OC1 vs. D9 vs. Atom 2?

[JoeinLA]

So, I've decided to get myself a watch computer this year and have narrowed it down to one of these three. Here's my pro's and con's, and I was hoping to get thoughts/opinions from others. I've spend the last few days on the web, but there doesn't seem anything too substantive that compares these watch computers directly.

Atom 2: Most affordable, and seems to do everything the D9 does other than a cool depth graph and compass (which I understand isn't too useful on the D9). Battery is user-changable. I like how the Atom and OC1 lock on to transmitters by serial numbers, so you don't have to sync up with the transmitter every time.

D9: Been around for a while and seems to be reliable. Has compass (I've been told by my local dive shop owner that it's not too useful). Battery is NOT user changable and you have sync up before every dive. Looks like a real watch.

OC1: Newest, latest/greatest. Has compass (more usable than D9). Battery changable. Basically, the Atom 2.0 with a compass.

I'm currently thinking that the Atom 2.0 is the way to go unless I want to spend twice the price for the compass feature of the OC1.

Can anyone let me know if I'm missing anything?

FWIW, I'm a recreational diver only, and this is just a fun toy for the year. I know it's not something I need, but it sure seems damn cool and streamlined to have (esp with a camera rig).

p.s., if anyone from Suunto or Oceanic is reading, you guys need to add solar power (like Casio/Citizen) to these so you don't need batteries!

 

[ligersandtions]

I don't know anything about the other two computers, but I had nothing but problems with my Atom 2.0. My husband and I both bought them when we first started diving. A couple months later, my husband's computer started "diving" while we were gearing up. It was going through this whole dive profile on the surface (even telling him his air consumption rate, even though the pressure in the tank wasn't going down...).

We chose to still make the dive because it was a known site (and I kinda wanted to see what it would do ) and it was showing him ~40 feet lower than me and our other buddy. He racked up some deco obligation (135fsw max, 80+fsw average, for an hour or so dive) and bent the computer...

We sent the computer back and Oceanic replaced it.

My computer, on the other hand, made it about six months before it started going weird on me. One night, it started beeping (I was actually on vacation, in a hotel room, with nowhere to stash the stupid thing...) and kept beeping for over 48 hours, until I could get home and use the battery removal kit thing.

We sent that computer back to Oceanic and they replaced it....I sold it as soon as I got it back. Soon after, we sold my hubby's computer as well.

Oceanic has pretty good customer/warranty service, but with two brand new computers crapping out in less than six months, I would say that their products are not nearly as good...

FWIW, I dive a Uwatec Tec2G now and have had zero problems with it for a year now.

 

[requindiver]

I have a D9, only used it for a short time. The build quality is great, & the transmitter is much smaller than Oceanic/Aeris. I don't use Suunto products as they are way too conservative, and will inevitably lock you out, rendering your computer useless. The D9's compass is pretty useless as it does not stay on long enough to be useful, and wears down the battery, which is not user replaceable. Having a user replaceable battery is critical, otherwise plan on bringing a back-up computer when your D9 goes dead. Also, the high cost and lost time by having Suunto replace your batteries is another factor.

I really like the Oceanic/Aeris computer algorithm, user replaceable batteries, great tech support, and easy to read displays. I personally would not recommend a hoseless system, but if you do get one make sure you have an SPG as your primary source for reading air pressure. I have and use an Aeris ATMOS ai as my primary, and the Manta as my redundant backup.

 

[ajduplessis]

My brother and I both own D9’s. They are great and work very well. I appreciate the conservative dive program. This can be changed to a 50% setting if you are a more aggressive diver. The compass do switch of after 60 seconds to prolong battery life, don’t know why you would be looking at it for much longer. If you do for extreme navigation, you selected the wrong kit, use a real magnetic one rather. I only use the compass function as a backup. Battery life is around 3 years which is great.

I am looking at a second dive watch and prefer the OC1 (3 transmitters, perfect for trimix and rebreathers).

Kind Regards
Jacques