Bottom timer

[Astro]

hey
I'm looking for a company that makes good bottom timers that will have the following functions:
1)Current and max depth display
2)run time display and (not a must) a stopwatch
3)ascent rate in meter per second (no alert just a display)
4)replaceable battery
5) a max operating depth that will make it usefull for trimix dives (110 meters atleast)

a surface interval display is a bonus but not a must.
other computer functions are not needed

i've searched the net and ...
if you've know any and where i could buy one i'd be thankfull

 

[fastfishh]

citizen makes some nice stuff.......but i think they all have audio alarm for rapid ascent rate

 

[Lost Yooper]

The only decent bottom timers I know of is the Uwatec, OMS (vitually identical to the Uwatec), and Suunto Vyper computer which has a timer mode. None of them will track current. The Vyper is (unofficially) rater deep than the others, but if you can find an older Uwatec, they are rated to 500'. I saw one at John's Scuba (used equipment) for a $100. Most of the others are rated to 300' or so, I think.

I believe Simply Scuba sells the Uwatec for $80 US and is in metric. None of the models I've mentioned have a stop watch either.

Good luck.

Mike

PS. I'll be getting the Vyper before Spring. I'm getting tired of dropping my old Aladin Pro over the side to wait for it to clear.

 

[Diverl]

Lost Yooper

Stupid question I hope you can answer!

The uwatec and oms web sites seem to indicate that the timer can be changed from metric to imperial and vise versa. Do you know if you can actually change the measurments or do you have to buy the imperial version if you want feet?

 

[large_diver]

Not sure about OMS or Uwatec, but the Vyper can switched from one to the other -- you don't have to buy a special model.

 

[Lost Yooper]

I don't know. I was going to buy one (Uwatec) from DiveINN or Simply Scuba, but they told me they only had them in metric. I assumed they came in one or the other. Maybe who ever I talked to didn't know any better. I've since decided to go with the Vyper.

Mike

 

[blacknet]

Hello,

The OMS unit and the uwatec unit is the SAME unit! Only difference is the package. Reason I know this? I bought the OMS unit and the instruction manual is wrote by "UWATEC" I called OMS and uwatec, both companies confirmed this.

I do not recall any setting to switch from metric to SAE. I'll dig up my manual and look.

Ed

 

[ninja]

Best i have used is the uwatec and i believe can be ordered metric or sae. Have used it on trimix dives to 300 feet and perormed flawlessly. Don't know of anything else! Good luck...and best of all you don't have to hang them over the side of the boat Vyper and cobra's (SUUNTO) are beautiful computers but you will be having to hang them over the boat to at the end of your deco dive. There algorithim is very conservative but beautiful for sport no deco dives. I recommend not to repetetive dive with a sport computer will rack up astronomical amounts of DECO! Good luck!

 

[Lost Yooper]

Ninja,

Just curious where abouts you're at in Ontario.

Mike

PS. Regarding the Vyper computer, there's sometimes a difference between conservation and quality offgassing. For repetitive diving (recreational), using those type of profiles, it's actually better to stay in the water longer. RGBM is a good program, but unfortunately it doesn't tell the unsuspecting recreational diver to do deep stops. I tend to agree with Ninja that relying on most computers for repetitive diving (talking a lot of dives here) can be less-than-desireable in one way or another.

Remember, simply getting out of the water faster doesn't necessarily mean anything -- especially if a computer tells you so. There's a lot of other factors that are involved for quality decompression -- even for the recreational diver.