It is true you will have much shorter BT's dive on tables--- However you will be more conservitive. dive computers monitor your depth and constantly, where a table is planed for your maxium depth --- Tables dont care if you only spent 2 minutes at that depth you still have to come up according to that depth--- For instance if you are using air (icky, yuch) and you dive down to 100 fsw- your Dooper No- Deco limits 20 minutes (depending on what tables you are using)--- It doesnt matter if after 2 minutes you go back up to 40 fsw (where the no-deco limits are 130 minutes)--- You have to plan your dive and dive your plan....
Now look I do lots of stuff below 200fsw (trimix rebreather stuff) where I always use tables... But for crusing around in depths above 130fsw I use computers---
You didnt say what price range you want to stay within so I cant really help you on what type of computer to get ---- What does your instructor want you to get an Aries? If so I would ask for other options--- When I worked at a dive shop we had all sorts of problems with those things- They had many recalls too---
I can tell you what I use or have used in the past--- But I dont claim to know every computer out there...
Cochran Nemisis 2 a which is air intergrated Radio transmitted Wrist Unit --- 1200 bones--- Very expensive --lots of features you may not need I would not recommend it to you based on what you have told us about yourself.
I have a Cochran Commander Wrist Mount--- 500-600 bones- Very nice computer has 2 nitrox mixes or you can use air---- Ive gotten about 800 dives on it--- Still going strong---user replaceable batteries---Back light--- Computer interfaceable--- A little werid to program, takes getting use to... Good Warrenty, Good Company to deal with
Diverite Nitec--- 400-500 bones---Wrist mount ----Good computer--- air or nitrox--- easy to read display-- easy to program--- Computer interfaceable--- No back light
--- Non user replaceable batteries
---- But good computer
I have a Suunto Cobra--- 700-800 bones Air intergrated Hose mount
--- New RGBM tables --- has lots of cool features very popular--- and dependable--- Back light---- User replaceable batteries--- 2 year warrenty--Computer interface--- Quick disconect--- Really nice computer
Suunto Vitec-- Way Over kill for you
VR-3 Trimix/ Rebreather computer--- Again too much for you
Look around talk to people--- I am sorry noone else is willing to help you with the question you asked... I have been diving for many years and have been on both sides of the counter---
Tips for buying computers:
Start by researching prices on the net or go to differnt shops talk to people, talk to your instructor---Once you find one that fits you, find the best price--- Then go to your dive shop and tell them what you want and how much you are willing to pay (hopefully they carry many different brands). They will either accept your offer or tell you to Pound Sand.. If they tell you to pound sand then find a another dive shop to call home (you know what I mean)
If you buy from a shop you get the best of both worlds... Prices and (hopefully) Service...
Ok now let the dive shop/ Computer bashing begin... Play nice or I will bit back!
