depth and bottom time for each dive?
What will the max depth be per dive and what is the planned dive time, ie will the dives come close the NDL? If you are only diving to 5m then it should be safer.
Is there a chance of current or surge or poor visibility?

That doesn't even touch on the safety aspects raised by Steve_C.

I advise my kids when traveling and diving that the person that cares most for them on the dive is them, and that they must be in control of their diving at all times, whether they use tables or a computer.

 

[thegrandpoohbah]

Yeah, something wasn't sitting right with me when I got their response. Wasn't positive as we are very new. Thanks for the input everyone. I am going to order the Zoop.

 

[diversteve]

Cove's is the cruise operator for Nassau and only one of two on the island - not counting the private boat charters. Most of their sites are not very deep. So they can control the depth in the group hence their suggestion to let them run the profile.

Still a good idea to have your own computer though for the ascent - it tracks your rate and will alert you not to exceed it. It will also beep when you reach your safety stop depth. I think there's about a 4' span 19-15' that counts if you can hold within it, drop outside that and it starts over.

Your first dive is always a beautiful wall. On average our walls begin at 40 feet, although some are deeper. Each dive site along the wall is different and unique in its own way. The wall is wonderful for both new and advanced divers. Your divemaster leads the dives to 80 feet for 30 minutes, however we are flexible around this as you and your buddies may prefer to stay up on the shallower ledge while others may plan their dive a bit deeper.

Your second dive is either a shallow reef or wreck dive. There are a number beautiful reefs each with different coral formations and fish life. You may explore a 100 foot freighter in 50 feet of water; or the famous James Bond wreck in 40 feet of water or you may dive on the Cessna used in the filming of JAWS.

They segregate on the boats by experience level and the more advanced divers may go down the wall to 100' or so. I don't think they let anyone go much past that. At about 1/2 dozen of the wall sites, it is possible to get out over blue water - it's 6500' deep in places. Info on each site pop-ups when you hover on the flags here: Stuart Cove

One interesting thing is to ask about sites near the shark dives - usually the DM takes suggestions on the boat unless conditions dictate where they're diving that day. The sharks hover at some of the nearby wrecks waiting for the feed - more relaxed, natural behavior. They get a little more excited the closer it gets to feed time in the afternoon. An example of this is site #'s 31-35 - all list reef sharks - the feed site is #34.

Poor visibility is generally a non-issue there...lol. I suppose it could happen. Maybe before/after a hurricane blows through.

 

[gcarter]

That was actually my next question: is a computer even worth bothering with at this point? All of our diving will be guided dives with reputable outfits. Do they generally let you dive to your computer limits or will it be a case where everyone in the group surfaces as soon as the first person gets low on air?

This is actually a red flag to me. No matter how reputable the outfit, you should never be trusting them to judge your limits for you, you need to do that for yourself.

INMO, you need to either dive table profiles (calculated by yourself) with a watch and depth gauge, or you need your own computer. Anything else is a trust me dive, regardless who you are diving with, and an abrogation of your responsibility for your own dive. The couple of dollars for the computer are not significant when considered in light of taking responsibility for your own safety.

EVEN IF they place hard limits on dive time or depth, you are better off being in control of your own dive within that framework. That means control of your own data source for your own dive so you can make your own decisions.

---------- Post added March 26th, 2015 at 01:30 AM ----------

So far we have only done private guided dives. Nassau will be our first experience with a group dive. I have contacted Stuart Coves and they informed us that they take care of all the dive profile planning for the group. What should we expect when we show up? We have been told that having a computer is not necessary. What say you to that?

I say that you are responsible for your own profile and your own safety. Whether they require it or not, you should require it of yourself.