Oceanic VT3/Suunto Vyper Air/Suunto Helo2

[intheair10]

Narrowing it down, my choice would be either the Vyper Air or the VT3, based on price and experience level. My only reluctance with the Suunto is if it's going to give you issues doing multiple dives. A majority of my diving will be to the Caribbean where I want to put in as much boat/shore diving as possible in a few days.

 

[formernuke]

Vytec DS is discontinued. :-(

Yes but if you look around you can get one for a good price, agualungs restrictions aren't as bad because it has been discontinued

 

[ptyx]

I'm using a Vyper.

If you're planning full weeks of continuous diving (Bonaire or liveaboard style) on air, it will give you some deco on the last dives.

That is easily remediated by:

• taking a half day pause in the middle of the week
• diving nitrox
• or last but not least, getting trained for deco dives

I find that most of the dives I do in those locations are triangular, so even if the computer goes into deco early, just doing a leisurely slow ascent make it come back to nodec "naturally".

And in case it does not, a 5 minutes stop at the end of a dive never killed anyone

The only time I've seen my Vyper go crazy with deco (compared to a buddy having another brand) was a training dive with a lot of ascent/descent and diver recovery exercises... and it was well deserved.

 

[ScubaBasics]

@ intheair10

Not sure if you've had a chance to watch our latest video review. Bill Mitchell from Oceanic demonstrated some of the finer features of the VT-3.

VT3 Dive Computer Video Review

Not sure if you can count me as non-bias but I dive the VT3 as my primary computer and can say it is everything I wanted and much more. What I like most of all is I can actually see/read the display. My eyesight isn't what it use to be so large digits are a must have for me. If you like Oceanic's Pro Plus 2 then you'll like the freedom VT3 provides. I've listed some of the detail of the VT3 below.

• Air, Nitrox, Gauge and Free Dive Modes
• Wireless Air Integrated Technology
• Switch between up to 3 independent transmitters, tracking up to 3 Nitrox mixes or your buddyÃÔ tank pressure.
• Patented Air Time Remaining Algorithm
• Audible Alarms with User Acknowledgment
• SmartGloŽ® Backlighting
• Includes OceanLogŽ® PC Download and Settings Upload Software and USB cable
• Advanced User Settings and Options
• Adjustable safety stop time and depth
• Use With or Without Wireless Transmitter
• Diver-Replaceable Batteries

If you have any questions feel free to PM me here or call me at the Shop. Toll Free: 1-877-597-2822 | Intl: +1-317-644-0525

 

[scuba127]

I don't believe concerns about repetitive diving with Helo2 are grounded in fact. There's a post over on deco stop by a guy who dove with the Helo2; his buddy used the VT3. His best guess was that the VT3 was comparble to a personal setting -1`on the Helo2. His analysis included a second dive.

 

[gr8fuldiverNC]

i see a lot about transmitters here, but most serious divers and virtually all tech diver eschew them. dont waste your money. why pay hundred of dollars more for an unreliable piece of kit (people who have no problems with transmitters just havent dived enough, i dive every day as a pro, and have seen more units fail than units that work), when a much cheaper mechanical version is available and reliable. keep it simple. all that said, if you are going tech, none of the mentioned machines is appropriate. 3 gasses is just not enough. look for a vr3, vrx, shearwater, hs explorer, nitek x, or the x1. all in the same price range, and good for real tec diving, and will grow with you as you progress. ive always wondered who buys this stuff, someone must, cause the companies keep making and selling half-assed gear. theres a sucker born every minute.

that being said, i love suunto products, very reliable for the most part (if you ignore the mosquito), i use one for tec diving too, but just in gauge mode. 1500 bucks is a lot of money for a bottom timer, tho. Id buy a rolex instead.

 

[scuba127]

Helo2 will handle 8 gases. Mark Powell, author of the book Deco for Divers, posted a review of the Helo2 over on York Shire Divers. He said some of positive things to say about the Helo2; however, he stated that there are better choices for extensive trimix tec diving. He stated that he thought the Helo2 would be a good choice for divers doing 10 - 20 trimix dives a year. He did nitrox/air deco dives with the Helo2 and compared its decompression properties to the VR3 with the deep stops a little shallower than than V3 - a good thing in his opinion.

 

[gr8fuldiverNC]

yeah the helo2 is probably fine if you dont tec dive much and use it without the transmitter. but if you end up going rebreathers, as many serious tekkies do, youre gonna have to get something else. the other machines i mentioned all support rebreather diving. too bad suunto didnt put a po2 setpoint option on there....

 

[tstormdiver]

I got the transmitter with my HelO2. I basically will use the trasmitter on my recreational regulator when I'm teaching or just messing around & use the computer by itself for my technical diving. The best of both worlds for me.

 

[Freerolling]

What about diving doubles? Does anyone use a transmitter on that rig? I'm thinking Helo2 in this case, but it occured to me that in the case of doubles I wouldn't know which 1st stage post I should attach the transmitter to. I guess the one that doesn't have an SPG (I would dive with that too...not gonna totally rely on a transmitter). Sorry if this is a stoopid question, but someone who's considering using a Helo2 for Tech1 type diving could probably give me some good advice here before I shell out $1500. Thanks in advance!!!!