Advice on equipment, please advise.

[Jim Lapenta]

Hey TBone,

What is the computer with bungee mount for $150? any articles about it?

January is the expected release date. I have at least 3 spoken for myself to use with classes.

 

[timz]

I wouldn't. Wait a few months until Deep6 formally releases their stuff.
There will be a really nice recreational computer with bungee mount for around $150, and not sure of the reg set prices, but you'll get a singles set out for much cheaper than the Cressi. It will be much more versatile, and you'll be able to DIY service. I think ETA on them is January right now, but they'll be worth the wait.

Hi tbone1004,

What's the full name of the computer? I search around for Deep6 but all that came out in the google are some Australian dive store.

Thanks.

 

[dmaziuk]

Yea I meant if he was sticking with Cressi for whatever reason... I myself have mares regs and lookin to switch to hog for the ease of self service. I also have a dg03... For 250$ it can't be beat at that price point... I want a petrel 2 but that's another story

I do dive with a wrist version of leonardo and it's perfectly OK, except today the same $200 gets you a computer that isn't limited to 40m in dive mode nor 50% O2 in nitrox mode. And an extra $50 gives you the dg03 with all that plus future expansion to AI. Even if you stick with cressi for everything else, leonardo at this point is like zoop: overpriced and feature-poor.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Hi tbone1004,

What's the full name of the computer? I search around for Deep6 but all that came out in the google are some Australian dive store.

Thanks.

Deep 6 expedition level dive gear. They have a Facebook page.

 

[stuartv]

isn't limited to ... 50% O2 in nitrox mode.

When I was shopping for my first computer, I thought that was an odd limitation. Now I know that unless you're doing a deco dive with a gas switch to a deco bottle, you would never need your computer to support more than 40% anyway. I don't think any Recreational (vs Tech) Nitrox cert certifies you for more than 40%.

And if you go Tech and start doing gas switches to a deco gas, you're (most likely) not going to use a Leonardo or a DG03 or any other Rec-oriented computer for that. You'd likely use a Petrel or similar Tech-oriented computer for gas tracking (if you choose to do computer-based gas tracking at all). If you have a Rec-oriented computer (including a DG03) that you take along on a deco dive, you'd likely have it in Gauge mode and not be doing any gas tracking with it at all.

Does the Leonardo have a Gauge mode? If so, is the gauge mode limited to 40m? Or is that limitation just for NDL tracking? If it has gauge mode and that mode is not limited to 40m, then I personally would not be put off from a Leonardo by the reasons you mentioned - unless you anticipate doing Recreational dives that go below 40m.

 

[noj3333]

First off, thank you everyone who chimed in and gave advice. I've made up my mind... I went with Cressi Elipse Regulators (1st, 2nd, and octo). I also skipped a computer for now, and went with a standard genesis 2 gauge console. Right now I consume a lot of air underwater, so I don't think a computer would help extend my dives currently.
As far as waiting for the deep6 releases, I'm going on a trip Feb 1, 2016 and I want to make sure all my gear is ready so I can use it then.

 

[dmaziuk]

When I was shopping for my first computer, I thought that was an odd limitation. Now I know that unless you're doing a deco dive with a gas switch to a deco bottle, you would never need your computer to support more than 40% anyway. I don't think any Recreational (vs Tech) Nitrox cert certifies you for more than 40%.

I know and it may be 40, not 50% -- I forget. I don't do nitrox. Yes, but now you can get a 3-gas DC for the same money so why buy one with the limit?

Does the Leonardo have a Gauge mode? If so, is the gauge mode limited to 40m? Or is that limitation just for NDL tracking? If it has gauge mode and that mode is not limited to 40m, then I personally would not be put off from a Leonardo by the reasons you mentioned - unless you anticipate doing Recreational dives that go below 40m.

Gauge mode is good to 120m and that was one of the reasons I picked it over Zoop. So you can use it as backup to petrel. But you can also do light deco or push the rec depth limit on DG03 or Geo 2. Without going full-blast tech petrel.

---------- Post added November 20th, 2015 at 12:02 PM ----------

First off, thank you everyone who chimed in and gave advice. I've made up my mind... I went with Cressi Elipse Regulators (1st, 2nd, and octo). I also skipped a computer for now, and went with a standard genesis 2 gauge console. Right now I consume a lot of air underwater, so I don't think a computer would help extend my dives currently.

It depends on your dives. If you e.g. jump off the boat, go down to a wreck sitting on the bottom, swim around, go back up: that's a square profile that tables are perfectly good for. As long as you do a couple of those and then not dive till next weekend. If you're splashing around the reef going up and down, three tanks a day, for a week straight -- rent a computer where you rent your tanks. You really want it.

The other thing you get from a computer is dive log you don't have to write down in longhand.

 

[stuartv]

I know and it may be 40, not 50% -- I forget. I don't do nitrox. Yes, but now you can get a 3-gas DC for the same money so why buy one with the limit?

What would you ever use the 3-gas capability for?

When I was shopping for my first computer, I also had exactly the same thought as you on this. More is better, right? When I first started shopping for a computer, the marketing info led me to believe that, as a Recreational diver, I would possibly be switching gases during a dive and/or using richer mixes than EAN40. But, for Recreational diving, you never switch gases during a dive, so how does the DC being 3-gas capable even matter? AFAIK, the only use for it is possibly to have the DC set for one gas as one mix (e.g. Air) and another as something else (e.g. EAN32). Then, if you do your first dive using one gas and you come up and change tanks during your SI to a different mix, it's about 3 seconds quicker to change your computer to match your new mix.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to recommend the Leonardo. I'm not trying to recommend anything, actually. I'm just making the point that my reasons for not buying a Cressi do not include the things you're bringing up.

 

[dmaziuk]

What would you ever use the 3-gas capability for?

I probably wouldn't: I'm not even using the nitrox capability. My point is why not have it when it comes at no extra cost. There are other capabilities that come with it: if it's programmed for accelerated deco on O2, then it should also be programmed to not mind so much if you go over NDL or below 40m. I gather that isn't uncommon on e.g. blue hole dives. I suspect Leonardo will penalize you for the former and it's not clear what it'll actually do for the latter: all the fine manual says is "you go below 40m in dive mode, you void your warranty".

 

[tbone1004]

3 gasses for recreational divers.

2 different backgas mixes for a boat dive and not wanting to reprogram the two, just program the two gasses at the shop, verify which you are using and good to go.
Third left on air, or whatever mix the hang bottle is reading for accuracy.
Program your buddies mix if it is different in case of an air sharing incident. etc etc. Lots of reasons to have at least 2 gasses with at least one able to be up to 100%