divecomputer and wetsuit

[menadodiver]

Dear divebuddies,I am pretty new in the diveworld and want to start purchasing dive equipment.My plan is to first buy a wetsuit, I found one on the Cressisub website.My instructor adviced me to take a Suunto dive computer I am interested in the Suunto Air lux S.So for all this above please give me advice, yours sincerley,Menadodiver.

 

[TexasMike]

First off, welcome to the board! We hope you have enjoyed what you have discovered so far and we look forward to your contributions and questions.

Second, we need more data about you in order for us to recommend the type of exposure protection so suit your needs. Where in the country are you diving? What sorts of dives? Are you usually a warm blooded person or do you get cold easily?

For my coulder water dives, I've got an Xcel 5/4/3 wetsuit that I am very very happy with. Lots of great features, easy to get on and off, and most importantly, I can hit the colder waters (upper 50's and low 60's) and stay there for a while without getting chilled. It was a bit on the upper price side ($250) but for the quality, I consider it a good purchase. There are many other brands that are good such as Henderson, Parkway, O'Niel and many others. I'm sure there are those here what will be happy to share their experiences.

On the computers, Suunto is a good choice and many of the regulars hear use their system. Several folks use and like the Cobras, as well as the Vypers, and the Mosquitos.

Myself, I use the Genesis ReACT and find that it is a good computer, and conservative to my liking (I usually run out of NDL before my buddy with his Aladin). And if I do flip into deco, the info shown helps me get out of trouble with no problems.

I like you look forward to the other folks answers. So let's hear them, y'all!

 

[menadodiver]

Dear Texas Mike I replyed to your message but I am not certian if it arrived I hope it did,greetings from Amsterdam.

 

[neilstewart]

Hi menadodiver,

I use a Suunto Stinger, it's a neat little wrist unit with Nitrox - the same as a mosquito but with more memory for those lazy downloading dive loggers. All my diving to date has been in warm clear conditions and I have no problem with this conservative comp. Although I have seen reviews that suggest the readout can be on the small side.

Neil

 

[menadodiver]

Thanks Nei,l my name is Dicky, for your reply your advice is my desicion to buy the Suunto dive comp. Learned my diving in Indonesia and made it until Adv. Open Water , Best Fishes,

 

[joewr]

Welcome, Menadodiver, to the Board! I see you are already using us for what we do best: talk about diving issues! And I see some of the gang is already giving you the best of their wisdom...

So, welcome aboard and enjoy your SI with us.

Now, about wetsuits and exposure suits, in general. What I have found is that it varies quite a bit with the indiviuals involved. I have been on dives with folks who wore everything from a bathing suit with t-shirt to dive skins to 3mm shorties and fulls to 5mm+ suits...and all were experienced divers and happy!

My suggestion has been to:

(1) look at what others use
(2) rent before you buy, if possible
(3) be prepared to own several, depending on the dive local

About computers...

(1) go to a dive shop and try them in the shop
(2) or you can go to some websites and "try" them online
(3) be sure you understand what every function does and means. Some computers have very similar looking readouts that actually mean very different things
(4) make sure you really want all the stuff you are getting. Some divers just do not need or want more than the basic info--everything else leads to overload

Hope this helps...............


Joewr...You have now entered the deco region. Be prepared to hang around this site until your need for decompressed knowledge is satisfied.

 

[fooks]

I can only comment on cold water as I know no better. What I use is a Dacor 2 piece 7mm wetsuit. I like it because the ankles have zippers which makes it realy easy for getting my booties on and my feet out of the suit. The coldest I have been in with my suit is 39 d F and I was still comfortable.

:cold:

 

[menadodiver]

Jo fooks,thanks for your reply I am glad I get so many answers to my questions and now have a pretty good idea for buying equipment got my Adv. Open Water in Indonesia and had a awsome expirience but anyway be safe, Best Fishes,

 

[neilstewart]

Dicky

Where in Indonesia did you dive and how was it, I'm allways looking for recommended locations.

Neil

 

[tombiowami]

For a wetsuit I use the Henderson Goldcore 5mm. I usually dive in 70-80 degree water and it is fine. It does leak quite a bit through the back zipper, and I am going to try some auquaseal to counter act that. I have heard it is an issue with many of them. It is very easy to put on, and drys extremely quickly compared to others. I am not sure if it is a good suit keeping me warm, even though it leaks, or I just do not get that cold in general. It does seal pretty well everywhere else.

Computer I have a Suunto Mosquito, and like it very much. Fairly cheap ( on the ridiculous scuba scale of laughable pricing) and does everything I want it to do. I mainly use it as glorified bottom timer and use the tables for actual calculations.

I would buy either again. Leisure Pro has the suits for great prices, just get 2 or 3 around your size to try on, then send the others back.

Tommy