Dive Computer

[Solidarity]

Anybody have any recommendations for dive computers? I don't want to spend $1,000 on the computer... thinking $500-600 is my max. I would like to have integrated air

Thanks!

[beaglehusky]

I've had the Suunto D6 for about 1.5 years and I really like it. I don't have the integrated module, (I think that's extra) but I think you can find it in that price range nowadays.

Good luck, and enjoy the dives!

[speedo]

want a wrist computer or a normal comp? i use a mares nemo and love it. proved to be very reliable and its algorythm is much more conservative than other comps i used simultaneously. i fell in love with the nemo the first time i saw it and bought one back in cairns. i prefer wrist comps because you can use them as a sport watch when you are not diving.
suunto is never a bad option but it is more expensive than mares and it looks less interesting IMO.

here is a pic of my nemo (note: this is the older model):

[bayerische]

I have the Mares Puck. Enough for me.

[azguy]

Originally Posted by Solidarity

. I would like to have integrated air

What is integrated air....

[Solidarity]

Originally Posted by azguy

What is integrated air....

Gives you the tank PSI (and i assume can have more accurate calculations based on this)

[Solidarity]

Originally Posted by speedo

want a wrist computer or a normal comp? i use a mares nemo and love it. proved to be very reliable and its algorythm is much more conservative than other comps i used simultaneously. i fell in love with the nemo the first time i saw it and bought one back in cairns. i prefer wrist comps because you can use them as a sport watch when you are not diving.
suunto is never a bad option but it is more expensive than mares and it looks less interesting IMO.

here is a pic of my nemo (note: this is the older model):

i have two watches already so I dont need another

do wrist comps give you LESS output/features than a normal comp? i havent researched them at all

[speedo]

Originally Posted by Solidarity

i have two watches already so I dont need another

do wrist comps give you LESS output/features than a normal comp? i havent researched them at all

no. they know everything normal comps do, the only reason some divers don't like them is the size. for me they are perfect.
re integrated air: i am not sure whether i'd like to be dependant on another gadget prone to malfunction. the comp is connected wireless to the tank so it is just another chance for something to go wrong. the good old equipment is just fine for me.
mares does not have air integrated wrist comp but suunto's d6i is air integrated.

and btw, two watches are never enough.

[gwalker]

I'm a tec diver that dives 75-100x a year. I used to dive 200+ a year from when I was 20-25. I don't want to offend anyone but Suunto computers are CRAP. The algorithm used is so conservative you might as well be using tables. Nothing more than a VERY over priced bottom timer. Personally for rec I like the ScubaPro computers. Best rec computers out there. For the price of a top of the line Suunto I can almost buy a VR. I currently have 2 VR computers and they are the best. They have way too many functions for the normal diver but I think they have some simpler ones. Buy what suits your diving needs now and in the future. I don't really like to use computers tec diving as they are based on mathmatical theory. I use software to cut my tables on all dives over 200'. I carry a computer but don't rely on it. Always use some kind of redundancy. No matter if you are 250' in the north Atlantic or 50' in the caribbean. Air integration only gives you a readout of tank psi. No computers I know of use the tank psi to calculate anything. Some give you an alarm at certain psi and if your breathing rate elevates. Issue here is the computer doesn't know if it's a 40cf tank or you are using 260cf doubles so IMO the alarms are nothing but annoyances.

[bayerische]

Suunto are indeed extremely conservative!

[bayerische]

Just to add, Suunto is Finnish like me!

[Xenophon]

I've had two Suunto's fail on me underwater so I don't recommend them. Plan you dive using tables and use your Rolex to measure time.

[Ebruner]

I have used Oceanic for years, and have been very happy with them. Pro-plus integrated.


-Eddie

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

I've had two Suunto's fail on me underwater so I don't recommend them. Plan you dive using tables and use your Rolex to measure time.

WOW. I've never heard of one actually failing (but apart from the pickup charter on vacation no one I dive with uses them.) As I said above I don't like them but always thought their quality was good from reviews. As for tables on rec dives its very uneconomical. If you do a two dive charter someone with a computer will have a significant amount of bottom time over that of someone using tables. The high cost of charters now 30+ minutes more of bottom time is huge IMO. Go over your depth by a few feet on tables and your no deco time could be cut down by 10+ minutes easy.

[liuk3]

I did my training through GUE (Global Underwater Explorers). We effectively dive tables manipulated and calculated in our head underwater, so no use for a computer. The only computer we rely on is the one between our ears. I think that we get plenty of bottom time on our dives whether doing a 20 ft dive or a 250+ ft dive. :)

To the OP, if you can learn to survive without a computer, you can save yourself a bunch of money with just a bottom timer. If you must have a dive computer, I would go with something wrist-mounted and do without the air integration. Good thing is that there are plenty of nice options for dive computers within your price range.

I haven't had problems with my Suunto D6 which is probably ~5 years old by now with over 600 dives on it. I haven't used the computer algorithm portion in a few years, but it served me well when I did use it. The algorithm is likely more conservative than other makes, but I don't think that is a bad thing when you are first learning to dive. As you gain more experience and see how your body tolerates decompression, you will learn when you can fudge things from the computer or alter the settings to become more aggressive.

In any case, have fun on the journey of diving. Probably a better forum to search/ask might be scubaboard.com rather than a rolex forum.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by liuk3

I did my training through GUE (Global Underwater Explorers). We effectively dive tables manipulated and calculated in our head underwater, so no use for a computer. The only computer we rely on is the one between our ears. I think that we get plenty of bottom time on our dives whether doing a 20 ft dive or a 250+ ft dive. :)

To the OP, if you can learn to survive without a computer, you can save yourself a bunch of money with just a bottom timer. If you must have a dive computer, I would go with something wrist-mounted and do without the air integration. Good thing is that there are plenty of nice options for dive computers within your price range.

I haven't had problems with my Suunto D6 which is probably ~5 years old by now with over 600 dives on it. I haven't used the computer algorithm portion in a few years, but it served me well when I did use it. The algorithm is likely more conservative than other makes, but I don't think that is a bad thing when you are first learning to dive. As you gain more experience and see how your body tolerates decompression, you will learn when you can fudge things from the computer or alter the settings to become more aggressive.

In any case, have fun on the journey of diving. Probably a better forum to search/ask might be scubaboard.com rather than a rolex forum.

I dive with a few GUE guys every now and then. I've also met your founder, Jarred Jabloskinski sp??? 5-6 times. I respect your way of diving very much. Ive even used the side mount setup GUE came up with when penetrating a few wrecks in the past. if I was a caver I might be more in love with it but doesn't fit my thoughts on diving that much. IMO its their way or the highway. I personally like more flexibility but it's a great system and works for a lot of people. I will say I've never met 1 GUE diver that wasn't very good or great. Then again most that aren't get out pretty quick when you leave the comfort of recreational diving.

[liuk3]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I dive with a few GUE guys every now and then. I've also met your founder, Jarred Jabloskinski sp??? 5-6 times. I respect your way of diving very much. Ive even used the side mount setup GUE came up with when penetrating a few wrecks in the past. if I was a caver I might be more in love with it but doesn't fit my thoughts on diving that much. IMO its their way or the highway. I personally like more flexibility but it's a great system and works for a lot of people. I will say I've never met 1 GUE diver that wasn't very good or great. Then again most that aren't get out pretty quick when you leave the comfort of recreational diving.

Yeah, I'd never push the GUE style of diving upon anyone. I've had a lot of fun with it on my end, but I also understand why it isn't everyone's cup of tea. The dive philosophy often gets bastardized and misinterpretted often around the world, but I've been fortunate to get the tenets directly from the founding members and the concepts fit within my own personal choices.

This goes back to the OP's question of dive computers. You just have a host of varying dive philosophies out there. There are dive philosophies that don't use computers at all; to computers with varying degrees of conservatism depending upon the algorithms applied by the different manufacturers. Kind of like asking someone what kind of watch or Rolex is their favorite. You're going to get a whole spectrum of opinions. I love hearing different people's points of views so that I can make my own informed and personal decision that is right for me. :)

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by liuk3

Yeah, I'd never push the GUE style of diving upon anyone. I've had a lot of fun with it on my end, but I also understand why it isn't everyone's cup of tea. The dive philosophy often gets bastardized and misinterpretted often around the world, but I've been fortunate to get the tenets directly from the founding members and the concepts fit within my own personal choices.

This goes back to the OP's question of dive computers. You just have a host of varying dive philosophies out there. There are dive philosophies that don't use computers at all; to computers with varying degrees of conservatism depending upon the algorithms applied by the different manufacturers. Kind of like asking someone what kind of watch or Rolex is their favorite. You're going to get a whole spectrum of opinions. I love hearing different people's points of views so that I can make my own informed and personal decision that is right for me. :)

Well said. Boils down to what works for you. I spend time on scuba board too. The op would get a lot of good input there.