Mares Puck or spend a bit more for a Suunto Zoop?

[Tbar]

Yeah, something wasn't sitting right with me when I got their response. Wasn't positive as we are very new. Thanks for the input everyone. I am going to order the Zoop.

Not the Zoop. Its the one I see people have problems with remembering the buttons to press, and it is the most conservative over the repetitive dive profiles. Others may disagree (I am sure). I ran a trip last weekend with 'newbies' some using Zoops and they struggled. I have read the Zoop manual so I can help with these computers but do not find them intuitive.

A good way to check is to do the Dive Computer Training I linked earlier, its about $4.99 for the Zoop. I am biased and would suggest the Puck it has some more features and is easy to use (may families of 5s collective view).

 

[thegrandpoohbah]

I actually ended up ordering the Mares Puck as it was $133 cheaper, each. Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[Tbar]

A few of things:

1) make sure you set the local time, it makes the dive log a lot more value when it has the actual date and time
2) get some spare batteries (size 2450), a good quality battery such as Eveready, I have found the cheaper batteries have not lasted long
3) do a battery test before each dive (maybe once a day) you don't want the battery to die during the dives, when you change the battery remember to re-set the date and time

With the money you saved think about the upload cable (linked earlier)

Have fun

 

[thegrandpoohbah]

I love dealing with Amazon. I bought the Puck for $219 CAD. It arrived today with a dead battery. I went out and bought a new CR2450 locally which cost me $11 (a rip off I know, but we are in a small town and options are limited). I emailed Amazon expressing my displeasure and hoping they would at least reimburse the cost of the battery. I just got a response that they are issuing a refund for 25% of the purchase price! So in the end it will have cost me $164 ($175 with the new battery). Not too shabby.

 

[ozzydamo]

I actually ended up ordering the Mares Puck as it was $133 cheaper, each. Thanks for the input everyone.

Remember if you go inside 50bar the puck computer wont do the 3minute safety stop(the older version did) so you'll be wise to count it off the clock instead- pita if you start your safety stop at say 51bar and it suddenly stops counting and starts a low air warning/alarm(you can turn the beeper off, just press the button once).

The old mission 2 consul is a great little unit, with an analogue air gauge and perfect as a first dive computer(latter as a back up, especially for live aboards, where if your dpc dies your likely to suffer a 24hour wait time till your next dive is allowed on another dpc).

 

[Hatul]

One button on the Puck tells me enough to stay away from it.

 

[Tbar]

Remember if you go inside 50bar the puck computer wont do the 3minute safety stop...

I don't think the OP has bought the Air Integrated Puck, not at the price paid, so it likely will do the safety stop irrespective of tank pressure.

---------- Post added April 5th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ----------

One button on the Puck tells me enough to stay away from it.

Do you have experience of using the Puck? If so which options did you find we difficult with the one button?

 

[ozzydamo]

I don't think the OP has bought the Air Integrated Puck, not at the price paid, so it likely will do the safety stop irrespective of tank pressure.

---------- Post added April 5th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ----------



Do you have experience of using the Puck? If so which options did you find we difficult with the one button?

Yes, thank you for clarifying that I am writing of the mission 3, air integrated unit.

The only real issue with the one button function is on the mission 3 unit- on land it doesn't have the air gauge reading as the home/default screen, so you've got lot of presses of that one button to get to what you wanted to see before you start your dive(bwraf), your air pressure and I'd question if it is as accurate as an analogue air gauge also.
Having a back up air gauge is having an extra HP hose that could blow on a dive, which is the worst possible gear failure underwater, it's 2x the risk of failure.

 

[gcarter]

Yes, thank you for clarifying that I am writing of the mission 3, air integrated unit.

The only real issue with the one button function is on the mission 3 unit- on land it doesn't have the air gauge reading as the home/default screen, so you've got lot of presses of that one button to get to what you wanted to see before you start your dive(bwraf), your air pressure and I'd question if it is as accurate as an analogue air gauge also.
Having a back up air gauge is having an extra HP hose that could blow on a dive, which is the worst possible gear failure underwater, it's 2x the risk of failure.

A HP hose failure is NOT nearly as bad as a LP hose failure. A burst LP hose will empty your tank in mere minutes from full. A burst HP hose will most likely give you plenty of time for a safe ascent, even if you are well into your dive.

 

[buddhasummer]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-449111.html

Take a look at this thread.

---------- Post added April 16th, 2015 at 08:00 AM ----------

The short version, a full 80cft tank with a burst LP hose at surface will apparently empty in around 80 seconds. With an HP hose you apparently have around 22 minutes until it emptys. Assuming those numbers are correct, a burst LP hose could be a problem, an HP hose not so much.