Does anyone on here own or use a Cochran dive computer? They seem like they are pretty nice and have tons of data they can analyze and display but I can barely find any reviews on them and the computers they sell seem to be the same ones they sold for the last 5-6 years but maybe they do firmware updates... I have no idea. If anyone has any experience or knowledge to pass on about them I would appreciate it.
Cochran
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yardpro
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they are very good computers
Only ones on the AMU, if you care about that sort of thing.
I have had two. Many years back, I got one (Commander) as it was one of the very few PDCs at the time that, no matter how messed up your dive became, it would attempt to work out a solution, rather than lock you out (early 90's). It was excellent, but went into paperweight mode over a long storage (battery out). Contacted the vendor, and they actually cut me a real good deal to get a new one (EMC20H).
There seems to crop up some gripes now and then, but I like the one I have. It may be a little wonky for gas switching (get a Petrel for that), but its a solid PDC.
Considering the American Military Contract they have, there must be something good about them......
I don't know what they are going for now, but if they are close to a Shearwater, I'd take the Petrel.
There seems to crop up some gripes now and then, but I like the one I have. It may be a little wonky for gas switching (get a Petrel for that), but its a solid PDC.
Considering the American Military Contract they have, there must be something good about them......
I don't know what they are going for now, but if they are close to a Shearwater, I'd take the Petrel.
Thank you for the information Bob. I read about the gas changing. I thought it was a easy system, if you plan your dive and dive your plan it will switch at the depth you wanted it to switch at. The only thing that you can't seem to do is change it if you planned it but they said if you make your stop a little below what you planned it will not switch.
That being said I am looking at the basic model as I just want it for air and Nitrox diving for now. I like how they can store 100's of dives for the basic one and 1000's for the one you have. Also the tap on light seems interesting. Any idea if you can make it stay on longer then 10 secs in the software?
That being said I am looking at the basic model as I just want it for air and Nitrox diving for now. I like how they can store 100's of dives for the basic one and 1000's for the one you have. Also the tap on light seems interesting. Any idea if you can make it stay on longer then 10 secs in the software?
IIRC, the "dwell" is adjustable, even without the desktop software. It is a little funky as you short out the contacts on the case to do various things in the menu system from setting to reviewing. A knife blade becomes a useful tool for doing that.
The tap for light is okay, but I found it problematic with real heavy gloves in cold water. I also upgraded the light color as I preferred the yellow.
The tap for light is okay, but I found it problematic with real heavy gloves in cold water. I also upgraded the light color as I preferred the yellow.
Stoo
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Get a Shearwater... A very progressive company with amazing products and legendary customer service.
The automatic gas switching would be a deal breaker for me, along with the proprietary algorithm.
The AMU is the Navy's "Authorized for Military Use" gear list. It's basically the Navy's shopping list for EVERYTHING (quite literally) related to diving. However, the can ONLY use what's on the list.
The Cochran computers are the only computers that are on the list an authorized for military use. Some people care about that sort of thing.
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