Dive Computer decision: Uwatec vs Suunto Vyper Air Black

[kyhokie]

Title sums it up. I'm shopping for dive computers for my wife and I for Christmas. I have narrowed it down to an Uwatec (model TBD) or a Suunto Vyper Air Black. The only two things that are "musts" are wrist-mounted and air integration.

I have read countless reviews on each computer and watched several videos.

Any opinions on one versus the other?

 

[buddhasummer]

Galileo Luna. Very good reputation, very reliable, a little large. The AI on the Sunntos does not seem as reliable as the Luna/sol and being Suunto it is more conservative, which may of may not be an issue for you. Good Luck.

 

[taucherguy]

Uwatec!!! I had an uwatec air years ago and now use a suunto. I won't get another suunto unless they give to me for free. They don't respond to my email complaint. So I am apparently not important since I am just a customer.

 

[kyhokie]

The conservative nature of the suunto doesn't really concern me. The lack of customer service does.

I have several Suunto devices for hiking, biking, etc and have never had a problem.with customer service. But o understand that suunto dive computers are not owned by the original company.

I have used a suunto cobra and thought it was okay, but not wowed.

No one locally rents uwatecs.

 

[Brian42]

Uwatec!!! I had an uwatec air years ago and now use a suunto. I won't get another suunto unless they give to me for free. They don't respond to my email complaint. So I am apparently not important since I am just a customer.

I just got a Vyper Air and I'm pissed off at Suunto already within just hours of taking it out of the box. Software doesn't work (after purchasing a $75 extra cable) and the compass NEVER will calibrate.

 

[kyhokie]

I just got a Vyper Air and I'm pissed off at Suunto already within just hours of taking it out of the box. Software doesn't work (after purchasing a $75 extra cable) and the compass NEVER will calibrate.

I'm sorry to hear that about Suunto. As I mentioned, I have done a LOT with Suunto's wrist top running, hiking, and general use computers and never had a problem. I know Suunto doesn't distribute their products in the US but they go through a [well-known] vendor. I wonder if that's where some of the issue(s) come from.

 

[Scott L]

You may wish to defer your decision until the Liquidvision Lynx is released soon.

Liquivision : Scuba : Lynx

 

[TheMic]

I have not used to suunto, but I do own the Luna. The only complaint that I have is that it looses pressure signal often. It did it so much, that I disabled the alarm so it would stop confusing the students. Besides this I think it is an awesome computer, and I love the pc interface and the amount of data available post dive.

 

[NCadiver]

I would go with the Vyper Air I think the batteries will be easier to find. My software and cable work just fine right out of the box.

 

[vladimir]

I have owned a few Uwatecs (Air-X and Air-Z Nitrox, and the Smartcom) and the Suunto D9. I don't like the Uwatec user interface, even after having grown accustomed to it. Have they changed it, or do they still require you to bridge contacts? Suunto's is a lot more intuitive—you will be immediately comfortable with it.

Uwatecs have had a spotty record of support for discontinued models. If the batteries aren't user serviceable you may be out of luck when it dies (I have never changed a battery, I gave them away and upgraded). Some Uwatecs had sudden battery loss. One day it would read 42% and the next day it would be dead.

I preferred the Uwatec logging software to Suunto's, but Suunto's is adequate. The infrared dongle was ridiculously expensive and a little bit touchy in operation. Do they ill use that? Hopefully the technology has improved. The Suunto cable is trouble free.

If I had to choose between a Suunto and an Uwatec, I'd choose Suunto, but my next computer will probably be an Atomic Cobalt.