Air integration?

[kelpmermaid]

I have recently started to look for a new computer (my faithful Companion has died), and before I started shopping, I thought I did not want an air integrated computer. My logic was that if something went wrong with the depth/time part, at least I'd have air info. After looking at air integtated computers (specifically, the Oceanic Pro Plus 2) I am reconsidering my position on this. After all, loss of the depth/time info would be a dive ending event anyway. I like having all the info available in one location, so I don't want to do a wrist mount.

So, what do you think about air integrated vs. standalone gauges?
It seems like there are more A/I out there...

 

[MyDiveLog]

I've had it for a couple of years now and haven't found the air integration to be of any real benefit...In the end I look at Air Pressure, Nitrogen/Oxygen loading, Depth, and Time to make all my dive decisions. The theoretical "time remaining" feature based on the more conservative of current air consumption or Nitrogen loading is more of a "nice to have" than a "must have". HOWEVER ... all the Oceanic computers have one feature that I haven't see on any other that I really like: they display an updated nitrogen loading bar graph in the surface mode: you don't need to hit any bottons to tell how much nitrogen loading you have.

 

[kelpmermaid]

It wasn't so much for the "air time remaining" that I found it attractive. It seems that the non-air integrated version is mounted in the console with the compass over it, and the pressure gauge on the reverse. I like to look at everything at once; I don't like the idea of having to flip it. The Pro Plus II does have nice, big numbers, important to me now that I'm reaching a certain age.

I guess what I'm wondering about it whether having an air-integrated computer would put me at a disadvantage in any way? Is it any more likely to fail than a needle gauge is to stick?

 

[scubatoys]

The AI's are normally smaller, but if you want analog gauge, and the computer and compass all on the same side - that is easily done too. Check out the Aeris Atmos 2 console that is configured exactly as you are describing.

The biggest benefit of the AI in my opinion, is the ability to program in turn around alarms at 1500 psi, or 1750 etc, and a end of dive alarm at 400, 500, 600 etc. As far as remaining time based on air - don't really care much about that number, as that is based on my present depth, and as the end of the dive draws near - I probably won't be at that depth anyway.

When it comes down to it, they are only about $120 more than standard... so for that, I'd say it's got some usefull features.

 

[FengShui]

My wife and I both dive ProPlus 2's and we really like them. I agree with all of the advantages described above. The other big thing we like is that the large console area allows for a more fine-grained nitrogen loading bar graph. The PP2 has 12 bars from no-load to Deco-required, whereas most of the hockey-puck computers only have 5-6 bars.

 

[ID diver]

My wife dives with the Suunto Cobra (air integrated) and I dive with the Suunto Vyper (non air integrated) wrist mounted with a analog SPG. My wife loves her configuration and I like my configuration.

I have never heard of anyone having an air integrated computer fail. Personally I have worked with computers too long to depend on them to tell me how much air I have.

One other thing to think about...I decided to dive with a wrist mount computer because if I ever have a problem with my regulators and have to switch to another setup I don't have to worry about having to use a different computer or having no computer.

I think a lot of this comes down to personal preference.

My $.02 I hope it helped.

 

[The Kraken]

Dive an Oceanic A/I computer on a wreck.
Let's say, just for kicks and giggles, that the difference in depth between the top of the wheel house and where she sits on the bottom is 25'.
The Oceanic A/I computer will combine your breathing profile and your current depth to redefine, continuously, your NDL for your dive. You can dive the bottom for a short period, ascend to the main deck, up to the wheel house, back down to the bottom and the computer will take all of the different parameters, depth, time at depth, etc. and recompute your bottom time for you.
Extends your bottom time greatly on an multilevel dive.

 

[leadweight]

Air integration just means spending more money on something that has a greater chance of breaking.

 

[BrianM]

The Oceanic A/I computer will combine your breathing profile and your current depth to redefine, continuously, your NDL for your dive. You can dive the bottom for a short period, ascend to the main deck, up to the wheel house, back down to the bottom and the computer will take all of the different parameters, depth, time at depth, etc. and recompute your bottom time for you.
Extends your bottom time greatly on an multilevel dive.

Maybe I am missing something here...but how does Air integration extend your NDL? I agree that dive computers extend your bottom time on multi-level dives, but the topic was AI or no AI... How much air you have left in the tank doesn't affect no deco limits.

BTW, I have a Pro-Plus II and it is a great computer. The download interface and software is kind of cheesy, but I am happy with the computer and it has never given me the slightest problem. I don't have the quick disconnect yet.

 

[The Kraken]

It uses a matrix to determine nitrogen saturation, depth, time at depth, quantity of breathing gas used at that depth so, to put it in a very simple but not exactly mathematically correct manner, it's the average of D1/T1/V1 + D2/T2/V2 + D3/T3/V3
where D= depth, T= time and V= volume of gas consumed and 1,2, and 3 represent different sampling points.