Suunto Computers - Final Conclusion.

[Fires]

I read alredy a lot and sadly the Suunto algorithm cannot hold a dive instructor rythme doing 4 dives per day in Cozumel... And now that i learn that the d6i novo doesnt have the option to make it less conservative i definetly have to abandon my lover d6 jaja. Is sad but i need a efective tool and not one that is gonna put me down for 2 days if i have to recover a dsd from the surface...

Alright each to there own, but I still feel like we are up in the clouds here. There is no set scenario here to prove that one might be better than the other, based on the 4 dives you will be doing in said place with said data.

Basically what I am trying to say, is that if you do something "rescue/stupid/close to deco/ whatever the hell you want to call it", again, this has no real situation here yet, then any computer could lock you out.

Again, each to their own, and my personal preference is to dive on the safer side. Even more so when doing multiple days diving. I have used my d4 and d4i in warm to near freezing temperatures, on multiple days, multiple dives, a lot of teaching (i.e. not perfect profiles) at altitude > 1500m (L2) and have never been limited more than what I needed. But again, that is just my, 1 persons, experience.

As a last ditch, have a look at the Eon Core (which runes the Fused RGBM) (where I am it is the same price as the d6), as Diving Dubai stated before, it actually gave more NDL time than other models (perdix I think it was), or only slightly less (2-3min) based on settings.

Best of luck, and I hope either way you find a computer you like (regardless of what it is) and you stay safe! Safe diving!

 

[Magnus Lundstedt]

Thank you Blasto for your quick reply. I guess i will go for the Oceanic oci even if im in love with the d6...
Sorry not 50% just rgbm 50 instead of 100, I thought that with that change the suunto is going less conservative but im gonna work in Cozumel doing 4 dives per day with lots of swim throughs so i guess i have to abandon Sunnto .

I like the Oceanic OCi much, i think it is a great computer, you can have up to 4 air transmitters at the same time and you can chose from 2 different algoritms.

That said, i know many divemasters and instructors working in SEA that do 3-6 dives a day that uses different Suunto computers, it works just fine, if you do the reasonable dives.

So if you like the D6/D6i it will work fine for you.

I think much of the beliefs that Suunto will penalize you for repetitivedives come from the old Zoop, that was more limiting when you do repetetive dives for multiple days.

 

[mnjhuz76]

I'm using my (old) Vyper Air as backup for the Perdix. As such the 50% RGBM comes in handy so the Vyper isn't locked out in case I might need it...

 

[Zef]

I just looked through my logs from a trip to Malapascua a couple of years ago. 3-4 dives a day for a solid week and the average dive time calculated from the actual dive times I have listed was roughly an hour. At the time I was diving with a Suunto Vyper and had no problems and never felt limited on dive time. Typically after nearly an hour of blowing bubbles underwater I am getting pretty board, thirsty, or hungry so I am typically ready to be finishing the dive. In 23 years of diving I have never exceeded the no-deco limits on any of my dives though I have on occasion run the time down pretty close but it was planned that way. The issue of being limited when diving with someone who uses a different computer make/model is the same whenever brands are being mixed. I belong to 2 dive clubs and the variety of computers on the wrists of my fellow club members is phenomenal...I have never heard anyone complain from either club that they felt limited by someone wearing a Suunto or any other computer when doing multiple dives. To me it really seems to be an overblown issue.

-Z

 

[doctormike]

In 23 years of diving I have never exceeded the no-deco limits on any of my dives

Then it's definitely time to start!

 

[Kensei]

Hah! And even then we won't know...

One of the most important concepts in medicine is "there is a bell curve for everything". Two people are exposed to the exact same virus or toxin, one gets sick and one doesn't. Why? Because there is a bell curve for everything.

True, but the curve may be very far from "bell shaped" or symmetrical. (i.e., it may be highly skewed). My guess is we simply don't know what the graphed variability looks like across a large, representative sample size.

OTOH, do you know of any studies that tried to directly measure nitrogen load, via blood samples, of a group of divers who dove the exact same profile over one or multiple dives? What's the best way to directly measure nitrogen load?

 

[Joebar]

OTOH, do you know of any studies that tried to directly measure nitrogen load, via blood samples, of a group of divers who dove the exact same profile over one or multiple dives? What's the best way to directly measure nitrogen load?

Not a nitrogen measure but a study of bubble formation after diving by DAN:
DAN Europe - Our Projects
DAN Europe - Carotid Artery Doppler Screening

Sorry I didn't find the study itself

 

[doctormike]

OTOH, do you know of any studies that tried to directly measure nitrogen load, via blood samples, of a group of divers who dove the exact same profile over one or multiple dives? What's the best way to directly measure nitrogen load?

I'm not a decompression physiologist, but my understanding is that the way that nitrogen load and the effects of compartment overpressure (which is what we really care about) is measured is with doppler (ultrasound) studies looking for bubbles.

Even if you could measure both dissolved and free (bubble) N2 in a blood sample withdrawn from a diver, I don't know if that would actually correlate with nitrogen bubbles in the tissues themselves or decompression stress actually occurring in the body. I also don't know if the act of removing blood from the body would result in an immediate change in those values.

 

[Scubanoobi]

Just a comment on the 50% RGBM, I had a Suunto Vyper Air and used the built in dive simulator quite a bit to test different scenarios and see the resulting NDL's. Based on my testing setting the suunto to RGBM 50% only affected dive #2. Dive #3 and above had the same NDL's as using RGBM 100%. Dive #1 was identical as well. So if you're only doing 2 dives, it will extend your times for the second dive, but that's it.

 

[Hatul]

Hello im also very confuse with this subject. Im working as a dive instructor and im planning to buy the suunto d6i the problem now reading a lot of coments is that i fear that if i do 4 dives per day 6 days a week its gonna be a headache to buy Suunto and maybe better option to buy the oceanic oci or the aqualung i450t.
Im i right or should i go for the Suunto and put it on 50%rgbm ?

My exposure to Suunto computers is a few years old but I doubt they changed their algorithm. If your’e a dive professional and need to do a lot of dives you should likely stay clear of Suunto.
I met a dive guide in Cozumel a few years ago who sold his Suunto for this reason.