Oceanic Atom 2...Is it me or what!?

[snh280]

I'm pretty new to diving but I thought I'd better get my self a DC. I wanted a second hand one as the price might better for me at the moment. So, off I go to the local 'Cash Converters' and they had just had one in and I don't think they had the time to have researched the worth of it as I got it for AU$120!! 3 years old, serviced and everything with it. Not a mark on it. I get it checked out, and it perfect. Result!!

And then...The manual. :shocked2: What the f**k were they thinking of? Complex/complicated doesn't come anywhere near! I searched for a 'how to' video on 'Youtube' but nothing.

Is it me? Is this the most complex DC on the market or is it just the manual?

Does anyone know where I can find a 'how to' video? or should I just sell it and get something else?

 

[Kilili]

The manual is an absolute disaster, but it's a good dive computer once you muddle your way thru it all.

 

[Dragon Down]

I think the manual was written lawyers... and specifically lawyers that have never read a manual before.

I've been a computer programmer for 15 years and most of the time I just push random buttons on the thing rather than look at that manual again.

 

[Dragon Down]

Only thing I've found is Dive Computer Training

I'm guessing the crappy manual is the reason this training is the 3rd highest priced on that site.

I haven't taken that training yet cause I think Oceanic should be paying for it since they did not include a useful manual. So I cant give any ratings on it.

I wont be buying another Oceanic computer till after I've been able to play with the computer and/or read the manual.

Why the <bad word> does my computer keep getting stuck in gauge mode?

 

[N2DeepInAz]

Agreed on the manual not being the easiest of reads. I have had my Atom for about a year now and have tried to dive it in every mode possible to learn about it. If you have questions, post them up and I'll try to help as best I can. It's a great DC though and very versatile.

 

[SeaHorse81]

I bought an Oceanic GEO two years ago and had the exact same problem -- utterly useless manual. I spent many not-very-happy hours figuring the thing out by myself and drew up a map/flow-chart of how it works. I recently sent this to SCUBASailor on this board who just bought a new Atom, and he seems to have found it very helpful. He said that most of it applied directly to his Atom and that he now intends to expand on the chart for the additional functions that my GEO doesn't have.

I'd be happy to send it along for you as well, along with a follow-up phone consult in case my notations (which were originally meant only for me) are not clear enough. I'm quite happy with the GEO now that I understand it, but I have to admit, I got there the hard way. In the nearly two years since I got it, I have gotten great use from my home-made cheat sheet, and have not referred back to the manual or any of the other included documentation once.

PM me with a fax# and phone# if you want the info, and I'll happily send it along.

 

[DiveNav]

Hi
The online class for the Atom 2 is not yet available. We plan to release it by the end of September

 

[BigWilly]

ditto on the manual... it all starts to make sense as you start to use it. best thing about it, as long as you are diving air, you can pretty much put it on and take it for a spin.

you'll like the atom 2.0, if had mine for 2 years and absolutely love it. have a couple of suunto vypers too, they are ok but i still like the atom better

 

[snh280]

Agreed on the manual not being the easiest of reads. I have had my Atom for about a year now and have tried to dive it in every mode possible to learn about it. If you have questions, post them up and I'll try to help as best I can. It's a great DC though and very versatile.

Thanks N2DeepInAz. As I'm a total novice at diving I don't even know the basics of a DC eg: once I have done 1 dive and at my surface interval does the DC tell me the information that I need for the following dive or do I have to press buttons, and if so, what buttons?

I'm due to go on my fist dive since passing my 'Open Water' on the 1st September.

Thanks once again. Simon Howe.

 

[N2DeepInAz]

Thanks N2DeepInAz. As I'm a total novice at diving I don't even know the basics of a DC eg: once I have done 1 dive and at my surface interval does the DC tell me the information that I need for the following dive or do I have to press buttons, and if so, what buttons?

I'm due to go on my fist dive since passing my 'Open Water' on the 1st September.

Thanks once again. Simon Howe.

As you come to the surface and get out of the water the Atom will stop tracking the dive and go into NORM mode and start tracking your surface interval that will be seen at the bottom of the display. Now that you have a dive on it, it will contain a log and history which you can access by pressing the bottom left button one time and then the top right button to scroll through the dive log info.

On the top left of the display is your nitrogen loading bars. These are located between 9 & 12 o'clock as what looks like little arrows. Pay close attention to these while diving as well since they monitor how much nitrogen is theoretically loading into your system based on the type of diving you are doing. My advice would be to stay out at least an hour between dives and watch those bars drop off. Once they are down to one bar, I'd say you're clear to get back in the water and do another dive.

Hope this helps!