Computers Vs. Gauges

[Scoobers]

I have one last piece of equipment to buy. A little background first, I am currently OW certified with about 15 dives under my belt. I plan on doing a good amount of diving this year to build on my skills and to get more comfortable in the water. Eventually I want to take my AOW class and then possibly do a wreck diving class along with nitrox and then see where I want to go from there. I have about $300 to spend on either a computer or gauges. My question is buy analog gauges and wait to buy a better computer down the road when I want to get more advanced with my diving or buy a cheaper computer now and upgrade later?? I strongly believe in supporting my local economy along with my local LDS so I won't be buying over the internet. My local LDS has pressure/depth gauge with compass for $229. They recommended the Oceanic Veo 100 computer for $329 which is only $100 dollars more. I don't want to spend much more than $300. Is it worth the extra 100 dollars to have the computer or should I save the $100 and just buy the gauges for now. Thanks guys!

 

[Matt83]

A computer is a very nice piece of equipment to have. If you are buying gauges now I would recommend spending the extra 100 bucks to get the computer too. If you wait you will want to spend a few hunderd bucks later to get a computer anyway.

 

[Chugwhump]

Yikes, a hard question. Computer or not right now.
OK you are up there in the Arctic of Michigan (anything north of Maryland is the arctic in case you Yankee people did not know it)) and I would like to know if you are going to be a Great Lakes/Quarry/Freshwater diver or a saltwater diver 2 weeks a year to the Florida Keys/Palm Beach/Gulf Coast/Bonaire diver. First off, I am a total ignoramous about freshwater lake diving.
There are many northern people on this board much more qualified to weigh in on this subject. School busses and 57 Chevy's in fresh water would be like death for me.I think that if you will be diving Wooden ships in
Lake Superior/Huron/Erie/Champlain/Manitoba/Sacajawea/Winapa-whatever and photographing sucker fish and carp while collecting rocks and nails you can probably get by with strict gauges for now. Somehow, I got my basic YMCA certification in 1977 and did not own a computer until 1989 and did not die in the warm waters of South Florida while regularly diving to 130'. You seem to be a beginner, and deco is not going to be in your standard dive plan for now. Deco...I hate it. I get bored. If you love it, good for you.
I think that lake diving would not neccesitate the need for a computer unless you feel the compulsion to dive to the edge in cold water. If however you are going to be a cold fresh or warm salty water diver avoiding anything deeper than 75-80' feet with a limited profile while you ramp up your skills, I think that you will be pretty well off just getting some good gauges and a good watch. If you are going to regularly do 70'-130' dive profiles on wrecks and reefs while constantly changing your depth on walls and whatnot I would reccommend a 'puter.
I hope this helps.
Chug

 

[kwflfire]

You mention that you would like to advance your diving to AOW and Nitrox. If you decide on a computer make sure you get one that can be programed for Nitrox. That way you don't end up with a computer that you will have to upgrade after your class.

 

[Scoobers]

I currently dive local freshwater lakes with the occasional quarry dive. I plan on this being all of my dives this year with the one exception of maybe taking a charter to dive a wreck in Lake Michigan in about 60-70fow that would be a 2 dive day. Next year my plan is to take my AOW and Nitrox and maybe an Ice diving class and dive under the ice in the winter of 2011 probably January. The summer of 2011 I would like to take a wreck diving class and then go from there. That is my plan in a nut shell. So I am stuck with the dilemma of do I buy gauges now and buy a nicer computer in between AOW and Nitrox that will be good for everything I want or buy a cheap computer now and upgrade in between Nitrox and Wreck diving class.

 

[Keith & Sharon]

I applaud your strong support of your LDS as you can get the Veo 100 console at Scubatoys for $189.95 and still have $100 left over. However, to stay around $300 or below, you will need to upgrade the computer later after your Nitrox class.

The computer IMHO is a great tool and is worth the added $$. You can always sell later to upgrade to a Nitrox computer.

 

[rongoodman]

Just make sure the computer you buy can be used for Nitrox and in gauge mode later on. The Oeanic VEO 100nx doesn't have gauge mode, but there may well be others out there in that price range which do. The Nitek Duo is on sale for $350 from Dive Rite Express. You might also find something used in your price range here or over on The Devo Stop in the classifieds. You mention wanting to support your local LDS, but you might want to rethink that if he's really trying to sell you a VEO 100 for $329. That model is discontinued, doesn't support Nitrox, and can be had for $135 from Scubatoys.

(I think I might have misread your original post, and you might not really be interested in gauge mode, in which the computer functions simply as a bottom timer and depth gauge--popular in more advanced diving. If so, never mind--the VEO 100nx should suit you fine. I stand by what I said about your LDS though--if you are quoting him accurately, buy your computer someplace else.)

 

[Scoobers]

Does anyone have any experience with this computer? I am thinking I might get the computer because I have a son who will be diving in the next couple of years and I could pass it down to him. Is this going to be a good computer for the money or are there other computers in the $300 dollar range retail of course that might be better???

 

[Scoobers]

Just make sure the computer you buy can be used for Nitrox and in gauge mode later on. The Oeanic VEO 100nx doesn't have gauge mode, but there may well be others out there in that price range which do. The Nitek Duo is on sale for $350 from Dive Rite Express. You might also find something used in your price range here or over on The Devo Stop in the classifieds. You mention wanting to support your local LDS, but you might want to rethink that if he's really trying to sell you a VEO 100 for $329. That model is discontinued, doesn't support Nitrox, and can be had for $135 from Scubatoys.

The LDS actually recommended just buying gauges and waiting to buy a nice computer after I get more training. I prefer to get multiple opinions before purchasing. There are 6 shops within less than an hour of my house each of them carries different brands so I can support someone hopefully. The VEO 100 comes in a console with a pressure gauge and compass for $329 is that still not a decent price retail??

 

[Thalassamania]

Buy a Citizens Aqualand watch (depthguage, depth alarm, watch, timer, dive log) and a set of plastic tables. Get a computer later.