shearwater Perdix or h3 for occ rec overkill?

[quak3r]

I had a Petrel 2 and an H3. After having them both for a bit, I sold the Petrel 2. I like the H3 better.

For me, the H3 size is way better than the Petrel or Perdix. The H3 buttons are easier to operate, especially with gloves on. The display is just as easy to read.

That said, I would like to get a 2nd tech computer to use as a backup on tech dives. Right now, I have an Oceanic Atom 3.0 for recreational diving and I use it as my backup on tech dives. So, I have been looking around, trying to decide what to get. I have determined that I would not buy another tech computer right now unless I had to (i.e. my H3 died). I like the AI on my Atom. I want the option to use AI on whatever tech computer I buy. The ScubaPro version of the H3 is supposed to be released around the beginning of November and have an AI option. So, I am waiting to see what happens there.

If my H3 died and I DID have to get a new tech computer right now, I would work out something with a friend in England or Canada and order a Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC3, to be delivered to my friend who would then ship it over to me. The OSTC3 looks nicer than the Perdix, to me, and is only about USD$700. For you (the OP), if you're not worried about having Trimix capability, the HW OSTC Sport would do everything you would need and it's even cheaper. It is virtually identical to the OSTC3 except for not supporting Trimix and not having a fiber optic cable connector on the outside.

All that said, if I were buying a computer and I had no plans for tech training to start deco diving, then I wouldn't bother with any of those tech computers. An Oceanic computer running the DSAT algorithm will allow you more bottom time. When I had the Petrel 2, I only used it on recreational dives as a backup to my Atom, in case the Atom died (which I've never had a lick of trouble from). Now, for Rec dives, I use the H3 as backup to the Atom. The Atom runs the DSAT algorithm and it consistently allows me longer NDLs than a tech computer does, unless you set the Gradient Factors really high (which you cannot do with a Shearwater in OC Rec mode). And if you haven't gotten training on deco theory and Gradient Factors, then maybe you shouldn't even be messing with those as custom settings anyway.

TL;DR: I don't think the Perdix is the best tech computer on the market, and I'm not sure how many people who say it is have really looked at the OSTC3 or OSTC4 (even better, but too expensive for me!). I don't think the Perdix is BETTER than the H3, either. But, if I weren't getting tech training and doing deco dives, I would stick with a recreational computer.

Just because a F1 car is the best thing for a racetrack doesn't mean it's the best car for commuting to work and weekend road trips.

If you do get a Rec computer and you do eventually exceed the NDL, you can simply do the stops it tells you to on your ascent and it won't lock you out. And a Rec computer running DSAT is liberal enough that if you do exceed the NDL, I would DEFINITELY do all the deco stops it tells you and not skip even one minute. Skipping the deco prescribed by one of those is NOT like skipping 1 minute of deco that is prescribed by a tech computer with GF 30/70...

Just my $0.02...

ps. You said you want to upgrade your setup. What do you have and what is it that you don't like and want to improve on?

currently right now i have a wisdom 3, eventually i want to get into rec trimix , my time right now diving im super involved in spearfishing. i enjoyed the wisdom for that specific fact everything i needed to know was on my console. it didnt lock out on me. i do like the h3 for the ai option, but its already $100 over the perdix. i think what i want is :
- something i can use for spearfishing without getting in the way
-something i can carry with my as i advance my training.
-

 

[quak3r]

Quak3r,

Are you still with the Seabees? If so and you get the opportunity to deploy to Kwajalein look me up and I can show you around. We have over 100 WWII wrecks in our lagoon. I have worked with a few Seabees from the 1st, 13th and 133rd NMCBs.

Michael

mike,
i was nmcb-14 before it dissolved.

 

[stuartv]

currently right now i have a wisdom 3, eventually i want to get into rec trimix , my time right now diving im super involved in spearfishing. i enjoyed the wisdom for that specific fact everything i needed to know was on my console. it didnt lock out on me. i do like the h3 for the ai option, but its already $100 over the perdix. i think what i want is :
- something i can use for spearfishing without getting in the way
-something i can carry with my as i advance my training.
-

I wouldn't recommend the H3 to anyone right now, anyway, just because the ScubaPro version isn't out yet and I am afraid the SeaBear version is going to be orphaned with no support. We won't know until ScubaPro says.

If you can wait, you might be well served to do so until DEMA in November and see what ScubaPro does. If they release their version of the H3, it could (POSSIBLY) be the new top dog in tech computers. And the form factor makes it the most desirable (to me, of course - that's why I have one).

If you can't wait, then, to me, it's down to $400 for a Nitek Q, $850 for a Perdix, or $700 for an OSTC 3. Of those, I think the OSTC 3 is the nicest. But, you have to pull shenanigans to get one, since they don't have official distribution in the U.S.. From what I've seen on their forums, if you did get one (where you were listed as the original purchaser), I think you would have no trouble if you ever needed parts or service. It would just be the price of shipping to Germany (in the unlikely event you actually had to send it in).

 

[JohnnyC]

currently right now i have a wisdom 3, eventually i want to get into rec trimix , my time right now diving im super involved in spearfishing. i enjoyed the wisdom for that specific fact everything i needed to know was on my console. it didnt lock out on me. i do like the h3 for the ai option, but its already $100 over the perdix. i think what i want is :
- something i can use for spearfishing without getting in the way
-something i can carry with my as i advance my training.
-

Get something cheap and small with freediving mode now, and when you start advancing get whatever is the most recent thing that Shearwater has put out. There's a reason it's the most popular technical computer on the market, worldwide.

In my opinion, AI is not worth the sacrifice over a Shearwater, plus the cost difference on top of it makes it a non-starter in my book.

 

[stuartv]

Get something cheap and small with freediving mode now, and when you start advancing get whatever is the most recent thing that Shearwater has put out. There's a reason it's the most popular technical computer on the market, worldwide.

What are the worldwide sales figures between SW and the OSTC computers? I'm curious how much more popular the SW computers are. I'd be fine with ballpark numbers.

In my opinion, AI is not worth the sacrifice over a Shearwater, plus the cost difference on top of it makes it a non-starter in my book.

So it's not worth it to you, based on your budget/finances. It was definitely worth it to me. I shopped around and got my Atom w/USB cable and AI transmitter for $550 (new, from an authorized dealer). I'm definitely on a budget and I have never regretted that expenditure for a second.

 

[JohnnyC]

What are the worldwide sales figures between SW and the OSTC computers? I'm curious how much more popular the SW computers are. I'd be fine with ballpark numbers.

So it's not worth it to you, based on your budget/finances. It was definitely worth it to me. I shopped around and got my Atom w/USB cable and AI transmitter for $550 (new, from an authorized dealer). I'm definitely on a budget and I have never regretted that expenditure for a second.

Dive all over the world an see what experienced tech divers are using. I've seen probably 10:1 the number of Shearwaters over OSTC computers. That includes all facets of technical diving, cave, deco, rebreathers (stand alone and controllers). US, Central and South America, Europe. You can extrapolate from there.

You enjoy your AI, that's fine. I don't think I denigrated anyones choice?

 

[dmaziuk]

currently right now i have a wisdom 3, eventually i want to get into rec trimix , my time right now diving im super involved in spearfishing. i enjoyed the wisdom for that specific fact everything i needed to know was on my console. it didnt lock out on me. i do like the h3 for the ai option, but its already $100 over the perdix. i think what i want is :
- something i can use for spearfishing without getting in the way
-something i can carry with my as i advance my training.
-

I believe the cheapest trimix + known algorithm + AI if you want everything in one place is Hollis TX1. I'm sure it's nowhere near as "user-friendly" as SW/OSTC.

 

[quak3r]

any word from scubapro coming out with thier version of the h3 with ai? think the price will go any higher now that scubapro owns it?

 

[stuartv]

I believe the cheapest trimix + known algorithm + AI if you want everything in one place is Hollis TX1. I'm sure it's nowhere near as "user-friendly" as SW/OSTC.

Good point! I always forget about those! Funny, really, since I almost bought one as my first computer. When they first came out, you could get it with the transmitter, data cable, bungee mount, and carrying case for $750, too.

 

[stuartv]

I just looked at the TX1 manual. I am surprised to note that if you omit deco, resulting in a GF or 90 or higher, it will lock you out of Dive mode for 24 hours. That seems like a rather unfortunate decision on the part of the engineers who designed the TX1. Otherwise, it would be a solid contender to be my new backup tech computer. Especially since I believe it would work with the AI transmitter I already have for my Atom.