Dive Computer Suggestions

[In10se]

Not sure why everyone is suggesting an AI computer, maybe they are all internet divers....if you are a real diver you will know that the AI often fails to read the tank pressure, and therfore you need a seperate SPG anyway. Why pay the extra money for a AI computer, stay away from the gimmicks. As for as TECH is concerned, those guys don't use computers, other than their brains.

For you to insult people by stating that everyone who does something other than what you do means he or she is an "internet diver" is ridiculous. Open your mind, accept that technology is your friend and use it ... or not. That's your call, but don't insult others for doing things differently than you do.

You pay extra money for an AI because that AI is a great way to help ease the way you monitor your gas consumption. Plan on it failing, keep your SPG handy ... and go enjoy your AI assisted dive. If and when it does stop reading tank pressure, fall back to your SPG and replace the battery in the transmitter before the next dive.

Some people use satellite radio, and some are AM only listeners.
Some people use GPS to get around, and some use a paper map.
Viva la difference.

 

[NudeDiver]

The way these last few posts read, you would think that AI = wireless. It's not. AI is different from wireless.

 

[potato cod]

Lots of good points to consider mentioned above. The trick is to find a computer that will fit both your diving and your budget. That said, I will agree with many of the other posters that you should definitely get a nitrox compatible model, but there aren't many left that are not.

One more thing to consider is the algorithm used. Some are more conservative, others maximize bottom time more. Most will allow you to make the computer more conservative if you like too. The Suunto you are looking at uses the RGBM algorithm and incorporates Deep Stops, which is nice. I ended up with a Mares Puck, which also uses the RGBM and is cheaper, but does its Deep Stops differently (uses them only if you are close to or exceed your no deco limit rather than working like Naui's rule of halves).

Anyway, here's a link to a table from Scuba Diving earlier this year with a comparison of several new computers on the market. This will allow you to compare the various features (AI non AI, number of gases, algorithm, price, etc) at a glance that you may find useful:

http://www.scubadiving.com/upload/images/pdf/200806_scubalab.pdf

 

[BDSC]

Not sure why everyone is suggesting an AI computer, maybe they are all internet divers....if you are a real diver you will know that the AI often fails to read the tank pressure, and therfore you need a seperate SPG anyway. Why pay the extra money for a AI computer, stay away from the gimmicks. As for as TECH is concerned, those guys don't use computers, other than their brains.

Interesting post!

So I go back and look at everyones stats that are displayed for the number of posts one has made and ShakaZulu is by far the leader of the pack. Guess we know who the real internet diver is.

But I'm right there with him. I'm not a REAL diver because I've probably missed the numerous times my computer has failed to read my tank pressure. Maybe some day I'll be a TECH diver and get rid of all my "gimmicks" like BC's, Regulators, Fins, Masks, etc. Real men don't need that stuff!

BDSC

 

[ShakaZulu]

Shaka: There you go, you've been told

I know huh, they are pretty agressive today

 

[Colliam7]

I'm ...looking fo a dive computer. I'd like one that has enough features such that it will offer what I'll need as I build up my skills and experience over the next few years.

Lots of good posts (and a couple of silly ones) with recommendations. Consistent messages include nitrox-capability and easy readability. Wrist vs console is a toss-up. You may find a slightly larger number of folks who prefer wrist computers - I happen to be one of those, because of the versatility in terms of the reg I use on a particular dive (no hose changing), and slight edge in accessibility. If you look at the long-running SB thread on 'most-regretted gear purchases' you will see periodic mention of a console computer. But, both are quite functional. Data downloadability is nice but not essential. Multi-gas capability is also nice. It is not essential, even for decompression diving, but is a nice element of redundancy for deco dives. Personally, I find bells and whistles like an integrated compass to be useless, but that's me. The 'air-integrated or not' debate has no clear winner. It isn't essential, but is a nice feature that some appreciate. Then, there is 'hard-wired' air-integrated vs 'wireless' air-integrated. The wireless feature is nice, when you have a wrist computer, but transmission / sync failures do occur at times during a dive, particularly at lower tank pressures; really a non-issue when you have a SPG as well. I dive a Suunto Vytec - nitrox-capable, multi-gas capable, wireless AI-capable, with a reasonably readable display and data downloadability. When I started diving doubles, and got new regs, I didn't transfer the transmitter from my singles reg, so I used the Vytec for the last 3 years without AI, and didn't miss it. Only last week did I take the transmitter off my singles reg and put it on one of the doubles regs - not as a replacement for my SPG, but simply because of the convenience of having my pressure also displayed in my wrist. I also dive a Nitek HE which has a smaller, much harder to read display, no AI, poor downloadability, but it has nitrox, helium, and multi-gas capability. I mention it only to emphasize that once you get past the nitrox-capable aspect, you find a way to work with just about any computer configuration. My biggest criticism of the Vytec and the He - neither one gives dive time in seconds as well as minutes, which would be very handy for deco stops - but, again, not essential.

 

[jeckyll]

Lots of good posts (and a couple of silly ones) with recommendations. Consistent messages include nitrox-capability and easy readability. Wrist vs console is a toss-up. You may find a slightly larger number of folks who prefer wrist computers - I happen to be one of those, because of the versatility in terms of the reg I use on a particular dive (no hose changing), and slight edge in accessibility. If you look at the long-running SB thread on 'most-regretted gear purchases' you will see periodic mention of a console computer. But, both are quite functional. Data downloadability is nice but not essential. Multi-gas capability is also nice. It is not essential, even for decompression diving, but is a nice element of redundancy for deco dives. Personally, I find bells and whistles like an integrated compass to be useless, but that's me. The 'air-integrated or not' debate has no clear winner. It isn't essential, but is a nice feature that some appreciate. Then, there is 'hard-wired' air-integrated vs 'wireless' air-integrated. The wireless feature is nice, when you have a wrist computer, but transmission / sync failures do occur at times during a dive, particularly at lower tank pressures; really a non-issue when you have a SPG as well. I dive a Suunto Vytec - nitrox-capable, multi-gas capable, wireless AI-capable, with a reasonably readable display and data downloadability. When I started diving doubles, and got new regs, I didn't transfer the transmitter from my singles reg, so I used the Vytec for the last 3 years without AI, and didn't miss it. Only last week did I take the transmitter off my singles reg and put it on one of the doubles regs - not as a replacement for my SPG, but simply because of the convenience of having my pressure also displayed in my wrist. I also dive a Nitek HE which has a smaller, much harder to read display, no AI, poor downloadability, but it has nitrox, helium, and multi-gas capability. I mention it only to emphasize that once you get past the nitrox-capable aspect, you find a way to work with just about any computer configuration. My biggest criticism of the Vytec and the He - neither one gives dive time in seconds as well as minutes, which would be very handy for deco stops - but, again, not essential.

Excellent post.

 

[billyscuba7]

TRY OCEANIC'S VEO Nx SERIES THE ARE VERY EASY TO USE AND THE BATTERIES ARE USER CHANGEABLE. LATER YOU CAN USE IT AS A BACKUP WHEN YOU SEE THE NEED FOR A AI COMPUTER. I USE THE DATA MAX PRO PLUS 2 WITH MY VEO 100Nx AS A BACKUP. IN THE PAST I TRIED THE SMART COM BY SCUBA PRO (NOT VERY USER FRIENDLY), I ALSO USED THE COBRA FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND LIKED IT, BUT MY SIGHT AS I GET OLDER I HAD TO GO BIG. GOOD LUCK AS A NEW DIVER. MY DIVING HAS TAKEN ME ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I HAVE SEEN MANY GREAT THINGS IN 34 YEARS OF DIVING, BUT I STILL GET THE GREATIST THRILL IS SEEING NEW DIVERS STARTING THEIR ADVENTURE.

 

[Rhone Man]

The way these last few posts read, you would think that AI = wireless. It's not. AI is different from wireless.

For the ignorant amongst us (which includes me, but I suspect others on this thread too) what is an AI computer?

 

[NudeDiver]

For the ignorant amongst us (which includes me, but I suspect others on this thread too) what is an AI computer?

Air Integrated.

It's a computer that is connected to the tank and tells you its pressure. Some computers can also use this information to estimate remaining bottom time based on actual air consumption, in addition to NDL info. It's a pretty slick feature, and why I own AI computers (Cobra and Vytec).

The connection to the tank can be via a standard HP hose, or via a wireless transmitter that connects to the reg HP port. This allows you to wear the computer on the wrist, or wherever, without having to deal with a hose.