Dive Computers/Watches

[Sharkgrl]

Hey Everyone! I am interested in getting a new dive computer that I can also wear as an everyday watch. I have seen the article in Sport Diver Magazine (May 2006 p.33) and I was wondering what everyone used. I would love to hear what you use and love, as well as some watches that I should stay away from. Thanks guys!

 

[The Chairman]

I have ALMOST decided to go with the Oceanic Atom. I have grown to love the Oceanic/Aeris setup as being about the most intuitive out there. The only possible issue with the Atom is the size of the numerals.

 

[SteveAD]

wearing a scubapro extender

 

[TSandM]

I own a Suunto Mosquito which can do double duty, although I have to say that the numbers on it are irritatingly small for my old eyes, even with bifocals in my mask.

 

[RICoder]

I wear one a Citizen Hyper Aqualand every day and on every dive, there is also a stainless version if you want something more formal. Its always fun on vacation when it kicks into dive mode while snorkling and on a free dive.

I don't think you're gonna find a watch that is a daily-wear type that is also a serious computer (i.e. air integrated and fully functional), though Suunto is a good place to look. Having said that, you'll find many, many, many avid divers wearing one sort of Citizen or another, the Auqualand being a favorite. The new model is pretty sweet...maybe I'll go buy one now that I'm thinking of it.

 

[ronbeau]

I wear one a Citizen Hyper Aqualand every day and on every dive, there is also a stainless version if you want something more formal. Its always fun on vacation when it kicks into dive mode while snorkeling and on a free dive.

I don't think you're gonna find a watch that is a daily-wear type that is also a serious computer (i.e. air integrated and fully functional), though Suunto is a good place to look. Having said that, you'll find many, many, many avid divers wearing one sort of Citizen or another, the Aqualand being a favorite. The new model is pretty sweet...maybe I'll go buy one now that I'm thinking of it.

Leisure Pro had the Aqualand NX for $399 when I bought mine last year. I have not checked the price recently.

 

[bfisher]

I use an Aqualand Hyper also. It's not my main computer as I also have an Oceanic Veo 100. The Hyper is what I use most of the time for logging dives and almost all other infromation. The only thing it doesn't give me is an alarm for nitrogen buildup. It certainly does when I ascend too fast as it's always singing.

By the way, I got his critter about two years ago from Leisure Pro, on sale, for $217. It just came back from the factory today from getting a new battery. I pick it up tomorrow just in time for my Cozumel trip next week.

 

[simonc]

The are a number of reports that the ATOM is extremely liberal on repeat DECO dives in one day. Same say it's dangerously so on repeat DECO dives. Go to http://www.divernet.com/equipment/0605divertests.shtml#atom

Anyone have experience in comparing it to a Vytec on repeat dives. The Vytec has deep stops now and continual deco as you ascend. I'm not sure how the ATOM deals with repeat DECO dives and whether it issues a DECO stop and does not take into account off gasing as you ascend like the Suunto does.

Any comments?

 

[MarkUK]

I don't think you're gonna find a watch that is a daily-wear type that is also a serious computer (i.e. air integrated and fully functional), though Suunto is a good place to look.

The Suunto Stinger, Mosquito and D6 are fully functional watch-style dive computers, that do full deco, nitrox (two gas mixes in the case of the D6), backlight, ascent rate, etc, etc.

The D9 does all the above, but has three gas mixes and is air-integrated.

The Scubapro Extender that Stevead mentioned above is also a fully functional dive computer.

Mark

 

[The Chairman]

Go to http://www.divernet.com/equipment/0605divertests.shtml#atom
Any comments?

For one, I thought this guy was majoring in the minors and obviously had an axe to grind:

The Atom also allows you the option to turn off the wet-start function, which makes it go into diving mode once you are deeper than a couple of metres. Why that option? Do some divers really want to spend all that money on a computer, only to use it as a watch under water?
I think it has more to do with the fact that for many years all Oceanic computers had to be turned on manually before diving, and I, like many others, often forgot to do it.
It's almost as if Oceanic is in denial that this was a bad idea so is giving you the option to do this with its latest all-singing, all-dancing product.

He spent THREE paragraphs to tell us, without telling us, that he simply doesn't like a simple software feature. And he hides that by making it out to be some character flaw of the computer. Get a grip. Some people want a manual mode, and he doesn't. We get it! Now look at this next quote, as it is obvious he didn't even familiarize himself with the operation BEFORE his dive. Not a safe act to follow here!

that I concluded that I needed to press a button to get that all-important tank-pressure and remaining air-time information.

Of course he doesn't understand HOW to work the computer: he never read the manual! Bwahahahaha! In reality, this one statement is indicative of the entire piece:

I have been critical of Oceanic computers in the past.

Yeah, we got that. That's the great thing about ScubaBoard... we can have many USER inputs about gear that we don't have to rely on someone who is trying overly hard to be glib to get the real story. But hey, I love my Oceanics: far more than my Suuntos!

Hey Simonc... So, where are the reports about them being too liberal? I would like to see some real data on that.