Function of a watch / Watch recommendation

[tracydr]

An actual dive watch has one core function: mark the start of the dive and runtime therefrom, without failing (or at least without failing in the 'less time than you were actually down there' direction). Hence dive watches having, at least, a unidirectional ratcheting bezel (e.g., this, this, and my favorite, this) or a locking bezel (this). I certainly don't mean to indicate Omega and Rolex are at the top of the dive watch mountain--far from it, marketing aside--but I'm too lazy to go dig up more apt and less well known examples at this hour.

If you want to use it to count down deco stops you determine from that runtime, that's easy enough, though some watches offer an option to count down separately from the main dial. But such functions are, at best, helpful add-ons and, at worst, extraneous failure points in the timepiece. An alarm is certainly out in left field.

Why do you need a bezel? I used to use a cheap,timex digital,until it flooded. It was rated at 100M.

 

[Michael Guerrero]

I have two computers, but I also take my cheapo Casio G-shock that's rated to 20 bar. Buttons and light can be used underwater (i just cut the rubber out a little more to make them pushable with thick gloves). Works great. To clock your deco stops just run it in stopwatch mode. When you get to your stop depth, hit start, when you are done hit stop and reset. That way you don't have to change the countdown settings which is a pain, especially for short stops.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Why do you need a bezel? I used to use a cheap,timex digital,until it flooded. It was rated at 100M.

A timex is a digital timer with a wristband, and you can certainly use it to dive. It may even do a better job at timing than my Planet Ocean, and it's a Hell of a lot cheaper. But it's not a dive watch.

 

[boulderjohn]

Why do you need a bezel? I used to use a cheap,timex digital,until it flooded. It was rated at 100M.

have you ever read what a 100m rating means? Here is what is used for the standard definition for that rating:

Suitable for recreational surfing, swimming, snorkeling, sailing and water sports. NOT suitable for diving.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Resistant_mark

 

[waterpirate]

A dive watch is used for getting to your appointments on time and impressing people at the tiki bar. Before the advent of dive specific computers and timing devices, the watch was a critical piece of gear. Now there are far better multi function devices that get it done cheaper, and better.

For example:
A dedicated bottom timer or puter in gauge mode gives you: depth, time, ascent rate, larger face, and lighted face, log capabilities.

Eric

 

[Tigerman]

My dive computer give me depth and time. I dont need a large, lighted face as I preferr to have my vision properly corrected before I go in anyways and if its dark I have a light...

Granted, my dive watch is about 5x the price of a cheap bottom timer, but I also always wear it..

 

[WhiteSands]

If I'm not mistaken most dive comps in gauge mode does not provide time in seconds. Important for timing stops.

 

[carltona]

No offense, but at one point you need to consider your redundancy "good enough" or you'll just stack up on silly ammounts of gear..
I mean, what if the primary computer fail? and the backup? and the backup to the backup? and the backup to the backup to the backup?
See where thats headed? You'll always have a possible point of failure so when is good enough?

That's true but you are just reinforcing what I was trying to say. What is appropriate for YOUR situation? A Shallow reef in warm water has a different redundancy aspect than being 500 feet from the surface inside a cave or wreck. If you want to have 3 computers on a shallow reef that's your call. I may think it's silly but it's not my call.

What is your personal comfort zone? Let's exclude "that ignorance is bliss". How do you feel about this scenario?
I dive all the time in the Florida keys off my own little boat. I tie off to a mooring ball or set an anchor and solo dive. I leave my boat unattended. Typical depth is less than 100'. I carry a 40 bailout and wear a 149 steel. One computer and a dive watch. Where is my redundancy lacking in your opinion?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Michael Guerrero]

For the record, my G-Shock says "suitable for scuba diving".

 

[boulderjohn]

If I'm not mistaken most dive comps in gauge mode does not provide time in seconds. Important for timing stops.

It depends upon your definition of "important."

Decompression theory is not remotely precise. There is a lot of margin for error in the stops. Next, the algorithm being used for computing the stops probably computes the stops in seconds, but it rounds it off to minutes when it prints out the plan--that level of precision is not considered to be very valuable. Finally, how precise can a diver be in the time it takes to ascend from one stop to another? The entire deco ascent is a series of approximations.

When I do deco using a bottom timer, I round off the first stop to the nearest minute and then do whole minutes after that. The result of a 60 minute deco ascent will only be a few seconds different from a profile measuring each stop to the second. Consequently, I don't see it as all that important.