Spg, AI, both

[mattvish]

I'd like to know how you got to that conclusion. I feel like the polywhatever plastic is more durable than the metals. As for looks, I can admit I have terrible taste, I like the look of the G1 better than the Teric, despite being far cheaper. I haven't seen the Tern. I don't have a problem with saving money but I prefer to save money by having my stuff last longer rather than spending less on something that won't last.

By all means, criticize the Garmin, I'm not loyal to a brand. I'd like to know.

The Tern looks very similar to the Teric... looks is personal taste, you do you...
Polymer is durable for sure but more then metal?... not sure, and doesn't really matter, you hopefully wont drive a tank over it. But IMHO a metal housing ages more noble... (eg Shearwater Teric or Perdix?), plastic just looks bad after years of demanding usages. I use the Teric over 5 years/+400 dives, never had any issues and if someday, Shearwater support is legendary. Nice point is also that Shearwater keep their value pretty well, still could sell mine for almost half for what I paid.
In terms of DC function you're right, I may have jumped to conclusion here. Never dived a Garmin, I know many love it and for sure it's a capable DC, also the G1 (or any Descent) is the better every dive day carry. I hate that the Teric has no option to keep the watch on. However, I want a dive computer that just works for many years. Garmin released their MK1 in 2017 and heard they basically stopped supporting it last year.

 

[Failed captcha]

The Tern looks very similar to the Teric... looks is personal taste, you do you...
Polymer is durable for sure but more then metal?... not sure, and doesn't really matter, you hopefully wont drive a tank over it. But IMHO a metal housing ages more noble... (eg Shearwater Teric or Perdix?), plastic just looks bad after years of demanding usages. I use the Teric over 8 years/+400 dives, never had any issues and if someday, Shearwater support is legendary. Nice point is also that Shearwater keep their value pretty well, still could sell mine for almost half for what I paid.
In terms of DC function you're right, I may have jumped to conclusion here. Never dived a Garmin, I know many love it and for sure it's a capable DC, also the G1 (or any Descent) is the better every dive day carry. I hate that the Teric has no option to keep the watch on. However, I want a dive computer that just works for many years. Garmin released their MK1 in 2017 and heard they basically stopped supporting it last year.

I have used exactly 3 models of Dive computer. My attitude a decade ago was that it was an unnecessary gimmick and passing trend. I bought an Oceanic dive computer and almost immediately hated it andd am confident I would still hate it today. I thought I figured out how to not make it beep but it beeped anyway, a lot. I also had to press a button everytime I looked at it, which made it beep, in order to see the info I wanted and then look at my SPG.

So I sold it to someone for beer money (not Budlight) and got a Mares dive computer to finish the padi courses I was doing and my wife actually still wears it and we dive together so I basically still use it. A few days ago a friend of mine let me borrow his cute little blue thing that is not a color I would choose and it was "Solar" which made me question his intelligence in addition to his sexual orientation.

So I actually got to try the G1 and I have to say I think I'm going to get the non-blue, non-solar version for myself unless I can find a good reason not to in the next couple of weeks. I'm still researching a dive computer for my wife and she wants a Shearwater with AI. I think we can all agree she is smarter than I am.

 

[L13]

I've had outstanding customer service from Garmin, comparable to all the stories I hear about Shearwater(though a lot of that might have been my LDS). That is only a sample size of 1, Shearwater has been around much longer.

 

[mattvish]

I've had outstanding customer service from Garmin, comparable to all the stories I hear about Shearwater(though a lot of that might have been my LDS). That is only a sample size of 1, Shearwater has been around much longer.

My concern is the support life with Garmin, they released 3 models of their MK series (7 if you count all options) where Shearwater still makes the original Teric and they will probably for some time. Shearwater still supports the Predator from 2009 (however no firmware updates anymore).

 

[Joneill]

... Shearwater still makes the original Teric and they will probably for some time.

Not sure that if that fact on the Teric is a good one as they still seem to use the same problematic batteries that they've never acknowledged are problematic (lose charge life faster than they should after a period of use) - luckily, they have great service and will fix, but about time for a Teric 2, I think.

 

[mattvish]

Not sure that if that fact on the Teric is a good one as they still seem to use the same problematic batteries that they've never acknowledged are problematic (lose charge life faster than they should after a period of use) - luckily, they have great service and will fix, but about time for a Teric 2, I think.

Interesting, didn't know about the battery issue... mine works fine after I don't know how many charging cycles... still holds easily for 5 days diving without recharge or getting worried. I will take more care now and not let the charge drop below 30%.

 

[Failed captcha]

Not sure that if that fact on the Teric is a good one as they still seem to use the same problematic batteries that they've never acknowledged are problematic (lose charge life faster than they should after a period of use) - luckily, they have great service and will fix, but about time for a Teric 2, I think.

Is this generally accepted by a plurality of people at least as smart as me? I guess I'm seeking an opinion about peer attitudes for whatever it might be worth. Is that notion controversial, that the batteries are a common problem that they refuse to acknowledge?

 

[Edward3c]

You consider AI a must-have despite having been diving since long before the SPG was common. That's the strongest argument for it I've seen yet. You are former military?

When you want to have a dive computer, with AI or not, is your choice. You can still dive on tables. I’ve over 45 years in this fantastic sport/hobby/addiction with buying my first computer in 1993. Initially I continued to dive tables as my dive buddies were computerless. What I soon discovered was the computer was calculating my N take up in real time giving me better none deco time. Even when doing mandatory deco stops my second and third dives were much longer bottom time than staying on tables. Often the third dive could not be done on tables.
I bought an AI 4 years ago and have found to reliable, but I still have a SPG attached. Not because I don’t trust the AI, but on the few occasions I’ve forgotten the computer I can still dive - I have my old computer attached to my jacket so I can’t forget it.
Over the years I’ve had to replace more SPGs from inaccurate readings than computers.
This will not go down well on SB, but I use have always bought Suunto, currently an EON Steel Black.

 

[Failed captcha]

When you want to have a dive computer, with AI or not, is your choice. You can still dive on tables. I’ve over 45 years in this fantastic sport/hobby/addiction with buying my first computer in 1993. Initially I continued to dive tables as my dive buddies were computerless. What I soon discovered was the computer was calculating my N take up in real time giving me better none deco time. Even when doing mandatory deco stops my second and third dives were much longer bottom time than staying on tables. Often the third dive could not be done on tables.
I bought an AI 4 years ago and have found to reliable, but I still have a SPG attached. Not because I don’t trust the AI, but on the few occasions I’ve forgotten the computer I can still dive - I have my old computer attached to my jacket so I can’t forget it.
Over the years I’ve had to replace more SPGs from inaccurate readings than computers.
This will not go down well on SB, but I use have always bought Suunto, currently an EON Steel Black.

To be vigorously honest, I haven't really done any dives computerless in years. I know they're essential, I just haven't found one I want to wear. So I am normallly in the water, with other divers, some of whom have computers and I therefore don't need to be wearing one.

About a decade ago, I got one I hated and immediately got rid of it, got another right away because I was taking courses because I wanted training so I finished PADI IDC. My wife uses it and we dive together.

I was that guy that kept using tapes until I could connect an iphone to my car. I completely skipped the use of CDs. I just wanted to do something similar with my diving gear. I'm glad I didn't get AI when it first started showing up on the market. I'm thinking I can skip AI for a few more years at least, maybe 10 and then when I do get it, there will be some more features. Maybe by then I'll need a new regulator too. All my wife's stuff is fairly new so I don't mind getting her what she wants. I do carry a table and I have just about memorized it and in general, around home, I know my way around the dive sites so well, that I rarely even think about depth or my SPG.

Probably next year, I'll get my own compressor and fill tanks at my house. I'm still not conviced that a dive computer is a higher priority for me than a compressor and I am certain that won't go down well on SB.

 

[stuartv]

Yeah that's mostly it, I like the way it looks and feels. I borrowed one for a day and I think I like the way it functions but even 30k pesos is still significant to me. I don't want to regret buying it. I'd like to hear of good reasons not to buy the Garmin Descent G1.

I'm going to guess that if your wife's new computer were to die for some reason, you might want to be able to give her yours to use, while you go back to your Casio (or nothing). In that case, do you want to give her a computer she already knows how to use? Or a Descent?

You don't have to waste your time getting to know my reg or disparaging miflex hoses.

Well, allow me... LOL!

The biggest problem with braided hoses (like MiFlex) are that they commonly fail (WHEN they fail) in a way that you cannot foresee by visual inspection. In other words, you can thoroughly examine one and have it appear to be totally fine, and it still fail catastrophically in the water.

In contrast, rubber hoses ALMOST always will show signs of impending failure. You will see cracks, or a bulge, or a fine shower of bubbles coming out in the water. All warning signs that the hose is going to go soon, allowing you to replace it before it actually blows during a dive.

MiFlex hoses used to offer the advantage of being more flexible than rubber hoses. No more. You can now get rubber hoses that are just as flexible as braided hoses. And they are smooth, so they don't rub anything like braided hoses can.

Thanks for that bit of info especially about customer service.

As for track record, Garmin has an extremely good track record overall with regard to performance of their devices, does this not hold true with their dive computers? On that note, Shearwater hasn't been making dive computers much longer, only a few years, and I have read about a battery drain issue along with slow and expensive servicing.

It is definitely time to replace the old Casio but I wish Casio made a DC.

The battery drain issue is specific to the Teric. I have 2 Terics. I've had them serviced (battery or complete board replacement) a combined total of about 7 times now. But, they are still my preferred dive computer. Despite the battery discharging more quickly than the factory spec says they should, they still last plenty long enough on a full charge for several days of diving. Their battery drain issue has never been remotely severe enough that I have missed a dive or had a dive cut short because of it.

Slow and expensive servicing has been reported by some Shearwater users in Europe. Not an issue here in the U.S..

Is this generally accepted by a plurality of people at least as smart as me? I guess I'm seeking an opinion about peer attitudes for whatever it might be worth. Is that notion controversial, that the batteries are a common problem that they refuse to acknowledge?

No. Everyone recognizes that the Teric batteries have some kind of issue that may still be unresolved. I think Shearwater knows about it, too. But, they have not publicly acknowledged the issue. And that may be as simple as them not having a solid fix identified. I don't know.