dive computers: wrist vs console mounted

[nwdiver2]

You look at your computer repeatedly when changing depth and on ascent. You look at your SPG several times per dive to see your remaining air.

It is easier to glance at your wrist for depth-time info.

That said as a new diver it is often more comfortable to have the computer and depth gauge in the same place so you look at your air when you check your depth-time. Many divers evolve from console to wrist mount some onto Air Integrated wrist mount.

 

[Charlie99]

While I don't need to constantly hold the depth gauge in front of me to make a controlled ascent either, I do need to look at the gauge once every several seconds to hold a deco stop if I am in mid-water and have no other visual reference. .........

I am still trying to get better at blue(or rather, green)-water ascents, and hopefully some day I will achieve a skill level such as yours.

Ummmm. It's more envirionment than skill. The biggest part of my skill is in flying off to nice, clear warm water destinations where you do have good visual references .

It also helps that, very often, immediately after looking at my depth gauge, I look at the surface as a sanity check. (or 1st look at surface and guess at depth before looking at gauge.)

For most of my diving, if there isn't a visual reference, there's no reason to be diving!

On the occasional blue water drift and ascent with no visual depth cues, there are still a lot of visual cues on ascent/descent rate by looking at the tiny junk in the water. I do repeatedly look at the gauge to keep my absolute depth correct in a blue or low viz ascent in which I haven't sent up a dsmb, but that is the exception.

 

[Rick Inman]

For most of my diving, if there isn't a visual reference, there's no reason to be diving!

Yup. There's the difference. We'll dive in anything around here. But I still enjoy the occational vacation dive, too.

 

[EricJ]

I recently purchased a dive watch that displays depth, temp, dive time, etc. I got it as a back up, but I find myself using it almost exclusively over the computer I have in my guage boot. Even with the retractable lanyard, I just seem to prefer glancing at my wrist.

With that in mind, I convinced my wife to get a wrist mount when she needed a new computer. She was skeptical at first but now prefers it. It is one more thing to think about putting on though.

My two cents to the original post is to see if the computer can be easily swithced from a wrist mount to a gauge boot in case you change your mind. I believe most dive computers can be switched.

 

[H2Andy]

With that in mind, I convinced my wife to get a wrist mount when she needed a new computer. She was skeptical at first but now prefers it. It is one more thing to think about putting on though.

once you get into a routine, it's just natural to do it.

i don't even think about putting my computer on my wrist any more, it just happens.

 

[Allison Finch]

I use two computers, one on my wrist (it's small-just like a wristwatch) and one in my console.
Advantages of a console-it's always there when you dive. You don't have to remember to strap it on
disadvantages-during the day you decide to do some freediving. This can very much affect your diving. The computer is not with you unless you have your regulator tucked in your belt. Vital, necessary dive information is not being logged. I'm often in the position of making 5 dives a day. This lost info could mean the difference between DCS or not.
The wrist mount is always with me while diving. I even sleep in it during multiday trips. I never want to forget to put it on. I hate spending a lot of time "strapping up". It is time consuming if you're doing it 5 times a day.
If I do a lot of freediving (wrist mount has freedive mode) my back-up computer will not be consistent with my primary for a while. I have to be mindful of that.

 

[Scubaguy62]

You look at your computer repeatedly when changing depth and on ascent. You look at your SPG several times per dive to see your remaining air.

It is easier to glance at your wrist for depth-time info.

That said as a new diver it is often more comfortable to have the computer and depth gauge in the same place so you look at your air when you check your depth-time. Many divers evolve from console to wrist mount some onto Air Integrated wrist mount.

I agree with nwdiver2. Initially, having the SPG, the computer, and the compass on the same console caused a bit of "wandering" through my depth, but after a while, I had no problems clipping and unclipping 'cause I got used to doing it by feel, and when I was lazy, I'd put the console on a retractor on my right shoulder D-ring; pull, look, let go.

I'm now in the process of upgrading to a wrist mount computer and compas, and a single, no boot, SPG (yep, going DIR baby!!), only because I'm after a more streamlined form, and because I've become more comfortable with estimating my gas consumption, so looking at the SPG isn't necessary as often. And when it is, just reach back with my left hand and simply pull, look, let go.

 

[sea nmf]

I got a wrist mount more than ten years ago (not air integrated). I recently sent it in for service. My dives without it are interesting.

I so frequently look at my wrist that the habit is just ingrained. I like to check my depth and time frequently and pulling out that console (on a retractor) seems like wasted effort.

In short, I am a wrist mounted fan because I developed a habit for it.

 

[TX101]

I have an air intergrated smart com console computer.

I used to clip it off on my belt, but since getting my harness I now clip it off onto the left chest dring while diving. When horizontal, it sits just below me so all I have to do to look at it is look down.

It leaves both my hands free and I dont have to move or unclip anything or twist my hand to view the computer. I have remaining air/bottom time/deco info right in front of me. I also have the quick-release version so downloading or taking it with me freediving is no problem.

it probably looks a little stupid, but that doesnt bother me..