Very interesting. In photos, the basic form looks a lot like an Atomic Aquatic's Cobalt/Cobalt 2, but the onscreen interface looks different. I dive a console (Cobalt 2) and wireless transmitter with wrist unit (an old Oceanic Worldwide VT3), and for whatever reason like the large display and 'solid feel' of a console, so I look at it more despite the theoretical ease of glancing at the VT3. If I were in the market for a dive computer now, here's how the AQWARY would look to me...
1.) It being a console is fine.
2.) The issue of user replaceable batteries vs. built-in rechargeable ones has been debated in other threads, such as comparing the Shearwater computers (e.g.: Petrel, Perdix) to the SeaBear H3. In a nutshell, some people really like the option to swap out batteries because they might forget to charge a built-in non-removable one, they could forget the proprietary cable on a trip, or it might go bad or something. I find changing the battery in my VT3 nerve-wracking (but I think some consider it easy, at least one of whom I've seen post), and love the Cobalt's build-in long-lasting rechargeable battery.
Here's one area where the AQWARY may have a weakness. It's got user swappable, yeah, but whereas the Perdix has a long battery life on AA's, it sounds like the AQWARY does not.
3.) The ability to upload a graphic to display on screen, such as a dive site map (read about this in one review) sounds like a neat gimmick, but other than a sketch of a wreck, I wonder if it'd be useful in the real world?
4.) I imagine the buddy locator feature, and ability to check a fellow diver's remaining gas supply, would be very welcome to divers getting loved ones certified, especially parents getting their kids certified. And some married couples consist of an avid diver and a 'dabbler' (a.k.a. vacation diver, warm water wuss, only dives tropical aquarium conditions, etc...) - the avid diver might like extra monitoring capability for the more dependent spouse.
5.) Be mindful some functionality appears contingent on extra cost app.s you'd need to buy.
6.) Looks like there's an app. that lets you text fellow divers, but this thing doesn't have a full keyboard. Sounds nice in an emergency; not so nice if chatter box people don't maintain decent buoyancy and damage the reef.
Between this, the DeepBlu Cosmic and the upcoming dive computer offering from Deep 6 Gear, seems like we're seeing more offerings from other than the traditional established big brand names (e.g.: Oceanic Worldwide, Suunto, AquaLung, Atomic Aquatics, ScubaPro, etc...).
Richard.
