@Kevin Floyd since you were recently asking about DIR and are considering going tech, I would strongly recommend to not get the Suunto. The reason is the proprietary RGBM algorithm. For tech diving, imho, you want a computer that runs the same algorithm as the program you use for planning your dives, and the same algorithm that your training agency recommends. That way you get consistent, predictable results. No use in planning the dive and making a deco schedule upfront, and your computer suddenly turns out to have a different opinion (underwater!). Which one will you follow? There were rumors of Suunto enabling Buhlmann on the Eon, but not sure if this ever materialized.
Back to your original question, I think the best out there are the SW Perdix and the HW OSTC 4. In terms of performance it doesn’t really matter much, it’s a question of personal taste for the user interface and available service. If you are in Europe, the OSTC is a serious contender, over in the states it’s likely easier to find service for a SW.
Best bang for the buck imho would be a second hand Perdix (non-AI) that’s being sold because the owner wants to upgrade to a Perdix AI or Teric etc. Alternative could be one of the lower level OSTC but I forgot the name of the model. This is assuming you want a powerful computer that will grow with you, that you will never outgrow.
if you never venture into tech, then a perdix / ostc is likely overkill, although a very nice and shiny overkill ;-)
if you go absolutely hardcore tech to the end of the road, your best bang for the buck ever ever is the good old Scubapro/Uwatec bottom timer. It’s good to 333m at least, battery lasts more than 10 years, it’s unbreakable and costs around $100 give or take. Except... it’s not a computer ;-) but these kind of dives aren’t done “on the fly”.
For what it’s worth, I have a Perdix. My reasons were as follows:
- I wanted a large, good display so I can read the computer even if I happen to lose a contact lens on the dive
- I wanted a lit display because it’s really nice in caves and murky water
- I wanted an algorithm that works with my training
- I wanted a computer that I won’t outgrow
- I wanted a nice and new shiny toy to upgrade from my Suunto Vyper Air (AI)
A few words about AI. I used to think it’s super, cool, and thats why I originally bought an AI computer (Suunto Vyper Air, later a Perdix AI). After fundamentals, AI became a lot less important to me. Absolutely not because of some kind of brainwash, I still like the idea of post dive analytics, but after a while you learn to predict your gas very accurately based on time/depth alone. That means you already know how much gas you have before you even look at your SPG. Once you can do that reliably, there isnt too much benefit of having the AI. It’s still nice, yes, but it becomes more of a gimmick than really useful. Anyhow, no matter if you go AI or SPG, it’s super beneficial to know an estimate of how much gas you ought to have, so you can verify vs SPG/AI and thus spot issues before they become a problem.
Finally, the cave and tech buddies that I dive with, are about
- 45% Uwatec bottom timer only, no computer
- 45% Perdix, Petrel, etc
- 5% OSTC
- 5% other random computer put into gauge mode
