Question Help with choosing new computer

[Subcooled]

divecomputer.eu (in Poland) used to sell a lucrative dive computer but it wasn't quite mature enough and then support issues and other stuff (I guess) made them fail. If you would be able to find one of those, it might be a solution - especially as you are in Poland. You'd need to talk face to face with people, though.

 

[GreenSalad20]

divecomputer.eu (in Poland) used to sell a lucrative dive computer but it wasn't quite mature enough and then support issues and other stuff (I guess) made them fail. If you would be able to find one of those, it might be a solution - especially as you are in Poland. You'd need to talk face to face with people, though.

I have actually seen few of these but didn't know if the brand was good quality, will check them out

 

[kdlv]

Strange that noone mentioned Garmin. You can get Descent G2 for 600EUR which has the screen of the significantly more expensive Descent MK3i 43mm and it doubles as your daily smart and sports watch. Battery life is more than a week in smartwatch mode. You need to charge once on a full dive week. Custom gradient factors, clean Buhlmann 16 algorithm. It's a fantastic device, compass works great. Sapphire glass, plastic case gets a lot of beating without a scratch, just like the previous G1. No deco lockouts or any other crap, it always worked for me.

Con: It doesn't support Air Integration, but I realized I don't need it. Had the MK3i + the transmitter and only found out after 40-50 dives that I was paying too much attention that someone doesn't bang my gear at the transmitter on zodiacs and trucks, even though it was on extension hose. Plus it was adding weight to the overall regulator pack.

If you like the premium feel, materials and need the AI, have a look at the Descent MK3i versions. Both are awesome. The bigger one has unmatched battery life, but I find it too massive for daily use. 43mm MK3i lasts a week on a charge as well as the G2.

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Option 2 for me is the Shearwater Perdix 2 (user replaceable battery and proven device). Unlike the smartwatch Shearwater, that I consider a bit of on the risky side, Perdix is also super reliable. I just don't like the idea of having an electronic device just for diving, which is essentially another box to carry. But it's very good.

 

[GreenSalad20]

Strange that noone mentioned Garmin. You can get Descent G2 for 600EUR which has the screen of the significantly more expensive Descent MK3i 43mm and it doubles as your daily smart and sports watch. Battery life is more than a week in smartwatch mode. You need to charge once on a full dive week. Custom gradient factors, clean Buhlmann 16 algorithm. It's a fantastic device, compass works great. Sapphire glass, plastic case gets a lot of beating without a scratch, just like the previous G1. No deco lockouts or any other crap, it always worked for me.

Con: It doesn't support Air Integration, but I realized I don't need it. Had the MK3i + the transmitter and only found out after 40-50 dives that I was paying too much attention that someone doesn't bang my gear at the transmitter on zodiacs and trucks, even though it was on extension hose. Plus it was adding weight to the overall regulator pack.

If you like the premium feel, materials and need the AI, have a look at the Descent MK3i versions. Both are awesome. The bigger one has unmatched battery life, but I find it too massive for daily use. 43mm MK3i lasts a week on a charge as well as the G2.

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Option 2 for me is the Shearwater Perdix 2 (user replaceable battery and proven device). Unlike the smartwatch Shearwater, that I consider a bit of on the risky side, Perdix is also super reliable. I just don't like the idea of having an electronic device just for diving, which is essentially another box to carry. But it's very good.

When it comes to garmin I was thinking about descent g1 cause it costs around 420 eur and seems pretty decent, perdix 2 is kinda out of my budget right now. Unfortunately all the other garmins are also pretty expensive so thats all I got

 

[kdlv]

Descent G1 is a beast in both Solar and std versions. If your eyesight is still good, nothing beats it. I had to sell it for that reason and that’s how I went with the G2.

Search for price offers. Decathlon sells G1 for 350E. G2 can be found easily for 600.

Alternatively look for Huawei Ultimate. Some friends dive them and they hold well. Not proper dive computers but I still find them more versatile than the Suuntos, Scubapro and other recreational units out there. 2nd hand is around 300E.

 

[chrisch]

A lot of rubbish about Suunto seems to have become accepted as fact by a lot of people. Firstly it is a Buhlmann algorithm. It is modified but it is based on the ZHL16. Also it can be reset/interrogated if you get a deco lockout.

I have a number of issues with the company and with the battery replacement but they are not bad devices by any sensible measure. I think in recent years they have been overtaken by other brands but there must be hundreds of thousands of old Suunto still doing the same job they were bought for. I had the two gas mix model and was not all that impressed with it but it worked just fine. The gas switching is easier on other makes in my view. But that is not an issue for someone at AOW level is it?

 

[kdlv]

I like the Suunto Ocean a lot. Last time I checked it was much more expensive than the G2 and I went with the G2.

I read somewhere recently that the algorithm in the Ocean is now a clean Buhlmann 16 (can’t find the source right away) the battery life is amazing, supports AI and also the sync apps work quite smooth. No first hand experience though.

It was about time they did something that looks like 2025 tech rather than 1999 tech.

 

[NothingClever]

Given your desire for advanced features but the need to watch the budget, I’d narrow your choice to a couple of computers based on the features you like and then watch the classified ads.

OTOH, given that you’re starting out, you might consider purchasing a simple DC (not one of those cornball Basic OW pucks with a wrist strap) and just crank out the dives to build your experience, figure out your overall objectives with diving and then select the computer that you need.

Diving is an equipment-intensive activity and turnover / replacement / upgrade is just a fact of life. It’s not very often we can make a purchase that endures and so modest choices aren’t necessarily bad. And you don’t want to be that guy that overbuys and then acts helpless on the boat with basic functions or brags about features he’s untrained to use.

I got lucky with a very basic computer and then realized pretty quickly that I’d be a technical diver. I did my homework and bought a Perdix that has all the features I want and years of runway left to support me.

Good luck and enjoy your journey.

 

[tursiops]

A lot of rubbish about Suunto seems to have become accepted as fact by a lot of people. Firstly it is a Buhlmann algorithm. It is modified but it is based on the ZHL16. Also it can be reset/interrogated if you get a deco lockout.

I have a number of issues with the company and with the battery replacement but they are not bad devices by any sensible measure. I think in recent years they have been overtaken by other brands but there must be hundreds of thousands of old Suunto still doing the same job they were bought for. I had the two gas mix model and was not all that impressed with it but it worked just fine. The gas switching is easier on other makes in my view. But that is not an issue for someone at AOW level is it?

The bad rep that Suunto has is well deserved. Lockouts, setting O2 percentages higher than entered, dubious service, crappy AI transmitter and user-interface, and extreme sensitivity to yo-yo profiles, ascent speeds, and short surface intervals, plus mysterious proprietary algorithms. All these issues are well documented. Recent models may have alleviated some of this, but the reputation is based on the past, not the future.

 

[scubadada]

Several Suunto computers now offer Buhlmann as an option, Eon Steel and Eon Core, or as the only algorithm, Ocean.