Are you saying there is a way to download a profile from the gekko to a PC? I was not aware that this was possible. Would you care to explain how?
Are Suunto computers really the best?
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Are you saying there is a way to download a profile from the gekko to a PC? I was not aware that this was possible. Would you care to explain how?
rstofer
Contributor
If the computer is going to default to some Nitrox value because it wasn't specifically set to AIR, make sure it defaults to 50%, not 21%. This way you will have all kinds of alarms before getting very far underwater. See how the Dive Rite Nitek Duo handles it. I'm not crazy about defaulting at midnight but at least it makes the most conservative guess.
Then think about altitude diving. Two considerations: do you have to TELL the computer the altitude? That's bogus... Even more important: is the computer ALWAYS measuring barometric pressure so it knows that you have residual nitrogen when you reach your dive spot? You really should know your dive group before you plan a dive. The dive computer won't give you a letter group but it should handle the residual nitrogen.
Finally, think about decomprssion dives. Intentional or not. Does the computer work with you to provide even very deep stops or does it just give up in disgust and indicate an error or present a useless message like "Use Tables". Lot of help that will be! If you didn't plan the dive with tables, sorting it out at depth will be a challenge.
I'm not saying that deco dives are good or that you would ever want to do them. I'm just saying the computer should not just quit.
So, pick a few computers (Nitek Duo, LiquiVision X1, Suunto, etc) and read the manuals. Look for how they handle the boundary conditions. Every computer can handle a rec dive but look at the oddities of altitude, decompression, Nitrox assumptions.
Richard
Then think about altitude diving. Two considerations: do you have to TELL the computer the altitude? That's bogus... Even more important: is the computer ALWAYS measuring barometric pressure so it knows that you have residual nitrogen when you reach your dive spot? You really should know your dive group before you plan a dive. The dive computer won't give you a letter group but it should handle the residual nitrogen.
Finally, think about decomprssion dives. Intentional or not. Does the computer work with you to provide even very deep stops or does it just give up in disgust and indicate an error or present a useless message like "Use Tables". Lot of help that will be! If you didn't plan the dive with tables, sorting it out at depth will be a challenge.
I'm not saying that deco dives are good or that you would ever want to do them. I'm just saying the computer should not just quit.
So, pick a few computers (Nitek Duo, LiquiVision X1, Suunto, etc) and read the manuals. Look for how they handle the boundary conditions. Every computer can handle a rec dive but look at the oddities of altitude, decompression, Nitrox assumptions.
Richard
robint
Contributor
big Suunto fans here: me, hubby, and daughter all use either the Vyper or Cobra. I started out with another brand for the first 2 years and discovered that the Suunto was much more conservative than mine (hubby and daughter were put into deco mode several times when my computer said I could go up.....:shocked2
I decided that we all needed to be on the same computer, so I switched and have been diving with Suunto now for 6+ years and loving it. I like downloading my dives after a trip and looking at my nitrogen load, my profile, my depth graph... sometimes I just look at them to relive a dive. Hahaha
One of the built in "safety factors" which make it more conservative is that the Suunto wants a minimum 1 hour surface interval between dives. It will let you go ahead and dive, but gives you a bit of bottom time penalty. I like that and it has made me sit out awhile longer....
Another built in "safety factor" is that you can set your own personal penalty, i.e. if you have a risk factor like age, or health issue you can make the computer MORE conservative. I know 2 people, instructors both over 50, who set theirs to the most conservative level as they feel even using Nitrox that it is better safe than sorry.
yes, Suunto has an altitude setting and we use it here all the time....... but you set the computer for the altitude once and it stays set at that altitude until you change it back to sea level or whatever.
so......... as others have said, there are lots of good computers on the market. We like Suunto for several reasons.
robin
I decided that we all needed to be on the same computer, so I switched and have been diving with Suunto now for 6+ years and loving it. I like downloading my dives after a trip and looking at my nitrogen load, my profile, my depth graph... sometimes I just look at them to relive a dive. Hahaha One of the built in "safety factors" which make it more conservative is that the Suunto wants a minimum 1 hour surface interval between dives. It will let you go ahead and dive, but gives you a bit of bottom time penalty. I like that and it has made me sit out awhile longer....
Another built in "safety factor" is that you can set your own personal penalty, i.e. if you have a risk factor like age, or health issue you can make the computer MORE conservative. I know 2 people, instructors both over 50, who set theirs to the most conservative level as they feel even using Nitrox that it is better safe than sorry.
yes, Suunto has an altitude setting and we use it here all the time....... but you set the computer for the altitude once and it stays set at that altitude until you change it back to sea level or whatever.
so......... as others have said, there are lots of good computers on the market. We like Suunto for several reasons.
robin
NudeDiver
Contributor
Hey, if you like old stuff, I have an Oceanic Datamaster II I'll sell you pretty cheap.
As for Suunto, I was a big fan until my hardly used Cobra failed (not flooded) with only 89 dives - requiring a $400 "repair" (replacement, no warranty). Research indicates that this problem (pressure sensor failure) is much more common than one would think. A lot of people have had the problem, and have had very little success in getting Suunto to do something useful about it.
Now I am no longer a fan, but it's what I use since it's what I have.
Full Disclosure: I use a Suunto Computer (as well as other computers) and I have sold Suunto Computers (as well as other brand computers).
I really like my D9 and I used to call my Cobra -- Ole reliable. Gas switching with the D9 is simple and reliable. I can tell you, at the shop I worked for, we sent back a lot of Vypers and Cobra II's when they made the software change. They would freeze up after a couple of dives. I do not know if they have been corrected.
Pet peeve with the wireless Suunto's: They are finicky when there are (1) strobes and (2) a lot of other Suunto Wireless computers around. Basically, they lose their connection to the sender/transmitter on the first stage. It is a "soft link" versus a hard link like Oceanic. What does that mean? It means with Suunto, you link it up before getting in the water. With an Oceanic, the transmitter's ID is hard coded into the computer.
Suunto goes off an RGBM model and is far conservative compared to an Oceanic which is based of Haldane.
However, to address the OP, why does the dive shop believe they (Suunto) are the best. Far too many dive shop employees simply sell it as the best because that is what they use, because they got a smoking deal at insider (keyman) pricing, because that is the only computer they carry and want the sale, etc. etc. Have them get down and dirty about the computer. Have them compare and contrast to other brands. My guess is they know very little about computers they don't carry -- like Scubapro -- so how can they even come close to substantiating the claim -- it is the best.
Additionally, practice with that computer. Know every setting. Can you rent the same model computer before purchasing?
Do your due diligence, don't settle for ubiquitous statements ... or, caveat emptor.
jcf
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I really like my D9 and I used to call my Cobra -- Ole reliable. Gas switching with the D9 is simple and reliable. I can tell you, at the shop I worked for, we sent back a lot of Vypers and Cobra II's when they made the software change. They would freeze up after a couple of dives. I do not know if they have been corrected.
Pet peeve with the wireless Suunto's: They are finicky when there are (1) strobes and (2) a lot of other Suunto Wireless computers around. Basically, they lose their connection to the sender/transmitter on the first stage. It is a "soft link" versus a hard link like Oceanic. What does that mean? It means with Suunto, you link it up before getting in the water. With an Oceanic, the transmitter's ID is hard coded into the computer.
Suunto goes off an RGBM model and is far conservative compared to an Oceanic which is based of Haldane.
However, to address the OP, why does the dive shop believe they (Suunto) are the best. Far too many dive shop employees simply sell it as the best because that is what they use, because they got a smoking deal at insider (keyman) pricing, because that is the only computer they carry and want the sale, etc. etc. Have them get down and dirty about the computer. Have them compare and contrast to other brands. My guess is they know very little about computers they don't carry -- like Scubapro -- so how can they even come close to substantiating the claim -- it is the best.
Additionally, practice with that computer. Know every setting. Can you rent the same model computer before purchasing?
Do your due diligence, don't settle for ubiquitous statements ... or, caveat emptor.
jcf
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There is no such thing as "the best" ... in truth, every LDS out there will try to convince you that whatever brands they carry are the best on the market. It's a sales pitch.
Every piece of dive gear you can purchase ... whatever it is ... comes with trade-offs. It'll have some features you like, and some you don't like or need. Suunto makes a nice computer. So does Uwatec, Oceanic, Aeris, and a host of others. Which one is best for you depends on what's important to you. Conservative computers like Suunto and Uwatec will tend to limit your bottom time. For some people, that translates into additional safety and more peace of mind. Other computers like Oceanic and Aeris will be less conservative ... which will allow you more bottom time. Some divers will consider them safe enough and prefer the fact that they get to stay down longer.
Keep in mind that the algorithm a computer uses knows nothing at all about you. It's based simply on a mathematical model and a set of assumptions about what are acceptable decompression limits. Different computer manufacturers add their own safety margins ... more for liability reasons than anything else.
To my concern, all dive computers are safe. What gets people bent isn't the algorithm on their computer, it's usually caused by ascending too quickly ... especially after safety stops when people tend to think the dive's over and ascend at rates far greater than the 30 fpm that's recommended.
As a rule of thumb, any dive equipment salesman who tells me something is "the best" loses credibility points with me. With dive equipment, that's a meaningless phrase. What you want to know is whether or not this computer is easy to read underwater, whether it has a backlight, whether or not it accommodates nitrox, does it have a user-repaceable battery, and what kind of warranty/customer service to expect from the manufacturer.
Other than that, it's a matter of features. One that I particularly look for is an average depth function (makes gas planning easier). Not all computers will give you that ... nor will everyone find it as useful as I do.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
lmorin
Contributor
I use an Oceanic Veo250. It's just fine for my needs. I wouldn't fault you for getting Suunto or any other brand that meets your needs. They're pretty much all good. As for one being more "conservative," as far as I'm aware, there is no evidence that one brand yields a higher DCS rate than any other. I agree with Scared Silly:
OP
miketrance84
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I apologize my LDS didn't come right out and say that a Suunto is the greatest thing since sliced bread. They said they have good luck with service, their programming is more conservative, they are more well built and easy to use. I think my LDS is very credible as most of the time I go in their I spend at least 30 min discussing equipment pro's and cons. They arn't completely about the money as I have brought equipment in there that I bought else where and they checked it out for free showed me how to use it ect.
At the same time the Suunto line is all they carry and i'm not 100% positive they would tell me to buy something else. It seems everything they told me has been confirmed Suunto is a great computer and I will consider buying one. Thank you all for your input.
At the same time the Suunto line is all they carry and i'm not 100% positive they would tell me to buy something else. It seems everything they told me has been confirmed Suunto is a great computer and I will consider buying one. Thank you all for your input.
Lucy's Diver
Contributor
Suunto's do, in my experience, tend to be more conservative. When diving single 80s I use a Oceanic Pro Plus II and a Suunto Stinger. With a flat profile they basically match each other. With any kind of sawtooth or moderately fast ascent the Suunto really punishes you.
I dive the Stinger and a Vytec when I dive doubles, they tend to match each other almost all the time, though the stinger (an older computer) still tends to be more conservative.
I dive the Stinger and a Vytec when I dive doubles, they tend to match each other almost all the time, though the stinger (an older computer) still tends to be more conservative.
Yes, the Suunto computers are conservative, which as many have pointed out here, is a good thing. Note, however, that many (most?) computers these days have settings that allow you to change the level of conservatism. In other words, even if the stock Suunto Cobra is more conservative than a stock Uwatec SmartCom, I can set the Uwatec to be more conservative than the Suunto.
Bottom line, do your research, and evaluate the computers against the kind of diving you'll be doing. You can get air-only computers, Nitrox computers, and trimix computers.
You're not likely to need a computer that allows you to change your mix under the water.
Make sure the computer allows uploading to a PC if you want to do that.
Also, check with your LDS to find out which computers they can repair, if any, to avoid
having to send it back to the manufacturer.
I personally prefer one with a quick disconnect, so the computer can be separated from the regs.
P.S. I own a Suunto Cobra.
Bottom line, do your research, and evaluate the computers against the kind of diving you'll be doing. You can get air-only computers, Nitrox computers, and trimix computers.
You're not likely to need a computer that allows you to change your mix under the water.
Make sure the computer allows uploading to a PC if you want to do that.
Also, check with your LDS to find out which computers they can repair, if any, to avoid
having to send it back to the manufacturer.
I personally prefer one with a quick disconnect, so the computer can be separated from the regs.
P.S. I own a Suunto Cobra.
