Which airless computer

[DaveG]

have 30 dives in now and am almost always the last one to come up.

my second dive is usually over at one half tank using the tables, so time for a computer.

needs are as follows:
air only
big easy to read numbers
easy to use

would likes:
calulated time to fly rather than countdown
temperature
download log
backlit

questions:

do all handle multiple dives? eg second dive after one hour surface time is adjusted for residual nitrogen loading.


price is a consideration.
am looking at:
oceanic 100/150/200
suunto gekko (more than i really want to spend)
aeris atmos 1

the suunto sees the best but can i go cheaper and still find it usefull?

any hints on what i should look for and why are appreciated.

 

[5615mike]

Dave

What do you mean..........airless? Do you mean air integrated or hoseless?

IMO if you have so much "air" remaining in your tank and tables are telling you to surface.......and you want to stay down longer........go Nitrox. Your BT will be longer..........way longer depending on your depth and gas mix. IMO your wasting your money on an "air only" computer. Not much more you can go EANx and increase your BT.

Suunto is going to be more conservative than the Aeris. Aeris is nice rig. Almost bought one myself but choose Vyper. Aeris nitox is about $279 at LP last time I looked.

I would rethink your gas choice if your really looking for more BT if your not diving overly deep.......which you should not be if you only have 30 dives under your belt.

 

[DaveG]

thanks, this is the kind of stuff i was hoping to learn.

yes i meant non air integrated.

i just dive about 10 dives per year when on vacation in warm waters.

almost all of my dives have been 60 - 70' with a max around 95'. i did dive the cenotes in mexico where the water was a little colder.

most of the operators don't really offer gas, but maybe i will spend a little extra just so that i don't "outgrow" an air only. no real point in outlasting the divemaster at this stage.

to summarize, are you suggesting getting something that will handle notrox because it looks like i may graduate from air only in the near future?

 

[iflyprops]

I was in the same boat as you a month or so ago...never thought I was going to go to nitrox, I walked in the dive shope and subconciously signed up! I haven't looked back. It's great stuff!! Go with a computer that is nitrox capable, you'll be diving it sooner that you think, I know that i was!

 

[5615mike]

very easy and you'll enjoy the longer bottom times. Good info for all divers to learn. You won't regret it Dave. Good luck and go diving.

 

[pasley]

...needs are as follows:
air only
big easy to read numbers
easy to use

would likes:
calulated time to fly rather than countdown
temperature
download log
backlit
...price is a consideration.
am looking at:
oceanic 100/150/200
suunto gekko (more than i really want to spend)
aeris atmos 1

the suunto sees the best but can i go cheaper and still find it usefull?
....

Just my $0.02. A consideration is the model the computer uses. I purchased an Oceanic Data Pro because it had big numbers. A good computer but I later learned it uses a rather liberal dive table. At my age, a liberal dive table is not really recommended. I now use the SUUNTO Cobra which uses a more conservative table and then I set it for super chicken.

So, please factor into your purchase decision what model it uses in its calculations. I would also go for the best you can afford. You may at a latter date want more of the bells and whistles, like nitrox.

 

[DaveG]

good point about conservatism

at 53 i would not want to be to liberal with the tables.

 

[gjw]

Hi Dave

If you are going to spend the $$ for a new or even used computer, I would suggest you go for a Nitrox capable model. The difference between buying an Air only or a Nitrox computer is minimal, but if you buy an Air one and later whish to move on to Nitrox, you end up spending twice the $$$. As for make & model, I find it difficult to give advice as different fetures & handling work for some people but not for others. I for instance have been using UWATEC for 8 years and am happy with the things until it comes time 2 changes the batteries ... $$$

;-> gjw

 

[inter_alia]

Hi Dave,
I'm not super-experienced but have used an Oceanic Veo 100 for 50 dives over the past nine months since getting certified. I was like you: nothing fancy, please, I'll never use Nitrox, etc. The good thing is that the nitrox argument is moot since the Oceanic Veo 200 and Suunto Gekko are already "air or nitrox" machines. If you're planning to continue your sporadic annual diving, I'll put in my two cents for the Veo 200 (not sure the 150 is still available?): cheap, easy to use, you get the backlight, audible alarms, optional software to download your data to (it stores 24 dives according to the website), etc.
With the Veo 100 there's no backlight or alarms or downloading capability. These things don't bother me yet but since I'm starting to shop around for a more advanced computer I have been considering the Veo 200 which is why I sound like an advert.
As far as dive tables, I'm no scientist or anything but the only problem I've had with the Veo 100 is that there's only three bars for the ascent-rate warning... so invariably, even when I'm oh-so-slowly going up a rope from depth, the bars start blinking like I'm shooting to the surface. I know it isn't the case, but the first few times it happened it was cause for concern.
Also, I tend to throw in a couple half-depth safety stops and I dive with a conservative DiveCon so...

Good luck in the search out there. I'm with you, and my final word of advice is to go to websites and look at the manuals for your favorite options. "Ease of use" seems to be important to you so the manuals should give you some help in deciding how many buttons are involved, etc.

Cheers!

 

[inter_alia]

And another thing... I don't know why the Oceanic website neglects to mention that the Veo 100 DOES have a temperature reading. It logs temperature just like everything else.
One last little gripe about the Veo 100: it doesn't tell me the date of the logged dives. This sounds like a silly mention but if you have 8 dives logged and a couple months later do some dives that look like the previous ones -- it's hard to remember if the logbook goes choronlogically or backwards. Maybe this is a sign of age... but a date stamp would be mighty helpful!