SSshhhhhhhhhh---computers!

[ThatsSomeBadHatHarry]

aeris xr2. awesome

 

[RonFrank]

I doubt you are going to find an Analog computer. However check out the Aeris Atmos II demo

HERE

The display is simple and large. The top number is Current Depth, next is dive time remaining before NDL, Then there is a bar graph, as you dive the bars indicate the NDL, showing Green, then Yellow, then Red. On the bottom there is max depth on the left, and dive time on the right. Rather simple. You don't need to push buttons during the dive. Heck you don't need to even turn it on, it is water activated.

The only time you may need to push a button is if you want to activate the backlight. This illuminates the whole face which is nice if you are doing a night dive.

In any event, I doubt you are going to find a computer that is going to have just NDL information as they all offer a lot of features that users may want. IMO you may find that you use this for Depth, Dive Time, and NDL as it's really to take all that in at a glace at one guage.

I use a Citizen Aquamaster as a backup depth guage and Bottom timer.

Some other useful things about a computer are you can in fact download the dives, and it shows water temp which is somewhat nice for planning on exposure protection for the next dive.

In any event, good luck with the decision. IMO you would be happy with most of the recommendations that have been provided. Just make sure that what you choose does nitrox as that sounds important to you.

BTW, the Atmos II also has a guage mode, but then that is not going to calculate your NDL, and give a dive time remaining. The nice thing about dive time remaining is that it adjusts as you ascend. If you are at 100 feet with 10 minutes left, and then ascend say to a deck at 65 feet you will see the time increase.

 

[Creed]

Ahh, I had missed his nitrox comment. In that case, modify my recommendation to the Oceanic Veo 180. Basically the 100 w/ nitrox capabilities. Same bubble gauge. I think as a member of scubaboard, you get a 10% discount from scubatoys if you phone in your order, which would put the 180 at $288, which is not bad for a simple nitrox computer.

 

[Nemrod]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will carefully look at those. I think one thing that aggravates me about them is they are obsolete so quickly, unlike a B&G spg that may function for decades and of course the price. Well, I have said it before, the next revolution in submarine exploration gear is electronics. Once upon a time jet engines were controled by fully mechanical fuel controls and slowly they morphed into full digital controls--FADEC. I think we may soon see, in the next decade, an electronic/digital controlled regulator instead of the fully mechanical devices we have now.

I think I would want to wrist mount it though it would be nice if it could pop into a console for times I feel geekish. Why don't they make the displays simpler and BIGGER for people who wear glasses? N

 

[goodeatsfan]

My wife and I love our Veo200's. Easy to read and use...

 

[BSea]

I think I would want to wrist mount it though it would be nice if it could pop into a console for times I feel geekish. Why don't they make the displays simpler and BIGGER for people who wear glasses? N

I have an oceanic mainly because of the large numbers, and at the time it was one of the few that was integrated and offered nitrox (yes, it's an integrated console). It's about 8 years old, and I won't be replacing it anytime soon unless it dies on me. Even though it has allot of info available, I basically look at 3 things, my air, my time remaining, and the no deco graph. Even though there are more advanced models with the latest & greatest, I don't see any great need to change. My next big tech purchase will be those stick on cheater lenses.

 

[thomjinx]

The newest version of the Oceanic Veo 100, the Veo 100nx, will do nitrox as well as air. The Oceanic/Aeris computers are some of the most intuitive and easy to read.
IMO, dive computers don't go obsolete as fast as general purpose computers. Yes, maybe a new one will come out with more features, but the old one will still do everything it would do when you bought it! You don't have to worry about compatibility with new programs like you do with regular computers.
My Oceanic Versa Pro lets me toggle the display so that I can see either the bare minimum of info, or more info, as I choose.

 

[captain]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will carefully look at those. I think one thing that aggravates me about them is they are obsolete so quickly, unlike a B&G spg that may function for decades and of course the price. Well, I have said it before, the next revolution in submarine exploration gear is electronics. Once upon a time jet engines were controled by fully mechanical fuel controls and slowly they morphed into full digital controls--FADEC. I think we may soon see, in the next decade, an electronic/digital controlled regulator instead of the fully mechanical devices we have now.

I think I would want to wrist mount it though it would be nice if it could pop into a console for times I feel geekish. Why don't they make the displays simpler and BIGGER for people who wear glasses? N

It's only obsolete if you think it is. The algorthym in my 22 year old Edge is not obsolete and the computer is still perfectly useable. Newer ones are smaller with more features that you may or may not need or want. There haven't been any great leaps in decompression technology in the last 20 years just a matter of degrees of conservatism between the current models.

 

[Falco]

Hockey puck computers are probably amongst the cheaper out there, they work very well. I've used the Sherwood profile, insight ans the Oceanic Veo180 (current computer). I prefer the oceanic veo 180 since it has all the basic features I need (BT mode, air/nitrox when in computer mode and pc download) at a reasonable price.

 

[RonFrank]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will carefully look at those. I think one thing that aggravates me about them is they are obsolete so quickly, unlike a B&G spg that may function for decades and of course the price. Well, I have said it before, the next revolution in submarine exploration gear is electronics. Once upon a time jet engines were controled by fully mechanical fuel controls and slowly they morphed into full digital controls--FADEC. I think we may soon see, in the next decade, an electronic/digital controlled regulator instead of the fully mechanical devices we have now.

I think I would want to wrist mount it though it would be nice if it could pop into a console for times I feel geekish. Why don't they make the displays simpler and BIGGER for people who wear glasses? N

All of the computers suggested I believe come with several mounting options. I can put my Atmos II in a console, or on a retractor, or in a guage. I choose to have it on my wrist, but I can change that at any time.

These things will not become obsolete any time soon. What more do I need a computer to do? Nothing. So as technology changes, and new models are available the only question is does my current computer meet my needs, and the answer is yes.