Considering a new computer

[Efka76]

Super conservative isn't necessary a good thing. Warning of impeding deco obligation where others diving with you still have plenty of bottom time left. Either you will piss off those you dive with or you will start ignoring the warnings on your computer. Neither is a good thing.

During dive I had Cressi Newton and my dive guide had Suunto D4i Novo. We checked our computers and NDL time for repetitive dives. Difference in NDL time was very minimal (only few minutes). For me it is really strange when people are saying that some of the firm computers are very conservative. For recreational diving actual difference is not very material. Secondly, it is better to be more conservative rather to get decompression sickness 3) in many cases recreational dives are quite shallow (average 20 m) depth and many recreational divers are more limited by air rather than NDL time.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

I am reading posts and get impression that some people still can not read or do not understand context.

Just trying to save a life, bro.

I apologized for it, too.

 

[doctormike]

I am reading posts and get impression that some people still can not read or do not understand context. OP is asking whether to choose Cressi Giotto or Leonardo console but people are offering Shearwater diving computers. Read first and reply properly, do not stick that Shearwater computer to everyone.

You know, this is a public forum where incredibly experienced people (Hi, Trace!) freely give advice to new divers. It's not a legal deposition.

The OP is a very new diver and got some random recommendation from an LDS that his choices were basically these two models, made by one company. Do you really think that he is best served by ONLY getting answers limited to his very specific question? That he should ignore every other consideration because he HAS to get a Leonardo or a Cressi? That anyone here with any other opinion should just keep quiet if they can't help with the critical decision between those two computers?

 

[chillyinCanada]

No do Mike, but shearwater is not the answer for a new diver unless they've got nothing but money.

Yes, firemantom says he wants to go the distance and maybe he will. But maybe he won't. If you didn't think he was going to go the distance, or perhaps would start having kids etc., is Shearwater still your fiscal recommendation when there's nothing wrong with another?

Geez, this is just like, I'm looking at a Scubapro backinflate bcd, which one should I get. Answer, bp/w. Sheesh

 

[doctormike]

No do Mike, but shearwater is not the answer for a new diver unless they've got nothing but money.

Yes, firemantom says he wants to go the distance and maybe he will. But maybe he won't. If you didn't think he was going to go the distance, or perhaps would start having kids etc., is Shearwater still your fiscal recommendation when there's nothing wrong with another?

Geez, this is just like, I'm looking at a Scubapro backinflate bcd, which one should I get. Answer, bp/w. Sheesh

Go back and read my post. Did I say anything about Shearwater? My response was to the comment that all answers in this forum MUST be limited to the exact question asked by the OP.

I make this point all the time. It’s especially relevant when the OP is a very new diver and asks a very limited question. If you were someone’s instructor or mentor, would you respond like that in person? Why should it be different here?

 

[RhodeDiver]

I would go with the less expensive one. I think either will probably serve you well for a long time. When I started diving I bought a suunto Vyper and looking back I would have been just as happy with the gekko and i would have saved a few bucks. I am happy with my purchase and after the newness of buying scuba gear wore off I haven't wanted to upgrade to a $1k plus computer.

I find it funny when people ask what gear to buy, people here always list off the most expensive with all the bells and whistles. It would be like asking if someone should buy a ford focus or a honda civic. The answer on scubaboard will be, get a BMW half the time.

At the end of the day pretty much all recreational scuba gear will preform very similar to all the rest.

 

[doctormike]

I find it funny when people ask what gear to buy, people here always list off the most expensive with all the bells and whistles.

Actually, that's not true. They usually don't recommend a very expensive computer, they usually recommend a Shearwater. Which are expensive, so a more important question might be what is the OPs budget.

The main "bells and whistles" that cause people to recommend Shearwater are:

- Incredible customer support
- Phenomenal engineering and build quality
- Terrific durability and service life
- Great readability
- Logically laid out user interface, easily simplified for recreational diving
- Accurate and well integrated compass
- Reliable link for uploading dive data to a log
- Ease of user battery replacement anywhere, with the ubiquitous AA battery
- A development team that responds to user input
- A responsive presence on social media for questions (eg on ScubaBoard in the manufacturer's forum)

Note that every one of these things would be a reasonable consideration for a new diver buying their first dive computer. Yes, there are other tech and CCR related aspects of the Shearwater line, but they rarely come up in these recommendations for new divers. And if the money is an issue, then don't look at these computers, that's fine.

But have a little perspective. All of us are engaging in a very expensive hobby, and the difference between a $850 Perdix and a $350 Cressi might well be used up in two days of a Caribbean dive trip. So it's not SUCH a ridiculous suggestion.

Hey, you make a good product, you get a lot of fans!

 

[ErikNYC]

The Cressi watches are good dive computers. Go with Giotto.

 

[doctormike]

The Cressi watches are good dive computers. Go with Giotto.

That's another thing. The OP's dive shop reportedly told him to choose between two console models. Was there any consideration of a wrist model? I know that the question was just about those two, but I wonder why they didn't present him with the option...

 

[Fireman Tom]

Buy a Shearwater Petral or Perdix

Thanks for your suggestion I will look into this.