OLED Wrist vs OLED Console Dive Computers...

[scubadada]

I don't really agree with you here. The earlier computers of the 80's where far more aggressive than the modern computers. All of the modern 'sports' diving computers have modified algorithms, none run vanilla Bhulmanns or RGBM, or US Navy tables (or other algorithms). They all have addition padding and modifications.
This is easily demonstrated by comparing them with the standard Bhulmann table, or even just comparing them with something like a Perdix set to 100/100.

Whilst you might argue that 'sports divers' don't want a conservative model. I know of very few OW divers who understand decompression models, and gradient factors. Most new divers are limited far more by the gas they carry than the decompression model in their computer. In fact there are very few sports diver training organisations that teach decompression diving from the get go, probably with the exceptions of SSA and BSAC. PADI certainly don't. I think DIR might now, I believe they have modified their training to include an OW entry qualification.

I don't run 100/100 on my CCR or on my main computer. The back up computer is set to 100/100. Following the backup is for when the **** really hits the fan, it will get me out of the water as fast as is possible. Once on the surface I can go onto 100% O2 and consider evacuation.
Even the modern 'tech' computers are nothing like the original VR3.

Gareth

@Gareth J

Your dive world is very neat, though inaccurate. First of all, learn to spell Buhlmann, it will increase your credibility. DSAT tracks to a Buhlmann GF hi of 90-100+ depending on depth and nitrox mix. This corresponds to the PADI RDP. Cochran is more liberal than DSAT.

I believe you are correct, many, probably the majority, of rec divers are reasonably unfamiliar with deco algorithms. That does not mean that all are gas rather than NDL limited. As they improve their gas usage, this proportion drops further. The OP is beginner rec diver, let's just make sure the information we give is accurate. Your UK/BSAC centric recommendations do not necessarily apply well to much of the rest of the world

Very best and good diving, Craig

 

[RonR]

Console vs. wrist is really a personal preference, though some of us engage in activities that involve working or sticking hands into places that preclude using a wrist mounted computer. There used to be a preference on the part of some divers for consoles due to the perceived unreliability of hoseless tank data transmission, that has not been a problem for many years, and really never was much of one. All else being equal, wrist computers are the more popular, though SOME consoles are less expensive. Once you get to color displays you are in the same price range regardless of style.

I want to correct one thing- most of these computers are not OLED displays, but TFT. The original Atomic Cobalt and Shearwater (and UEMIS, etc.) computers all used an excellent active-matrix (AMOLED) display that is no longer available. There were a few computers that used smaller passive matrix color OLED displays (Liquivision and some Oceanic). These displays have had a tendency to fade in use, while the AMOLED displays don’t have this issue and are generally larger and higher resolution. I have Cobalts over 10 years old that still look great. Unfortunately the AMOLED manufacturers are not willing to sell in dive market quantities, preferring to concentrate on their customers who buy millions of units.

Plenty of computers- Shearwater being a good example- blur the distinction between “Tech” and “recreational”, offering modes that appeal to different types of diving.

Ron

 

[stuartv]

Suunto have been around for years though so its surprising to see models not working? I find it hard to believe a dive computer purchased brand new would not work.

Shearwater Perdix is the one model where I can find universal praise and very little negative feedback. I do wish the display had more colours as in red text for extreme alerts, yellow text for oxygen, and green text for optimal conditions such as ascent rate.

I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if this has already been said.

The Perdix does use different colors (e.g. yellow and red) for different alerts.

 

[stuartv]

I think one of the reasons why the dive shop owner never mentioned differences of algorithms in computers was because I'm only an open water diver predominantly a jetty diver. He mentioned I am more likely to run out of oxygen before I ever hit the no deco limit even with a conservative algorithm.

That may be true ... right now. Do you want to buy a computer that only works well for your current diving, or do you want something that will still be good for you when your diving advances some?

All it takes is a decision to use a bigger tank, dive a little deeper and, MAYBE, becoming a little more relaxed in the water (giving you slower breathing) to result in you having plenty of gas to last past your NDLs. I was running out of NDL before I got low on gas by dive number 30 or so. And that was with a very liberal algorithm (DSAT).

The largest volume are the Sports diving market, Suunto, Uwatec , Aqualung etc,). These have a locked in algorithm, which will generally be quite conservative. Generally they have functions like Nitrox. These will serve the vast majority well for many years.
These are pretty safe, you can argue about how conservative an algorithm is, but out of the box they are good to go.

The Technical computers are more likely to run pure technical algorithm, i.e Bhulmann, etc.
How conservative or aggressive the computer is up to the operator, this generally means adjusting gradient factors. If you run them too aggressively, the risk of a bend is quite high. (i.e100/100).

There are quite a few Sport diving computers available that support the DSAT algorithm. DSAT is not at all what I would characterize as "quite conservative". For NDL diving, DSAT seems to usually work out pretty closely to a Perdix with GF Hi set around 95.

Thus, I find the statement that "sports diving [computers] ... have a locked in algorithm [and are].... quite conservative" to be quite contradictory to "[with a tech computer] the risk of a bend is quite high. (i.e. 100/100)."

I would say that a Perdix in Rec mode (which has a max GF Hi of 95) has no more risk of a bend than any DSAT computer - which is to say that I don't think either one has a particularly high risk of a bend. If you have data or experience to support your statement, please do share it.

 

[kelemvor]

Don't forget Henrichs Weikamp OSTC4 and Ratio iX3M dive computers. Both are excellent color displays. I think many manufacturers that briefly did OLED have ditched it in favor of regular LED. I couldn't tell you why off the top of my head.

Personally, I think the iX3M is the computer that truly has it all.

Don't forget OSTC 4 Henrichs Weikamp OSTC4 and Ratio iX3M dive computers. Both are excellent color displays. I think many manufacturers that briefly did OLED have ditched it in favor of regular LED. I couldn't tell you why off the top of my head.

hey guys,

I finished my OW PADI course a year ago and getting back into it with a refresher. I intend to buy my own gear parts at a time.

That's how I did it, and I was happy with the results. Research each piece and buy what makes sense. Most of those "package deals" include one or two decent items and then a bunch of stuff you probably don't want.

I have been browsing dive computers for hours on end and my frustration is there is no extensive customer reviews on amazon for each brand. I also see a lot of thumbs down on dive computer reviews on youtube so I feel selecting a dive computer amongst 100 different options is akin to swimming in murky waters. I have a theory dive shop employees are giving negative reviews on brands they don't stock to hopefully draw in customers to purchase their own stocked computers.

I suspect it's the manufacturers more than the retailers, but you never really know. Just about any manufacturer of any thing these days pays for cheap labor to both cover their product with good reviews and their competitors with bad ones. Usually but not always you can tell these from the real thing based on odd grammar. I think you don't see lots of DC reviews on Amazon because people are still buying from shops directly in most cases. For example, DRIS often lists stuff on amazon. Despite the fact that I'm an avid Amazon shopper, the things I've bought from DRIS I bought using their website directly.

Also, a thumbs down on youtube may just mean that the viewer thinks the video is crappy rather than the product. That's usually what I use thumbs up/down for.

 

[Pavao]

hey guys,

I have a theory dive shop employees are giving negative reviews on brands they don't stock to hopefully draw in customers to purchase their own stocked computers.

I think you have bigger issues to resolve than which computer to buy, seek help!

 

[scubadada]

@kelemvor

Too bad Heinrichs Weikamp are not sold in the US. They now have an AI, the OSTC 2 TR OSTC 2 TR

 

[kelemvor]

@kelemvor

Too bad Heinrichs Weikamp are not sold in the US. They now have an AI, the OSTC 2 TR OSTC 2 TR

It's true they don't have any retailers in the US but you can buy their computers right on the website. They even take paypal if you want protection above and beyond what your credit card provides.

 

[hammet]

I bought the proplus x when it first came out as I loved the bright, large display and the air integration. After hanging out on this forum, I ordered the Perdix AI, compared the two side by side, finger f*&ked all the buttons, and returned the proplus. Love the perdix and haven't looked back. I didn't think I'd appreciate the wrist mount as much as I have, but it is really nice you don't have grab a console to read your data, just look at your wrist that's already right in front of you.

 

[kelemvor]

Shearwater still has one big drawback in all their computers. No capability for audible or vibrate alarms.

Disclaimer: I own two shearwater computers.