TSandM:I would also like it to record time in seconds in some mode, for timing stops.
Use a stop watch like a Casio G-Shock - of course the numbers will be rather small. The least expensive dive computer with a nice gauge mode (i.e. DIR friendly) and relatively big display, imho, is the UWATEC Aladin Tec - it comes with a rather big boot and very long strap but you can pop the computer out and put it in a DSS "boot" as the Aladin Tec is the same size as a UWATEC BT.