Is Shearwater Perdix AI too much computer for me?

[dmaziuk]

I was looking at the Oceanic Atom 3.1 and then the Aqualung i450t. Reading here it seems like Shearwater is the preferred choice

Atom w/ transmitter: $675. Perdix AI w/ transmitter: $1,175. I see five hundred reasons.

 

[guruboy]

Does anyone even sell the Atom 3.1 anymore? Discontinued at most online retailers.

Amazon has just the watch part listed for $675, so not sure where you're getting your pricing from.

 

[dmaziuk]

True, yesterday divers supply still listed it as "in stock" for $430 or something, but not anymore. With the price difference of only a hundred or so I'd buy a perdix.

Edit: same goes for i450: with the transmitter it's actually more than perdix... gotta wonder who's buying them.

 

[Centrals]

Good for you - but how does that approach address the Op's punch list of wants?

AI is the only issue from the list. But after diving for 21yrs I am yet to have a spg failure but did suffer computer crapped up on the dive twice.
I look at my computer a lot more often than the spg on any dive(rec or tec). AI just make it a wee bit convenient but certainly does not justify the extra expenses.
I do not see any justification, me personally, to buy a AI computer.

 

[Joneill]

AI is the only issue from the list. But after diving for 21yrs I am yet to have a spg failure but did suffer computer crapped up on the dive twice.
I look at my computer a lot more often than the spg on any dive(rec or tec). AI just make it a wee bit convenient but certainly does not justify the extra expenses.
I do not see any justification, me personally, to buy a AI computer.

The thread is about what the Op clearly said he wanted - not what you feel you personally need or don't need...

 

[Snoweman]

AI is the only issue from the list. But after diving for 21yrs I am yet to have a spg failure but did suffer computer crapped up on the dive twice.
I look at my computer a lot more often than the spg on any dive(rec or tec). AI just make it a wee bit convenient but certainly does not justify the extra expenses.
I do not see any justification, me personally, to buy a AI computer.

I'm curious... What will you do if you have an SPG failure? Will you add a second one? Many folks dive with AI and and SPG. It sounds like you don't have a backup for you SPG. It's mechanical and will fail at some point.

 

[stuartv]

AI is the only issue from the list. But after diving for 21yrs I am yet to have a spg failure but did suffer computer crapped up on the dive twice.

I haven't been diving that long, but I have had AI on every dive and never a problem. I've had an SPG on not that many dives and had one failure. So, what does that prove?

Also, what does 2 computer failures have to do with anything? Does a computer failure affect your dive differently when you have AI versus when you don't? My training is that a computer failure means the dive is over, whether it has AI or not.

Last, I note that my AI transmitter has 2 O-rings. One in the HP port and one in the battery compartment cover. My SPG has at least 3.

 

[Centrals]

I could only rely my personal experience over 2000 rec and tec dives. We all have different experiences in life, don't we? I know the OP was asking AI and just gave my own opinion.
I treat spg failure same as computer failure ie. time to call the dive. No big deal.

BTW, Stuart, one of my Uwatec spg has only one O ring on the spool( non replaceable). Therefore it only uses two O rings ie same as your AI set up.

 

[stuartv]

BTW, Stuart, one of my Uwatec spg has only one O ring on the spool( non replaceable). Therefore it only uses two O rings ie same as your AI set up.

And if either O-ring blows, you're losing gas? The AI transmitter only has one O-ring that could fail and lose gas.

Also, you have a hose that could rupture?

And how does the SPG itself seal to keep water out? Is there an O-ring sealing the glass face to the body? Is it glued?

 

[KenGordon]

The hose to an spg is fed through a very small hole to limit the rate of gas loss should anything nasty happen to the hose, orings or spg itself.

I treat spgs as a consumable. I find they eventually leak, even with new orings. That leak is very gentle though. Also they are not terribly accurate. Sometimes you find one which reads 10% low.

However, I always have one, even when using an AI computer.