Average lifespan of dive computers

[Rockhound76]

Gosh...maybe 9 or 10 years on my USD Monitor I. I carry a back-up, but still use the M1 as my primary because the numbers are so large (I'm old) and the algorithm is pretty conservative. The only hassle is that it's air-only and the batteries are not user replaceable. USD has been good about the replacements, which I have to do every few years. My backup is not quite as old (capsule, either Oceanic or USD). It's hard to read with such small number, but the color coded bar is intuitive and the batteries are user changeable. It has also been trouble free for the 4 or 5 years I've owned it. Batteries only last about a year, so I carry spares.

I just bought my teenage son a Fathom55 (basically a Cochran). I like it and it's Nitrox and downloadable (sp), so I may give in and buy one for me. The numbers are a bit easier to read than the little backup capsule I use, but it's only fractionally bigger. Again, the batteries are user changeable.

 

[nereas]

Suunto Vyper +7 so far (battery and O-ring replacement every 2 years)
Uwatec timer +5 so far

Steel tanks and ScubaPro (piston) regs will outlive you, as long as you take care of the annual maintenance on them. Backplates tend to last forever too, as long as you inspect them periodically and brush off any metalic stains.

Generally speaking, everything else wears out eventually. I do not know exactly where the dive computers fit into this equation. I am guessing anywhere from 10 to 15 years of reliable life. Mine is 7 years old now, having bought it new, graduating to it from a Seiko dive watch and a ScubaPro analog (dials with arms) depth gauge. Suunto makes great products and does not cut corners.

 

[AbyssalPlains]

I bought my Aladdin Pro used in 1993. I changed the battery once and it's still going strong. A lot of that time it spent in the closet, however. It has about 90 dives on it.

 

[ohmdiver]

I bought a less frills computer, a Matrix Master in 1999 which until this year has been a great tool. The led read outs started fadding. Time for an upgrade...

 

[Scottri]

Aeris computer that is 10 years old and still going strong.

 

[3mmDiver]

I havbe an original Suunto Stinger, and it's still great. I just get it serviced every 18-24 months or so and it's as good as anything new out there...

3mm