computer shopping

[silverfish]

I finally made my first ocean dives. No doubt about it, I'm hooked. Therefore, I will be needing a dive computer. I also need a regulator and my AOW class. How all the money for that is going to magically appear I have not figured out yet.

But in case I do ,or if I come across the right piece at the right price, that would help determine what to buy first. So I need some input on what to purchase. In a computer I want a console mount,easy to understand, moderatly priced unit. ( Or I would love to "steal " a good one if anyone out there has gotten spooked and wants out of diving) I definitly want a unit that turns itself on automatically as soon as it enters the water. I find that I am so excited just to be getting in the water and trying to pay attention to all the other details I don't want to have to remember to turn on my gauges. BTW I don't want air integrated. I like my air gauge, I can always read it at a glance and like it that way.

I KNOW you have opinions on this...let's hear 'em.

 

[CuriousMe]

I know you said you wanted a console mount....but, I've gotta tell you that I love my Suunto Mosquito.

It's a wrist mount (turns on by itself in the water), is easy to understand (I've read that some folks have problems with the display....but I haven't experienced that at all).

One of the things I really like is that I can wear it as a watch as well....now I don't generally do this, but I do wear it as a watch 12 hours after I stop diving (till my little no fly icon goes away). Maybe I'm paranoid, but I figure if I ever got into a DCS problem....I have my profile on my arm.

Good luck in your search

 

[Dryglove]

I use an aladin air integrated.Its a great computer except for one thing its not nitrox capable.It has been discontinued by uwatec and is being replaced by the smart series so you may be able to get a good deal on one.Just a word of advice try to get one that is nitrox capable or you will be like me year later kicking yourself for not doing it.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

nt

 

[moxie]

Consider the new Oceanic Versa Pro. Turns itself on. Wrist or console mount. Nitrox capable (yes, get it now). Great display and backlight for night dives. User replaceable batteries. See them and do a test dive at the Oceanic website. www.oceanicww.com

Leisure-pro has them for $279.95.
www.leisure-pro.com

 

[silverfish]

Now you people have me seriously considering a wrist mount.

Anyone out there NOT like the wrist mount? I thought it would cumbersome and uncomfortable. Can't say that I've tried one,but, I'm one of those people who buys the matching jacket to a suit and never buttons it because I don't like the constraint. (And I normally buy it a little large just to have plenty of room to move.)

 

[CuriousMe]

I guess my question would be...do you find a watch cumbersome or constraining?

If so, you might not like the wrist mount...but it's no more cumbersome than a watch with a decent size face.

Good Luck

 

[silverfish]

Curious, you make a good point. I am always happy to get my watch off at the end of the day. But , I feel lost without it during a work day. Same thing would probably be the case once I got used to it. And I can see where it would be considerably more convenient during the safety stop.

I guess I had envisioned them as being as large as the console Aeris I've been using. I really haven't looked at them.....but I will.

Knew I kept coming back here for some reason.

 

[Dee]

Originally posted by silverfish
Now you people have me seriously considering a wrist mount.

Anyone out there NOT like the wrist mount? I thought it would cumbersome and uncomfortable. Can't say that I've tried one,but, I'm one of those people who buys the matching jacket to a suit and never buttons it because I don't like the constraint. (And I normally buy it a little large just to have plenty of room to move.)

I don't like a wrist mount. With the exception of the Suunto models, they are all cumbersom to me. The shape of my arm always makes the wrist computer end up on top of my dive watch. I really like my Citizen Hyper-Aqualand dive watch and that's what I use to time my safety stops and/or any deco requirements with. I would guess that I'd like the Suunto Mosquito just as well but I have no reason to buy one.

I also want a more precise reading of my air supply that an analog gauge gives me.

 

[Ari]

The discussions of wrist vs. console is well documented, as well as some very good information on the pros and cons of different computers.

Good luck finding your way around.

Ari