Buying my first dive computer

[michaelbd]

Wow! Thank you all for your informative responses and especially Nirvana for your perspective on the icon hd. Sorry for not clarifying my budget earlier, it is about $500. And YES i would love to do technical diving in the future!

I also read very good things about the liquivision computers and willing to add an extra buck for it, but i live in bangkok thailand and we do not have a dealer around here...

 

[00wabbit]

I wouldn't worry so much about getting a tech ready computer. Get a nitrox ready one and keep it simple while you are learning.

In a couple years when you are ready for tech you can buy this generation used or whatever the next gen is.

I thought the same way as you at first but I ended up being really happy with my cressi Leonardo. It showed me just what I needed and was very easy to operate. The audible ascent alarm was helpful to train me about normal ascent rates. Now I have a good feel for what 30ft/min feels like and I no longer need the alarm. It was also great on battery because it didn't have a full color light up screen so I really didn't have to worry about it.

Now I have a more tech style computer that requires recharging but I still keep the Leonardo in my pocket as a backup.