Yes. I need a vibrating-alarm computer

[buzzdoo]

I am purely a rec diver. Warm water. Light breezes. But I am active and have dived probably 100 dives since retiring 13 months ago. I am hard of hearing and do not hear alarms underwater. Heck, I don't even hear my partner banging his tank. But knowing this makes me much more visually acute when diving; and I keep in good contact with a buddy. When I returned to diving I borrowed a computer from my LDS and I found that I could not hear alarms (even thought the rest of the divers could!). Please, I don't want to trigger a debate about alarms.

I ended up with a Suunto D5 AI. I like it pretty well. It vibrates. I did not do Shearwater as they did not have an offering with AI AND vibrate. After living with the D5 I am a bit frustrated. The computer battery charge will barely last a full day of four dives. I have had problems with Pod connectivity on two occasions. And once I let the battery run all the way down on the computer and the D5 "locked" me out for 48hrs. (I do carry an old Aqaulung I300 as backup.) The D5 vibration is pretty weak - especially when worn over a wet suit. I do not wear a computer for daily use so I am thinking I would prefer a wrist console so I can easily remove/change batteries. Also, I use readers out to about 36" so legibility is important.

Shearwater now has the Perdix2 which is AA powered and has vibration. Does anyone have experience with it? Can anyone recommend a different AI computer that meets my needs - full-size, not-rechargeable, easy battery replacement by user, strong alarm vibrate, good legibility, probably wrist console.
Thanks.

 

[rongoodman]

A question is why you do you think you need alarms in the first place? Whenever the question comes up here it appears that a large number, if not the majority, of users just turn them off.

 

[scrane]

I have an older Perfix and it is a great computer for me. With vibration alerts it would be perfect, as my hearing also sucks. I think you would like the Perdix 2.
I don’t know why you can’t ask a simple question on this board and get a simple answer.

 

[Marie13]

If you want an easy read computer with AI and vibrate alarms, then get the Perdix 2. But I’d give some thought about WHY you’re insisting on the vibrate alarms. If you’re able to do without those, there will be used Perdix AI models available for less $$.

 

[Belzelbub]

I did not do Shearwater as they did not have an offering with AI AND vibrate.

Yes they did. The Teric has AI and vibration.

After living with the D5 I am a bit frustrated. The computer battery charge will barely last a full day of four dives. I have had problems with Pod connectivity on two occasions. And once I let the battery run all the way down on the computer and the D5 "locked" me out for 48hrs.

It seems that the best advertising for other computer brands comes from Suunto owner reviews.

Shearwater now has the Perdix2 which is AA powered and has vibration. Does anyone have experience with it? Can anyone recommend a different AI computer that meets my needs - full-size, not-rechargeable, easy battery replacement by user, strong alarm vibrate, good legibility, probably wrist console.

Aah, then the Teric won’t check all those boxes. Perdix 2 most likely will. I love my Perdix AI, but no vibration. Reviews I’ve read of both the Teric and Petegrine seems to indicate that the alarms are strong enough. I have no doubt that the Perdix 2 wouldn’t be the same.

 

[buzzdoo]

I have an older Perfix and it is a great computer for me. With vibration alerts it would be perfect, as my hearing also sucks. I think you would like the Perdix 2.
I don’t know why you can’t ask a simple question on this board and get a simple answer.

yes. I agree. I just want some input to my question.

 

[broncobowsher]

If you are setting off alarms, you are doing something wrong. Fix the diving patterns that are causing the alarms.

What I am reading (between the lines) is you are not paying attention to what you are doing and waiting for an alarm to correct you. This is a bad habit. Even if you do find a haptic alarm there will be that one time where you won't feel it. A setting will get accidently reset and it is turned off, you try a thicker wetsuit, etc. Now you are screwed. You have a pattern of bad habits and the only thing that has saved your butt isn't going to save it.

You should never be setting off dive computer alarms during a dive. That is the first thing that is wrong.

 

[Manatee Diver]

not-rechargeable, easy battery replacement by user, strong alarm vibrate

FYI to use the vibrating alarms on the Perdix 2 (and I assume the Petrel as well) you need to use a lithium non-rechargeable battery or a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.

 

[Marie13]

FYI to use the vibrating alarms on the Perdix 2 (and I assume the Petrel as well) you need to use a lithium non-rechargeable battery or a lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
View attachment 731449

Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries are widely available in the US. They are not rechargeable. Shearwater recommends these batteries.

 

[rsingler]

You should never be setting off dive computer alarms during a dive. That is the first thing that is wrong.

It saddens me to see nonsense like this.
Haptics are a huge addition to safety.

I gave up my Atomic Cobalt 2 because it had a couple of alarms that could NOT be silenced.

Years ago I'm in Bonaire at the end of a great dive, not wanting to get back on the boat with 700psi. So I'm noodling around the dive boat in 12-30 feet of water for 20 minutes, and EVERY time I crossed over the safety stop threshold, the alarm beeps. And when I'm at 13' looking at critters, but below 400psi, the alarm beeps and cannot be silenced! Everybody's looking over at me wondering what my problem was.

Now tell me, what did I do "wrong"?

I bought Shearwater and now have five, between my wife and CCR.

Humans do not accomplish repetitive boring tasks completely reliably. Alarms help that.
Cockpit instrument scans have to be literally drilled into new pilots. How much harder for a recreational diver mesmerized by beauty. Yeah, he should, but he doesn't. Not every single time.