Dive computer - compatible w/ nitrox and freediving

[jennye]

Hey everyone, I'm looking into purchasing a multi-purpose dive/nitrox/freedive computer. Price is my biggest limiting factor (hoping for less than $300...and am open to the idea of buying used, so long as it is still under warranty). I've been diving for a while now, and do a good amount of deep dives, and have just started freediving, so figure it is time to invest in a computer...it would be nice to be able to see my depth/time after a freedive without having to carry a depth gauge and push start and stop on my little timex wristwatch while diving (it's quite a hassle, but at least gives me a general idea).

I'm looking for one that is fairly small so it can be worn as a watch while traveling without being too overbearing or ridiculous. And a PC hookup option would be nice, but is not necessary. I've only ever used one 'wrist computer' before (and that was an older one button computer pushed into a wrist strap), so I don't have much to compare to...and there are just too many options to even know where to begin. So any and all recommendations are much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[DiveNav]

........and there are just too many options to even know where to begin. So any and all recommendations are much appreciated! Thanks!

My recommendation is to look at our Dive Computer Research Tool

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[jennye]

Thanks Alberto. That is a nice little survey to help compare watches...
I'm hoping to get some responses from experience with some of the watches. And little questions...like I would imagine that being able to view your dive logs/history on the watch is an important, if not essential feature, but a good bit of the watches don't have it and only offer PC viewing...so does that not really matter? Or can you still review that day's profiles on the watch? Just not the longer history? And how important is it that the watch can measure freediving decompression time?..I imagine that it is not so important now, but if that's something I'll want a year down the line as I'm reaching greater depths I might as well look for one with that now...
The Cressi Edy, Suunto D4, Manta Aeris, Mares Nemo and Tusa Zen are the watches that I've come across that seem to fit what I am looking for any comments on those?...they all seem to fall out of my target price range so I guess I'll just have to look for sales and try to bargain with some LDSs.
Jen

 

[DiveNav]

Thanks Alberto. That is a nice little survey to help compare watches...

You are welcome

......like I would imagine that being able to view your dive logs/history on the watch is an important, if not essential feature, but a good bit of the watches don't have it and only offer PC viewing...

Actually that is not true .... most of the dive watches for which we have developed online classes have dive log and most of them have history too.

Alberto (aka eDiver)

 

[jennye]

Hey Alberto,
After using the Dive Computer Research Tool you sent me a link to, I did a bit more researching trying to look up comparisons/reviews of the watches and came across this site: APNEA.cz - Freediving Computers and in the review of the Tusa IQ-90 Zen, the Manta Aeris, and the Oceanic Geo 2.0 under downsides it says "no log/history accessible on the watch (PC only)". Maybe you could elaborate on that more. I was kind of confused by it and thought it wouldn't make sense for you to not be able to access at least recent dives.
Thanks again.

 

[DiveNav]

...... in the review of the Tusa IQ-90 Zen, the Manta Aeris, and the Oceanic Geo 2.0 under downsides it says "no log/history accessible on the watch (PC only)". .....

the logbook is there .... for the dive and gauge modes but not for free dive modes

See specs:
Geo 2.0
Manta Aeris

and page 62 Tusa Zen manual

 

[buddy-boo]

I would recommend Suunto Stinger- it has all the features you are asking for. Nitrox; Free diving; dive plan; dive history ( I can see all the dives I have done since I started using my computer- over 200 now); option to connect it to your PC. It is also quite small so you can use it as an every day watch too. Suunto uses quite conservative algorithm for NDL so if you want to do deeper or decompression dives it will give, annoyingly, a lot of extra minutes of deco stops. But as an overall recreational computer it is very good.

 

[SlvrDragon50]

Consider the Dive Rite Nitek Duo/Trio.

Duos go for under 200 used and are just as good as any of the newer computers today. Plus they have a gauge mode should you ever need it.