Air Integrated or non-air integrated computer?

[Sigrid]

As others have eluded to, it isn't a black and white line. How much gear do you have now? how quickly will you be gathering it? How often do you plan to dive? Where? What form factor are you looking at? There are 3 general form factors; on the end of a hose (console), wrist (largish screen, 2 straps), watch (just like a traditional watch with a biggish face). If your plans are any cold water, I would skip the watch. Not the best for sizing over a wetsuit. But if your plans are strictly warm water diving with short sleeves, you can comfortably use the watch and not worry about it.

A thought, get a wireless AI computer now but not the transmitter. Once you own your own regulator set, get the transmitter as a birthday gift or something like that.

If you have not gotten wind of it by now, Shearwater is a well respected name around here and throughout the dive world. They offer a lot of product choices (sorry, no hose mount). They are a good value for what you get. There are less expensive computers out there that are a lot more basic. There are more expensive computers that don't really do anything more for you. The same computer will work perfect for an novice diver and will continue to work for as advanced as he feels like going. Very powerful computer, but in an easy to use and friendly way. If you choose anything else, please don't get a 1-button computer. That would be my only strong suggestion to avoid anything.

Very helpful. Thanks. We're just getting started and are still renting everything but our fins and masks. We will decide what suit to buy soon. We will also have our rented console computer as our backup. I know a wrist computer isn't "necessary" -- that is why it might make a good unexpected surprise for Christmas. Any familiarity with the Suunto Eon Core Wrist Dive Computer - With Transmitter And USB?

 

[Bigbella]

Any familiarity with the Suunto Eon Core Wrist Dive Computer - With Transmitter And USB?

Suunto, itself, is not particularly a popular brand, among many, on ScubaBoard, since they enjoyed what amounted to a twelve-year run of dive computers with potentially faulty depth sensors, coupled with some purported -- what's the polite term? -- piss-poor customer service, followed, in short order, by a class action suit.

That said, I must be an outlier, since I have had their computers -- both air-integrated and not -- since 1992 with the Suunto Solution (still occasionally see use as a back-up); and the sensors, both in the Cobra and Cobra 2 have always gibed with my analogue gauges.

Enjoy the following Suunto boilerplate:

"A settlement was reached in a class action lawsuit against Suunto Oy (“Suunto”) and Aqua Lung America, Inc. (“Aqua Lung”) (together, “Defendants”) concerning certain Suunto Dive Computers. Those purchasers included in the Settlement have legal rights and options and deadlines by which they must exercise them . . .

"You may be included in the Settlement if you purchased new in the United States one or more of the following models of Suunto Dive Computers that were manufactured from January 1, 2006 through August 10, 2018: Cobra, Cobra 2, Cobra 3, Cobra 3 Black, Vyper, Vyper Novo, Vyper 2, Vyper Air, HelO2, Gekko, Vytec, Vytec DS, Zoop, Zoop Novo, Mosquito, D4, D6, D9, D4i, D6i, D4i Novo, D6i Novo, D9tx, and DX.

"The proposed Settlement provides for a free Inspection, Repair or Replacement Program to determine whether your Dive Computer has a faulty depth pressure sensor and, if it does, repair of your Dive Computer or a free replacement. The current qualification requires your computer be 10 years or less from date manufacture determined by serial number . . ."

 

[Brett Hatch]

Very helpful. Thanks. We're just getting started and are still renting everything but our fins and masks. We will decide what suit to buy soon. We will also have our rented console computer as our backup. I know a wrist computer isn't "necessary" -- that is why it might make a good unexpected surprise for Christmas. Any familiarity with the Suunto Eon Core Wrist Dive Computer - With Transmitter And USB?

Haven't dived the Suunto myself so cannot speak to anything besides their reputation, which is so-so. If you are buying your first piece of gear after fins and mask, I think your money would be better spent on a non-AI computer (Shearwater Peregrine for $450 or Deep6 Excursion for $200 are both very solid), and start working on your other gear, like suit/regs/BC.

But if your mind is made up on a wrist-mount AI computer, the Shearwater Perdix and Teric are world-class. I love my Teric . As for your eyes, different people with eye issues prefer one over the other, probably holding one in your hand and looking at the screen would be helpful. Taking a quick look at their website, there are a few Shearwater retailers in the DMV area. Closest to Lovettsville appear to be be Nautilus Aquatics in Sterling, VA and Brass Anchor in Frederick, MD, as well as a number of shops closer to DC.

Best of luck, let us know how it goes!

 

[Blackcrusader]

Thank you all so much for your advice! Now that I know I want to get an AI wrist computer, which one should I get? My eyesight isn't great, so I want to make sure I get a computer with a large readout, preferably one that is easy to use in other ways as well. I don't plan to do anything other than recreational diving. Thanks in advance for taking the time to help.

Look at the Shearwater Peregrine.

 

[ATJ]

Look at the Shearwater Peregrine.

Peregrine is not currently AI.

 

[lowwall]

Thank you all so much for your advice! Now that I know I want to get an AI wrist computer, which one should I get? My eyesight isn't great, so I want to make sure I get a computer with a large readout, preferably one that is easy to use in other ways as well.

Buy a less expensive computer and spend the difference on a prescription mask. You'll get a lot more enjoyment out of your dives if you can see well.

There are a few options for corrective mask lenses, what exactly is wrong with your eyesight?

 

[Sigrid]

Buy a less expensive computer and spend the difference on a prescription mask. You'll get a lot more enjoyment out of your dives if you can see well.

There are a few options for corrective mask lenses, what exactly is wrong with your eyesight?[/QUOTE

Both my husband and I wear bifoculs.

 

[GRH]

Very helpful. Thanks. We're just getting started and are still renting everything but our fins and masks. We will decide what suit to buy soon. We will also have our rented console computer as our backup. I know a wrist computer isn't "necessary" -- that is why it might make a good unexpected surprise for Christmas. Any familiarity with the Suunto Eon Core Wrist Dive Computer - With Transmitter And USB?

I recently went through a similar process after dealing with a couple medical issues that kept me from diving for a couple of years and me taking a couple more years after that to get the itch to dive again.

Most of my dives are in Puget Sound which doesn't always have the best visibility and as an older diver, my eyes aren't getting any better. I'm also a photographer and have prescription lenses in my dive mask, more to clearly see the viewfinder and fishes but they also help with reading the display.

I read a few threads comparing the Core series with Sheerwater and there is a pronounced bias toward Sheerwater, especially for more advanced divers. A dislike of the potential for the Eon to lockup if you miss your stop, no Buhlmann algorithm, and it can't display 2 gas contents simultaneously are the common reasons stated. The recall issue mentioned in this thread was the first I heard and while it doesn't impact the Eon series, overall service is a worthwhile consideration.

Here is a link to one thread.

Eon core versus sheerwater perdix AI

Since my main consideration is an easy to read display, I have no plan to become a technical diver, carry more than one tank or have a computer with Buhlmann support, I had been leaning toward the Eon. My research found enough felt it is slightly easier to read with the ability to select a simple display format suitable to recreation, NDL dives.

I happened to visit the Suunto website and notice the Eon Steel was on sale for 50% off and made an impulse order. The Steel was listed as "No Longer Available" the next time I checked, less than an hour later. I'm not sure if that means it has been discontinued.

The Suunto Eon Core with Transmitter and USB bundle listed on some online stores looks pretty tempting. I won't have a chance to test the Steel until late December or January but topside it looks good to my eyes. I assume I would have been happy with a Sheerwater and wouldn't discourage anyone from that option but the Scubaboard bias towards the Suunto didn't dissuade me.

 

[GreggS]

Both my husband and I wear bifoculs.

I wear bifocals as well and have bifocal prescription lenses in my mask. I use an Oceanic OCi, which is a watch size DC and I can see it quite well.

 

[Sigrid]

I recently went through a similar process after dealing with a couple medical issues that kept me from diving for a couple of years and me taking a couple more years after that to get the itch to dive again.

Most of my dives are in Puget Sound which doesn't always have the best visibility and as an older diver, my eyes aren't getting any better. I'm also a photographer and have prescription lenses in my dive mask, more to clearly see the viewfinder and fishes but they also help with reading the display.

I read a few threads comparing the Core series with Sheerwater and there is a pronounced bias toward Sheerwater, especially for more advanced divers. A dislike of the potential for the Eon to lockup if you miss your stop, no Buhlmann algorithm, and it can't display 2 gas contents simultaneously are the common reasons stated. The recall issue mentioned in this thread was the first I heard and while it doesn't impact the Eon series, overall service is a worthwhile consideration.

Here is a link to one thread.

Eon core versus sheerwater perdix AI

Since my main consideration is an easy to read display, I have no plan to become a technical diver, carry more than one tank or have a computer with Buhlmann support, I had been leaning toward the Eon. My research found enough felt it is slightly easier to read with the ability to select a simple display format suitable to recreation, NDL dives.

I happened to visit the Suunto website and notice the Eon Steel was on sale for 50% off and made an impulse order. The Steel was listed as "No Longer Available" the next time I checked, less than an hour later. I'm not sure if that means it has been discontinued.

The Suunto Eon Core with Transmitter and USB bundle listed on some online stores looks pretty tempting. I won't have a chance to test the Steel until late December or January but topside it looks good to my eyes. I assume I would have been happy with a Sheerwater and wouldn't discourage anyone from that option but the Scubaboard bias towards the Suunto didn't dissuade me.

Wow 50% off would be fantastic or even a price less than what it is on Amazon. On Amazon the Suunto Steel costs more than the shearwater Perdix. The Suunto Core is less but has complaints about glare and low visibility at low depths and at the surface. I most certainly would have gone with the Suunto Steel if it were still available at half price or even a lower price than at Amazon, but now I'm leaning toward the Perdix.