Best First Dive Comp under $700?

[djdalite]

Damn dude you don't need an $800 dive computer as your first, get an spg and something cheap like a zoop or cressi leanardo, geo 2.

Petrel is by far the most recommended and probably best dive comp on the market but totally unnecessary until you get into some tech diving.

I'd save the money because your gonna want all the other toys that come with diving. Spearguns/poles, different masks, diff fins, GoPro, ....ect


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[Water Boy76]

Everyone knows the only computer approved by Scuba Board group think is Petrel. Why you are at it, buy a second Petrel as a backup.
It's loaded with features that most recreational divers don't need, want, or understand. (insert comment about recreational mode). But eventually you may become a badass trimix cave diver? Wait, what percentage of divers are cave divers? Scuba board says it's the best, so you should buy it.....

 

[Ultimate Shield]

About 99% sure I'm going to go with the Geo 2.0
Thank you for all the input!

 

[uncfnp]

Everyone knows the only computer approved by Scuba Board group think is Petrel. Why you are at it, buy a second Petrel as a backup.
It's loaded with features that most recreational divers don't need, want, or understand. (insert comment about recreational mode). But eventually you may become a badass trimix cave diver? Wait, what percentage of divers are cave divers? Scuba board says it's the best, so you should buy it.....

Seriously? You are going to berate and belittle fellow divers because they try to give the OP honest advice based on his own criteria?

 

[ronscuba]

Seriously? You are going to berate and belittle fellow divers because they try to give the OP honest advice based on his own criteria?

I thought his background was newly OW certified, less than 25 dives, interested in recreational only, buying his 1st set of gear, limited $$ available ?

 

[victorzamora]

I thought his background was newly OW certified, less than 25 dives, interested in recreational only, buying his 1st set of gear, limited $$ available ?

Yeah, it was. However....the general consensus of advice was "Go cheaper than that, $180-$400.....but if you want to spend $700, get a Petrel and never buy again."

I don't see how that was bad advice.

 

[tbone1004]

Everyone knows the only computer approved by Scuba Board group think is Petrel. Why you are at it, buy a second Petrel as a backup.
It's loaded with features that most recreational divers don't need, want, or understand. (insert comment about recreational mode). But eventually you may become a badass trimix cave diver? Wait, what percentage of divers are cave divers? Scuba board says it's the best, so you should buy it.....

you need to start reading more posts slick.

Note, the first response discussed the options he mentioned. Gave a $400 option, then a $270 similar option if they would price match, then the "alternative" which was outside of his limits were to buy a $180 computer and use the credit towards something else. Many of the other posts have been suggesting the Geo 2.0 as the best option under those circumstance. We then find out he's willing to pay that much for a computer and his LDS has a Petrel in stock, so he now has a $250 credit for that computer, it is in stock supporting his LDS, and it is the best computer on the market, so why buy twice when you can buy once?

DJ above you suggests a Zoop which is a properly useless paperweight and no offense to anyone who has bought one, but they really just aren't good computers especially for the amount they charge for the bloody things, same with the Leonardo.

Computer discussions are really simple right now, there are essentially 3 options in 3 price points. The only reason to look at other computers is if you HAVE to have AI, or you are bound to certain brands for professional reasons.

Spend $180 get a multi-gas nitrox computer with a digital compass
Spend $400 get a multi-gas nitrox computer in a watch form factor
Spend $750 on a mult-gas trimix computer, with digital compass, and is the best on the market.

That is the simple suggestions that have been made on this thread, no one here was pushing for the Petrel until we found out that the LDS had one in stock already. With it in stock, if he will match the price that they are going for online or potentially offer a bit of a discount on it, then it it really does make the most sense because unlike a Geo 2.0 which will have its value cut in half, we have to remember that the Predator which is lacking a lot of features of the Petrel and is a minimum of 2 years old, is still going for $500-$600

 

[ronscuba]

Yeah, it was. However....the general consensus of advice was "Go cheaper than that, $180-$400.....but if you want to spend $700, get a Petrel and never buy again."

I don't see how that was bad advice.

Not bad advice, but it's more than his $250 store credit and has features above and beyond his needs.

I like the never buy again theory. However, he may never get into advanced tech diving or if he does it will probably be down the road long enough that something newer and/or better will be available. A Petral 3, Petral 4, or the latest Shearwater DC.

 

[victorzamora]

Not bad advice, but it's more than his $250 store credit and has features above and beyond his needs.

I like the never buy again theory. However, he may never get into advanced tech diving or if he does it will probably be down the road long enough that something newer and/or better will be available. A Petral 3, Petral 4, or the latest Shearwater DC.

I don't think one needs to be a tech diver to benefit from a Petrel. Certainly not considering what you get for half the price of some Rec-only computers. I guess from where I stand, it's crazy to think that only a tech diver could benefit from the Petrel....or crazy to think that the Petrel is "too expensive" for a Rec computer when others cost over double and plenty are in the same price range while none have the durability, UI, support, or features.

---------- Post added June 8th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ----------

About 99% sure I'm going to go with the Geo 2.0
Thank you for all the input!

This, to me, is by far the most important thing. OP: Enjoy your Geo 2.0.....I know you're going to love it. It's fantastic. One piece of advice: Set it to Pelagic Z+ right out of the box. It's my preferred algorithm. This is a whole 'nother argument, but DSAT is a little too liberal on the first dive and gets too conservative and follow-up dives. Also, if you accidentally exceed your NDLs (not too hard to do)....DSAT will punish you hard and Pelagic Z+ will probably clear very quickly.

 

[tbone1004]

ok, Ron, this is nit-picking, but if you're going to put them back to back, can we at least spell Petrel properly... Petral is nothing, literally not a word *though apparently the name of some marketing firm*, Petrel is a bird and a dive computer, two very real things that don't have squiggly red lines because spellcheck is angry....

That all said, Shearwater has confirmed they are not planning any significant upgrades to the Petrel and are committed to that platform for quite a while. The only reason they moved away from the Predator was screen availability so they figured if they had to redesign around a new screen they may as well put some new features in it. You won't see anything radical from them. Hell the Predator was out for quite a long time and the Petrel doesn't offer many changes. Added compass, bluetooth to iPhone, and any AA battery with a smaller form factor, and free full-trimix and CCR support. The actual computer itself is basically the same and there is no need to upgrade to the newest one. There really isn't anything left to add since they have also confirmed it will not have AI and they aren't even looking at it as an option.