Is Suunto really that bad

[Hatul]

For what it's worth, I used to have a Suunto Cobra2, and now I dive a Veo 3.0.

Regarding the conservatism factor - my take on this is that you can dive a more liberal computer conservatively by not pushing limits. You don't have the option of diving a conservative computer more liberally. It's my recollection that the Cobra2 allowed you to set the computer to be more conservative than it already was (I suspect that this is true across the Suunto line) - but you can't set it to be less conservative, even if it is still safe.

I liked the Cobra2 when I had it - I'd still be diving it, but the high pressure sensor went bad, which made it pretty well useless except in gauge mode. I replaced it with the Veo 3.0. I don't miss air integration, or any of the other features that the Cobra2 had that the Veo doesn't. I've only got about 30 dives on the Veo, but so far I'm happy with it.

You can still dive the same profile on a more conservative computer, but it may require a short deco stop. You can view this as an extra safety stop on top of a more liberal computer.

Adam

 

[spring_s]

as long as you listen to your computer and follow guidlines they are not bad......it really depends on what kind of diving you will be doing

 

[J Easy]

I have had a Suunto Mosquito for about 4 years and never had any issues with it's conservatism.... Until I went to Cozumel last summer. I was the only diver not using an Oceanic or like algorithmed computer. I started to get very annoyed at the fact that I had to spend the end of pretty much every dive drifting about 20 feet above everyone else. So from that and the fact that I've been wanting a new computer I got the new Oceanic Geo 2.0, which is pretty similar to the Veo 3.0. I like the dual algorithms so I can match my buddy's computer if I need to for continuity in the dive. I almost did get the Veo but I was just so used to my watch sized Mosquito I went with the Geo instead. I say go for it!

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

I prefer a computer to show me the absolute maximium NDL and the minimum stop time. I also don't program in safety stops that are not required. In other words, be as aggressive as possible. I will then come up slower and add stop time beyond the absolute minimum requirements as necessary based on conditions, profile and repetitive dives. That way I can get out of the water as soon as possible if necessry without looking up the computer. I dive very safely and will often add time here and there as I see fit, but I want to make those decisions rather than have them made for me.

 

[tflaris]

I keep reading about everyone saying to stay away from Suunto because of the conservative algorithm. Is it really that bad - for a new diver? I'd really like to consider it. I like the Veo 3.0 dual-algorithm also.

Safer is always better. Can't reverse the bends.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FritzCat66]

I have had a Suunto Mosquito for about 4 years and never had any issues with it's conservatism.... Until I went to Cozumel last summer. I was the only diver not using an Oceanic or like algorithmed computer. I started to get very annoyed at the fact that I had to spend the end of pretty much every dive drifting about 20 feet above everyone else.

Yes, but according to all the pro-conservative-computer folk here, you should be happy you were so safe! I'm sure that was comfort to you, just as I'm sure your buddies with their wild & reckless liberal-algorithm computers spending all that extra time down there were just coming up foaming blood out the mouth with the DCS, eh? How many times did you have to call in the helicopters for them? I'm sure they'll all be buying Suuntos now!

Seriously, it's especially going to be on a long series of dives that the differences between these different calculation techniques are really going to start to show up. A couple dives over a weekend, probably not a whole lot of difference. But a week in Coz, or Bonaire, or a liveaboard, and the total dive time lost can be substantial.

But on the other hand... it's so safe up there on the boat! :chuckle:

 

[pnw_diver]

You can still dive the same profile on a more conservative computer, but it may require a short deco stop. You can view this as an extra safety stop on top of a more liberal computer.

That's certainly true, but not something I would recommend for someone who's been trained only in recreational no-decompression diving, and has no real training in decompression theory and practices.

Just sayin'.

 

[tech3324]

I prefer a computer to show me the absolute maximium NDL and the minimum stop time. I also don't program in safety stops that are not required. In other words, be as aggressive as possible. I will then come up slower and add stop time beyond the absolute minimum requirements as necessary based on conditions, profile and repetitive dives. ....

That's exactly how I feel. I want a computer that just follows the tables without adding any safety factors. I can then dive that computer as conservatively as I choose. Currently using an Oceanic Data Max Pro with a Zeagle Status for backup.

 

[galvanni]

So here's a follow up to my original post. The reason I asked is because I'm looking for my first computer as a novice. I'm planning a week long Bonaire group trip with something like 24 dives. Personally - I'd prefer to stay with a conservative unit and I see some comments about the Suunto being a problem on week-long multi-dive trips. If someone has experienced this first-hand - exactly how much of a problem is this going to be on a trip like this? I'm deciding between the Veo 3.0 and one of the Suuntos (Vyper non-AI or Zoop). I would not mind losing two dives or a half day out of the week (do some kayaking or bird watching or something), as I think I can live with that on long trips, but if it's going to go nuts on me and cause a major inconvenience to everyone else in the group (11 boat dives scheduled) then I'm going to remove it from my choice and go with the Veo 3.0. At least that I can make conservative - I just don't know how close to RGBM it can get, and after reading the pamphlet from the Suunto 2010 catalog, the algorithm seems to make a lot of sense to me i.e., micro bubbles. I really would like to go with the Suunto if I can so if someone has experienced the week-long trip with one - please chime in and share your experience before I plunk down the cash.

Also - I've seen some comments that the Suuntos can be made a little more liberal - how do you do this and how much more liberal can it be made? Is it just on newer models, specific models, etc..?

 

[weaponeer]

I've done 6 straight days of 2-tank dives using my Mares M2 - same RGBM. My wife did the same dives using her Suunto Mosquito. Never missed a beat. Our dive profiles each day were first dive deep (wreck or deep wall) to 90-100 fsw, second dive shallow to max 40 fsw. We used EAN 32 on deep dives, air on second dives.

We'll be headed to Roatan next month and expect to do at least 18 dives in 6 days. This should be a better test of whether the RGBM holds us back from diving the profiles we'd like to do.

We've been using our computers for almost 5 years and have never had them hold us back from the groups we've dove with. I, too, like the micro-bubble inclusion that Suunto provides.