Thanks to all who have replied. You all have some good information to read. I decided to hold off on the purchase for now and just go with my basic gear to class and dive with a variety of products to see what works well for me and the wife. Thanks again to all who responded and I will keep checking back for more great responses. Take care. Tim
Suunto vs. Uwatec...Air Int Nitrox capable dive computers...
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scuba_adventurer
Guest
The Uwatec SmartCom, which should become available relatively soon, has got the Cobra beat in many categories. I use a Cobra, and I really like it, but this new computer will be loaded.
First off, it replaces the Aladin Air, which I thought was a piece of ****. It only logged like 10 dives and cost close to the same as a Cobra. Who was SCUBAPro kidding? The SmartCom will come standard with a Quick Disconnect and Compass, just like the Air did.
It uses the Advanced Buhlman model Algorithm, which is debatable as to how much better it is than the RGBM. I know the RGBM is more conservative, but the Buhlman accounts for water temp and ascent rates and adjusts it's level of aggressiveness accordingly. I am excited to dive it. It will also come with an Ifared Data port for syncing with your pc, another cool feature.
I am not looking at the specs, just writing from memory, so I might be off a little on some things, but it looks like this will be a great computer. One small Uwatec gripe is no bar graphs. They are still using hte completely numerical display.
First off, it replaces the Aladin Air, which I thought was a piece of ****. It only logged like 10 dives and cost close to the same as a Cobra. Who was SCUBAPro kidding? The SmartCom will come standard with a Quick Disconnect and Compass, just like the Air did.
It uses the Advanced Buhlman model Algorithm, which is debatable as to how much better it is than the RGBM. I know the RGBM is more conservative, but the Buhlman accounts for water temp and ascent rates and adjusts it's level of aggressiveness accordingly. I am excited to dive it. It will also come with an Ifared Data port for syncing with your pc, another cool feature.
I am not looking at the specs, just writing from memory, so I might be off a little on some things, but it looks like this will be a great computer. One small Uwatec gripe is no bar graphs. They are still using hte completely numerical display.
tombiowami
Contributor
To clear up my post...
I am not a big fan of buying computers to get more bottom time, there is a long thread a while back on someone who became seriously bent by following his computer, and it was a big name brand, maybe one mentioned here.
In the marketing rooms they will push their product as the one that gives the longest bottom time eventually.
I use nitrox to get more dive time and use tables for safety. If my computer breaks then I just use my watch, to carry over the time, and I always have a table with me.
My training and my brain tell me when I need to do what while underwater.
Tommy
I am not a big fan of buying computers to get more bottom time, there is a long thread a while back on someone who became seriously bent by following his computer, and it was a big name brand, maybe one mentioned here.
In the marketing rooms they will push their product as the one that gives the longest bottom time eventually.
I use nitrox to get more dive time and use tables for safety. If my computer breaks then I just use my watch, to carry over the time, and I always have a table with me.
My training and my brain tell me when I need to do what while underwater.
Tommy
sharpenu
Contributor
That is because there is one thing that no table or computer can ever take into account: each person is different. Even the same person can get bent on the same dive he did last week with no problems. There are too many variables. What was for breakfast? How are you feeling? The only way not to get bent is not to get on a plane or dive. I hear the argument all the time about how you can get bent following a computer. You can get bent on the tables as well. If you are that worried about it, I say don't buy a computer at all. If you are going to follow the tables anyway, save the $200 to $800.
You get more time with a computer because you are getting credit for time spent at shallower depths. If we spend 40 minutes at 70 feet on a dive, we would both be fine, with 5 minutes of bottom time to spare. But what if it were 39 minutes at 70 feet and 1 minute at 71 feet? I would be on the boat eating pineapple and you would be in a 10 minute decompression status. For a one foot depth change in the last minute of the dive?!? Safer, yes. Sensical, no. There are more ways to get hurt using nitrox on tables than air on computer. Especially with the extra math involved. One small error in addition and you are headed for OXTOX. With a computer that is a non-issue.
You get more time with a computer because you are getting credit for time spent at shallower depths. If we spend 40 minutes at 70 feet on a dive, we would both be fine, with 5 minutes of bottom time to spare. But what if it were 39 minutes at 70 feet and 1 minute at 71 feet? I would be on the boat eating pineapple and you would be in a 10 minute decompression status. For a one foot depth change in the last minute of the dive?!? Safer, yes. Sensical, no. There are more ways to get hurt using nitrox on tables than air on computer. Especially with the extra math involved. One small error in addition and you are headed for OXTOX. With a computer that is a non-issue.
Uwatec doesn't have bar graphs, but the bar graph that Suuto uses on their new line of computers is just a redundancy for BT remaining and in Nitrox mode, it changes to PO2 level. Not real helpful, like those bar graphs on the Pelagic computers (ie Aeris, Matrix, etc).
I personally use a Vyper; great little computer, descent deco, and I like to dive a little conservative, so it really doesn't limit my diving pleasure. I also use a Datamax Sport, hockey puck type computer (my first one), as a back up. Both computers read about the same at depth while on air. However, the Datamax doesn't do nitrox, and though I'm certified in nitrox, I too do not dive nitrox real regularly, so it's no big deal to me at this point. Been looking at buying another Vyper for backup, but haven't made that leap yet (no funds).
I looked long and hard at the Uwatec line, but didn't like the layout of the data; I had a hard time deciphering the data on the screen at first glance. It didn't seem to intuitive, had to shell out another 100 on top of the $1000 price tag to change the options on the computer, and it had to be sent back to the factory for battery replacement. I liked the model used for deco tracking, however, and the debate reigns on as to which is better: Uwatec's model vs Suunto's model.
I have decided to stay away from air integration because if the comptuer fails, so does your air tracking. However, computers rarely fail, if at all. I have been diving on computers for about 10 years and they have yet to fail, other the the occasional user errror. I do not need a computer to track my air supply when a gauge can do it nicely; I know my air consumption due to experience and don't need the computer to determine my air time remaining for me. The one feature that would sway me into an air integrated computer would be one that had an O2 analyzer built in. Anyone know of one?
I agree with the "wait and research" before you buy. I know that stores want to sell the the big ticket items, but sometimes those are not what the customer needs at the time. Talk to other divers and talk to the divers of your diving capabilities and see what suits their needs. I am unwilling to shell out big bucks for a feature that doesn't suit my needs or one that I'll never use.
Cheers
I personally use a Vyper; great little computer, descent deco, and I like to dive a little conservative, so it really doesn't limit my diving pleasure. I also use a Datamax Sport, hockey puck type computer (my first one), as a back up. Both computers read about the same at depth while on air. However, the Datamax doesn't do nitrox, and though I'm certified in nitrox, I too do not dive nitrox real regularly, so it's no big deal to me at this point. Been looking at buying another Vyper for backup, but haven't made that leap yet (no funds).
I looked long and hard at the Uwatec line, but didn't like the layout of the data; I had a hard time deciphering the data on the screen at first glance. It didn't seem to intuitive, had to shell out another 100 on top of the $1000 price tag to change the options on the computer, and it had to be sent back to the factory for battery replacement. I liked the model used for deco tracking, however, and the debate reigns on as to which is better: Uwatec's model vs Suunto's model.
I have decided to stay away from air integration because if the comptuer fails, so does your air tracking. However, computers rarely fail, if at all. I have been diving on computers for about 10 years and they have yet to fail, other the the occasional user errror. I do not need a computer to track my air supply when a gauge can do it nicely; I know my air consumption due to experience and don't need the computer to determine my air time remaining for me. The one feature that would sway me into an air integrated computer would be one that had an O2 analyzer built in. Anyone know of one?
I agree with the "wait and research" before you buy. I know that stores want to sell the the big ticket items, but sometimes those are not what the customer needs at the time. Talk to other divers and talk to the divers of your diving capabilities and see what suits their needs. I am unwilling to shell out big bucks for a feature that doesn't suit my needs or one that I'll never use.
Cheers
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