victorzamora
Contributor
Sorry, bud, but you're the one that suggested that after 50 dives you were finally ready to move on to something good.
---------- Post added June 12th, 2015 at 01:30 PM ----------
I know I stated it, but it was meant as pointing out Grender's logic flaw. He stated that new divers should go out and spend $700-$1500 (about the range of AI computers) on a recreational-only AI computer, and then get something good like a Petrel after 50 dives. I don't think 99.99% of divers will ever out-dive computers much cheaper than a Petrel to the point of justifying a Petrel. Heck, the N2ition looks like it'd satisfy the needs of 99.99% of most divers at under $200. However, suggesting that someone buy a computer just because they're not smart enough to surface with gas left in their tank is kind of crazy. If your training was bad enough that you can't look at an SPG once in a while...you should reconsider your instructor AND your own common sense. Running out of gas is NOT a good thing....check your gauge, regardless of where it's displayed.
I honestly think new divers should start with a very cheap, basic, rec-only computer. Mostly because of the daunting cost of purchasing a brand new set of everything. Heck, my thinking right now is that new divers should go out and buy a nice mask, nice set of basic fins, and a cheap computer (dg03, N2ition, Geo if they're splurgy). Skip regs and BCD and whatever else for a while, those are the main "personal" items. I think something like a Petrel should only become a recommendation when someone wants to spend money on the top-end gear they won't outgrow. I follow the philosophy of buying as cheap as I can or as nice as I can. My canister lights for cave diving: My first one was $150. Great deal on a mediocre light with a good reputation that needed some love. I rigged it up to work okay. My second canister light? Nearly $2k, top of the market. Anything in between seems like a waste to me.
Please understand that I say this as sincerely as I can muster. The deeper you go, the more important it is to NOT trust your "Air Time Remaining" on your computer. I know how classes are taught these days, but someone coming here for help purchasing a computer should know how to not follow ATR...especially at greater depths. At depth, "air time remaining" on your computer gets more and more sketchy the deeper you go. Running "MinGas" or "Rock Bottom" calculations can tell you what you need to start surfacing at. ATR gets VERY skimpy on gas at depth. Trusting it is VERY dangerous if something goes wrong. You're a new diver, and that's great! However, take it from someone with experience (who has taken it from more people with much more experience)...knowing your own numbers matters and ATR doesn't cut it.
This, to me, really shows what you don't know. Again, I don't mean this insultingly. If you play with a Petrel for more than 5 or 10 minutes and still believe it to be "complicated as ****" then you need to reevaluate diving. I learned how to use a Petrel within seconds of touching one, and learned literally all of the advanced features in a free, sub-10min video on YouTube. Truly, they're as simple as computers can get.
I'm glad you enjoy your Sherwood....there's nothing wrong with it. However, I wouldn't recommend it to others. I've found that it starts at over $700 not including the download cable. Including the cable, it's more than the cost of the Petrel. It's 2-gas only, which is fine...but only goes to 50% O2. Fine, but it won't grow with you. No gauge mode, to grow with you if you choose to. It'll lock you out if you piss it off. It uses a DSAT algorithm which I, personally, can't stand. It's big and bulky with the compass on it, and is harder to program than the Petrel. If your battery dies, you have to get a specialty battery not available everywhere. It's a AA battery on the Petrel, and the "rebuild kit" on the Sherwood is a pain to source while the Petrel needs a standard DIN o-ring (-112, I think?). Again, there's nothing wrong with the Sherwood but it's simply not any better than computers half to a quarter of the price or as good as the Petrel in anyway but AI....and I think you know how I feel about AI.
---------- Post added June 12th, 2015 at 01:30 PM ----------
I know I stated it, but it was meant as pointing out Grender's logic flaw. He stated that new divers should go out and spend $700-$1500 (about the range of AI computers) on a recreational-only AI computer, and then get something good like a Petrel after 50 dives. I don't think 99.99% of divers will ever out-dive computers much cheaper than a Petrel to the point of justifying a Petrel. Heck, the N2ition looks like it'd satisfy the needs of 99.99% of most divers at under $200. However, suggesting that someone buy a computer just because they're not smart enough to surface with gas left in their tank is kind of crazy. If your training was bad enough that you can't look at an SPG once in a while...you should reconsider your instructor AND your own common sense. Running out of gas is NOT a good thing....check your gauge, regardless of where it's displayed.
I honestly think new divers should start with a very cheap, basic, rec-only computer. Mostly because of the daunting cost of purchasing a brand new set of everything. Heck, my thinking right now is that new divers should go out and buy a nice mask, nice set of basic fins, and a cheap computer (dg03, N2ition, Geo if they're splurgy). Skip regs and BCD and whatever else for a while, those are the main "personal" items. I think something like a Petrel should only become a recommendation when someone wants to spend money on the top-end gear they won't outgrow. I follow the philosophy of buying as cheap as I can or as nice as I can. My canister lights for cave diving: My first one was $150. Great deal on a mediocre light with a good reputation that needed some love. I rigged it up to work okay. My second canister light? Nearly $2k, top of the market. Anything in between seems like a waste to me.
