Computer selection – what to buy ? Gekko or React Pro

[marcienko]

Guys

I’m abut to buy the full set from my LDS and I was offered two different computers to buy:

Genesis React Pro or SUUNTO Gekko .


I’m wondering what you guys think about those two choices.

Regards

Marcin

 

[mike_s]

Both are good computers.

I've got the Genesis React Pro. It works very good and has never given me any trouble. However, if I had to buy again, I wouldn't buy it. You have to press buttons on it underwater to get all your readings (like max depth, etc) as they are on "secondary screens". I would buy a computer that has everything you need on a dive on one screen.

The Suunto Gekko is a good computer too. But it's very conservative most folks will say. One of the things I don't like about it is that when you start your 3 minute saftey stop at 20 feet, if you drop below 20 feet it will re-start the 3 minute timer. It also restarts it if you go above so many feet. So if you're hanging on a bouncing anchor line that is going up and down, it's frustrating to get in the 'right spot' to do your 3 minutes. Suunto is also distributed by the "evil Aqualung empire" where they force "list price" sales on their dealers. I would rather not give my money to their empire.

If I had over to buy my Genesis React Pro again, I'd prob choose something like the TUSA IQ-700 or maybe an Oceanic. The IQ-700 has a LARGE screen with all dive info on one screen while you are diving. It also supports two gas mixes which is good for deep diving where you might change to a stage bottle or pony bottle or use the regulator some boat operators have at the 20 foot bar. "Gas 2" on it also will go up to 100% o2 if you were using it for deco on pure o2.

Just my thoughts on the two computers you asked about and what I might do if I had to do it over again. While my choice now wouldn't be for either of the two you listed, neither of those two are bad computers (and I even own one of them).

BTW.. if your shop doesn't carry computer I mentioned, Dive Rite makes the same computer with their logo on it and charges a few buck more (list price) for it. I'm sure if your shop would let you have the Dive Rite one for the Tusa price (if they carried Dive Rite).

hope all that helps.

-mike

 

[marcienko]

Thank you very much for you input.Great info.

 

[Scared Silly]

If you are going to have a computer it should display all of the info you need on one screen. I have not used the Gekko but have used three other Suunto computers. They are good computers and have easy interfaces. That said the only time you switch with a Suunto is to see the current water temp.

Suunto dive computers are distributed via AquaLung through out the world. AL does have some pricing restrictions and they also take a very harsh stance against gray market sales. (There is an active thread about a guy having problems with his dying and getting it fixed).

Previous to using Suuntos I used UWATEC computers and liked them. But their downloading with their Memo mouse was so-so. But when UWATEC was bought by Johnson Outdoors I decided to shop elsewhere.

I think Oceanic has some good computers. So take a look at them. If I did not already have the Suuntos I would look at them.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

I have a Gekko and as Mike S said....too conservative...looking for a new one as I speak....I had an old Suunto SME and it was great but it crapped out a couple of years ago right before a dive trip so I bought the Gekko in a hurry and didn't have time to research any others....

 

[Footslogger]

Conservative is not synonomous with Bad.

My wife and both dive with the Gekko. Might bring us up a few minutes sooner than those with different computers/models but at our ages and with our diving styles that is a welcome safety margin.

I dove for years with the USD Monitor (still have it ...anyone interested) and it allowed for generous amounts of bottom time. But it wasn't EanX compatible and when we got Nitrox certified we needed new puters.

Depending on your diving style and applications the Gekko has everything you need and nothing you don't for basic recreational diving. It's easy to read and has a user replacable battery.

'Slogger

 

[Scared Silly]

As FootSlogger said conservative aint bad (when it comes to diving) other things it is but that is another discussion But yeah lots of people say Suunto's are conservative (do a search as there are many threads on this very subject). This is bull pucky to me as I do not feel it has influenced my over all diving. I have dove 3-4 deep dives/day over a week. Only twice do I remember it saying you really need to go shallower. So I did and spent the last 15 min circling the King Pin of a wreck which had lots of great coral growth on it. On average my dives with a Suunto are an hour long and by that time my tank is dry. For others it may varry.


BTW The Gekko does not have a guage mode and can not be downloaded (officially). I like being able to down load my dives and record notes. So to me that is its only two negatives.

 

[cummings66]

I have the React Pro and just replaced it. I like the react for the price, but some things about it drove me nuts. The only way I could find out the temps after the dive was to download the data, during the dive I had to push buttons to get to other screens. It has no user set feature for the Nitrox PPO2, it's locked to 1.6 in other words.

It was and is a solid computer and if my wife ever gets into diving it's her's. My replacement is the Oceanic VT3 which does everything I wanted the React to do and then some more. Of course they're not in the same league and in that league I'd buy the React Pro. Just be aware of the things it can not do.

 

[JungleJoe]

Sherwood Wisdom, Oceanic Data Pro Plus II, Aeries Atmos Air Intetrated, all are nice, 1st 2 have LARGE screens, get the quick disconect.