Whats a good computer with these features?

[PugetDiver]

I would want a console computer and my budget is a pretty open just nothing that extreme. I dont need anything fancy just something that meets those requirements, reliable, and is air integrated.

Air integrated? Or are you thinking of a console with a computer and a PSI guage?

Air Integrated will tell you within the computer LCD how much airtime you have left. Air integrated is "Fancy" Very nice and will cost you upwards of $600.00. If you are not on a budget look at the Aeris AI console.

A computer with separate PSI gauge like the one you used in OW just tells how much PSI you have left (sufficient for most divers). Good Luck!

 

[MyDiveLog]

It's air integrated (i.e. the computer can act as an air guage, and bases the calculation of how much time you have left to dive on the lesser of air consumption or RNT). It is nitrox compatible (something you don't use now but likely will in the future). Unlike the Suunto computers, it displays the nitrogen loading bar graph in the surface mode, which I really like. It had real buttons to push, instead of the irritating water contacts. It's back lighting is so bright that, on one night dive when both my primary and backup lights failed, I used the illumination to see my way back to shore. I found the Suunto manual to be tough to decipher (used to have a Suunto Favor), but find the Oceanic interface to be so intuitive that I never need to refer to the manual. It's done 335 dives with me and, other than needing a battery replacement, hasn't let me down yet.

 

[Merc86]

Air integrated? Or are you thinking of a console with a computer and a PSI guage?

Air Integrated will tell you within the computer LCD how much airtime you have left. Air integrated is "Fancy" Very nice and will cost you upwards of $600.00. If you are not on a budget look at the Aeris AI console.

A computer with separate PSI gauge like the one you used in OW just tells how much PSI you have left (sufficient for most divers). Good Luck!

Yeah, sorry I was misunderstood. What I meant by air integrated was a console with a computer and a PSI gauge.

 

[Merc86]

Dive the Oceanic Datamax Pro seems like a really great computer but too expensive for me.

 

[PugetDiver]

Check out the Dacor Nitrox dive computer it meets all your needs. Rodales rates it highly and it won't break the bank. http://www.scuba.com/shop/product.asp_category_16



Better yet do your own research. You can start here:
http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/dive_computers/14_new_dive_computers

 

[Tamas]

Dive the Oceanic Datamax Pro seems like a really great computer but too expensive for me.

Then perhaps look into the Versa PRO 250 the MSRP on that is 439 as part of a console or the Veo 180 at 419

 

[Merc86]

Then perhaps look into the Versa PRO 250 the MSRP on that is 439 as part of a console or the Veo 180 at 419

Thanks pugetdiver for the help. Tamas for that computer I think it is a bit overpriced for what I am looking for, the CressiSub Archimedes, Mares MC1, Dacor Darwin seem to offer the same features for cheaper, no? I think I have narrowed it down to those.

 

[Tamas]

Perhaps, but I still prefer the Oceanic's over any of those.....but eventually what it comes down it is your cost, what you can get and what level of conservativeness you want from the unit. Buying something solely based on price is wrong, read up on them and then makes the final decision on the unit not the price.

You would be better off using a wrist mount unit (since the air integration is not an issue for you) and getting a separate air gauge (SPG) instead of a full console. This would save you the $$$ that you are looking for as well as make your life easier. I used to dive the Oceanic DataMAX PRO in the console, was a great computer and loved it, but then I switched to a wrist mount (now dive with the Atom)......would never ever switch back. The wrist is a lot more convenient, less intrusive, never in the way and you tend to look at it more then the consoles....so you always know the info.

What you have to do is go look at them, play with the features (I love the button over the useless wet contacts) see how user friendly they are below and above water (I dove with a Mares once and I could not stand the silly menus on it) and then make the decision. Frankly you can ask SB'ers all you want, we all have different preferences and likes/dislikes and you will get 100000 different options based on the person responding.

Hope this helped.

 

[Merc86]

Perhaps, but I still prefer the Oceanic's over any of those.....but eventually what it comes down it is your cost, what you can get and what level of conservativeness you want from the unit. Buying something solely based on price is wrong, read up on them and then makes the final decision on the unit not the price.

You would be better off using a wrist mount unit (since the air integration is not an issue for you) and getting a separate air gauge (SPG) instead of a full console. This would save you the $$$ that you are looking for as well as make your life easier. I used to dive the Oceanic DataMAX PRO in the console, was a great computer and loved it, but then I switched to a wrist mount (now dive with the Atom)......would never ever switch back. The wrist is a lot more convenient, less intrusive, never in the way and you tend to look at it more then the consoles....so you always know the info.

What you have to do is go look at them, play with the features (I love the button over the useless wet contacts) see how user friendly they are below and above water (I dove with a Mares once and I could not stand the silly menus on it) and then make the decision. Frankly you can ask SB'ers all you want, we all have different preferences and likes/dislikes and you will get 100000 different options based on the person responding.

Hope this helped.

Yeah, that helped alot. Can you link me to the Atom so I can see what it looks like? I am not that familiar with these units so sorry if my questions seem dumb. Do you use the SPG with a wrist mount? How does it work? Doesnt the Atom wrist mount give you a psi reading?

 

[mack50md]

I use the Oceanic Pro Plus2 with the compass add-on and quick disconnect.

Upside:

Big readable screen.
Nice backlight.
Big 2 button operation
Easy pre-programming either on the PDC or through the PC interface
Plenty of dive data
Ascent rate monitor
Large dive log memory
User changeable battery
Nitrox compatible to 40% O2
Light and audible alarms get your attention when needed

Downside:

1. Bulky (get a clip or retractor)
2. Pricey
3. Been accused of being less conservative on dive algorithums
4. PC interface is touchy and an expensive option that should come standard
5. Oceanlog software for downloading logs leaves a lot to be desired

Recommendations:

1. You get the quick-disconnect option. It makes it a lot easier to store, handle when downloading logs, and protect when not in use.
2. You get an ad-on screen protector.

Would I replace it with the same? Probably not. I think the wireless integrated units will be the way to go in the future. I would look into something close in a wireless wrist mount.