Oceanic VT3/Suunto Vyper Air/Suunto Helo2

[intheair10]

Now that I'm hooked on diving I'm in the market for a wrist-mounted, wireless air integrated dive computer to be used for mostly recreational use and possible tech in the future. I don't care for a digital compass. My diving will include warm and cold water, Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, and cenotes. I'm leaning towards the Helo2 because of the mixed gas features but that pushes the price of a computer+compass up to $1500. I'd prefer to stay closer to $1000. I like the VT3 because of the more liberal deco settings after repetitive dives. The Vyper Air is okay but I'm not thrilled with the matrix display, on the other hand it's the cheapest. Reliability, ease of use, easy to read large display, and functionality, resale value are key. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[ToPpS]

Hi,

I, like many others on this forum have the Oceanic VT3 and transmitter at the moment. (And therefore can only comment on the VT3)

I picked mine up for about $604.00 (New) at the beginning of the year (2009) and have since been very happy with it. Almost all the settings can be customised and you can obviously make it as conservative as you would like. I like the fact that it has 3 buttons that you can use to navigate the menus with and the big face is easy to read underwater. Last time i checked the VT3 does 3 gas switching.... And although you'll read many threads saying that the transmitter loses sync... I have yet to experience that problem on a dive.

Also and this is something that the non-computer-using-divers always throw out there.... If your batteries go flat on you, PADI says that you can't safely dive again that day (24 hours) and definitely can't borrow another computer to complete the dive with. You don't have that with the VT3 (Hot swappable), just swap the batteries out and off you go. (granted this depends on the circumstances under when the batteries fail/are replaced)

All in all, it's a great computer to have on a dive and offers some great peace of mind if you're on of those people who is too busy looking at everything to keep an eye on the time.

 

[tstormdiver]

Well, I've ordered a Helo2 & it should arrive any time now. I'm hoping it will be in this week, so I can play with it some this weekend. I ordered it with the transmitter that I will use on my recreational equipment & then just use the computer without the transmitter for technical diving & gas switches. I will use one of my Nitek Duos as a back- up. Although possible, the chances of both computers going out at the same time aren't very likely.

 

[Rhone Man]

Well, I've ordered a Helo2 & it should arrive any time now.

Make sure you post a review. I am really keen to hear an unbiased review.

Back to OP, another option you might want to consider is the Oceanic Atom 2.0 for that price / features spec.

 

[tstormdiver]

Will do. I'm not yet trained in trimix, so won't be able to comment on that part. Looking at trimix in another year or 2.

 

[scuba127]

I'm planning on upgrading from the Sunnto Vytec to the Helo2. As I understand it, the complaints people have about Sunntos being too conservative on repetitive dives have been addressed in the Helo2 by the ability to make the computer more liberal (i.e. -P1 and -P2 I believe). Given a choice between the VT3 and the Helo2, I'd get the Helo2. If you advance to Trimix your covered. If you do dives that require stops below 60' the Helo2 will handle that while the max deco stop the VT3 will calculate is 60 feet. The VT3 is a nice computer, but for deco diving I'd go with the Helo2. Recreational diving and no Trimix - VT3 would be my choice based on price.

 

[intheair10]

How about resale value of the Suuntos vs. the Oceanic? My feeling is I want a high-end computer for rec use for the time being. I'd also like to add the Shearwater Pursuit to the list--cost starts around $900 and am wondering if the computer is beyond what I'd need. From what I have seen on other boards is it's great for the those who continue to advance and is easy to update.

 

[Selachimorpha]

Have you considered a Suunto Vytec?

 

[tstormdiver]

Just got my HelO2 last night. I haven't gotten to try it out in the water yet. I'll be n the pool tonight, so hope to play with it a little bit. SO far, pretty decently easy to set time & a few parameters with.

 

[intheair10]

Vytec DS is discontinued. :-(