Dive Computer Suggestions

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One last thought: nobody here has commented on HUD computers (Head's Up Display, or "integrated into your mask" for non-technical types). I have only ever seen them at dive shows, but the principle struck me as pretty sound. Interesting that no one has commented on them yet. Maybe just not many in circulation?
 
Non AI is like buy a car without Air Conditioning in the Southwest! You can do it, but why? Never heard of a AI failing because it was and AI? If your new time remaining is a great tool and will help you manage your gas and your dive! No guessing required! Look at the Data Max Pro Plus II...... It really is worth the money, get the Air Conditioning, and the FM radio too! This is 2008 right?
 
One last thought: nobody here has commented on HUD computers (Head's Up Display, or "integrated into your mask" for non-technical types). I have only ever seen them at dive shows, but the principle struck me as pretty sound. Interesting that no one has commented on them yet. Maybe just not many in circulation?
Probably has a lot to do with the price. When their price becomes on pair with what you can get an AI computer for, maybe you will see more of them. I think the other issue is fit. They would need to make a lot of variations to meet different needs and such. Then there is the issue of prescription lenses. Overall - I think a HUD mask might suffer from "overloading" a device with too many functions.
 
I've got 2 AI computers. My first was a SmartCom, and the newer one is the Cobra 2. I like them both and have had no problems with either one. Many great features are mentioned here, such as downloadability(if that's a word), quick disconnect, user changeable batteries, etc. I would also look for water contacts. One gimmic feature of the Cobra 2 that I don't like is the built in electronic compass. At first I thought this would be great, one less piece of gear, but soon concluded that a good hand held compass, I like the SK7 on its own retractor, worked better for me. I would look for the computer that will allow you to grow into it, even if it has a few more features than you need right this second, such as Nitrox. That way you're not upgrading on a semi-regular basis. If you decide sometime in the future you want to go tech, then most likely you'll need different gear anyway.
 
Non AI is like buy a car without Air Conditioning in the Southwest!

Sorry dude, totally wrong on that one. A car without air conditioning in Texas is utter hell. AI computers do very little to improve the quality of your dive; if it's a console then looking at it rather than an SPG is EXACTLY the same effort; if it's a wireless, then it's marginally less effort, especially considering that a diver with reasonable experience only needs to look at the SPG a few times during the dive, and the wireless AIs do lose sinc occasionally, much more frequently than overall computer or SPG failure.

Now, on to the latest and greatest solution-in-search-of-problem, the "computer in a mask"! That's a great one, I suppose getting newly certified divers to fork out $800-1000 on a totally unnecessary wireless AI wasn't enough for the dive industry, they had to go for the $1500+ computer/mask. Amazing, what's next? Dive computer cyborg units, custom installed by your local surgeon?

Gee, I wonder what happens when the wonder mask springs a leak or gets a tear in the silicone....no problem, just go out and buy another one. It's only $1500. Isn't your life worth it?
 
Sorry dude, totally wrong on that one. A car without air conditioning in Texas is utter hell.
I lived in Texas and had a car without A/C. I'd rather do that than give up my AI computer when diving (
 
You know, I think new divers could do so much better than worry about how many 'great features' their dive computers have.

Becoming a good, safe diver that others want to have as a dive buddy, to me, has zero to do with their fancy computer, and much to do with their desire to learn about gas consumption, to ensure that they are there for their dive buddy and to make sure that the dive is safe and fun.

AI / non-AI etc etc matters very little in that. When I'm reading this thread it seems that not only do you need a computer (you don't) but that it has to have all the bells and whistles (again, it doesn't).

IMO, get a basic computer and learn how it works, how it compares to planning your dive on tables and dont' let it control your dive. Spend the money you saved on actually diving and developing your skills and getting some experience.

Again, my opinions based on my own personal experience. YMMV.
 
I'll second jeckyll. Get something simple, maybe a Suunto Gekko or Oceanic Veo100NX or Veo180 and learn how to use it well. AI maybe nice (I personally would rather not have it) but having used one many times I have to say it is not even close to being worth the money. Just decide whether you want a wrist or console then get a simple air/nitrox unit which matches your desire. If you want downloadability really bad spend a couple hundred bucks more and get that (as with AI I don't feel the need to do that with my N2ition).
 
But the computer can't anticipate. You may be at 80' now and running out of Remaining Dive Time for either air pressure, NDL or oxygen accumulation (Nitrox). But YOU know that you are headed for 30' to cruise the reef. RDT based on air pressure may be meaningless. YOU know your rate of consumption will soon decrease dramatically. The computer can't anticipate that. So, the display based on air pressure isn't useful. It isn't your Remaining Dive Time or anywhere close to it. In that regard, the RDT based on NDL isn't accurate either (on ANY computer). About the only thing that is accurate is oxygen accumulation.

It is true that the computer can't anticipate planned moves to shallower or deeper water. But anyone who actually uses an AI computer learns that right away, learns that the RDT essentially means "RDT at your current depth".

So let's take your example (which is a good one): If I'm at 80' and my computer is showing a "safe time" of five minutes, then sure, I know that, within that five minutes, if I ascend to 30', I will have AT LEAST five minutes, and probably more (or conversely, if I went deeper, I would have less time). In fact, I know that almost as soon as I ascend to 30' my computer will recalculate my remaining safe time for me based on all available factors: my current gas consumption rates, N2/O2 saturation, preset reserve pressure, time for safety stop, etc.

Using the same example, if I really ran my AI computer down to zero "safe time" at the 80' depth, that means that either 1) I now have just enough gas to ascend, do a safety stop, and surface with whatever my pre-programmed reserve is, or 2) I am running up against my N2 or O2 limits. Either way, I'm not going to have much if any time for cruising that reef at 30'.

Yes it's true you can't actually turn off your brain when using an AI computer. But pretty much the only thing you still need to know is that any positive safe time will decrease if you descend, or likely increase if you ascend. Zero safe time is pretty much just that, regardless of depth, and you need to be moving on up. Very simple.

And simple is good - you know, the KISS principle. This is something that I think backfires with the "stick to gauges" crowd - you can't argue that AND argue for a "simpler" setup. Because an air-integrated computer is just plain simpler to use.

Some people still like manual transmissions. I have no idea why, but they do, and maybe they deride those of us using automatics as too dependent on technology. I remember when the FCC created a new HAM radio license that did not require knowledge of Morse code, mostly so the packet radio guys could get up and running - who didn't need Morse at all - and they were given a hard time by the old schoolers. People thought pocket calculators would ruin everyone's understanding of math. I'm sure there are those who think the GPS has made everybody brain-dead and that everything would be so much simpler if we all went around carrying just a sextant and compass (and indeed there have been some well-publicized examples of folks driving their cars into lakes because their GPS said to turn - but they're the Darwin Award candidates anyway). There's an entire religious community that feels all this gosh-darned motor-driven stuff is just too out of hand and consciously refuse to move technologically beyond the horse and buggy.

It's a free country - you can be a Luddite if you want. But most of us really appreciate the way well-designed technology takes care of a lot of the details so we can focus our organic brains on more interesting things, and for me - and I'm guessing lots of GPS users - that applies to my dive computer as well.

>*< Fritz
 
Hm... I chose to NOT buy an AI computer. I don't mind having a separate analog gauge hanging at my hip for tank pressure. Now, the idea that an AI computer can measure your air consumption and use that as another decision point in determining Remaining Dive Time is pretty slick. But I just didn't want to add a failure mode for air pressure. And wireless is out of the question unless you have a separate analog gauge. The probablility that a wireless AI computer will measure pressure at any given time is not anywhere near 100%. ... snip

I agree. I'm a computer geek to the core, I'm even pursuing a career in IT. However, I enjoy having my pressure gauge separate from my computer. There's already enough "stuff" to read on your computer while mid-dive, I find it easier just to get a quick glance at my NDL, then flip over my Sherwood Insight (love it) and glance at my pressure. Done, all bases are covered and I can get back to my dive in 2 seconds. There may be a simpler/quicker way to cover life support/anti-bends management during a dive, but until I find it, I'll stick with my NON AI comp and gauge. I really like the looks/convenience of the HUD by Oceanic (I think that's who makes it), but don't know if I want to put that much trust in wireless electronics. Working in IT reinforces that point!!!! Personal preference.
 

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