Buying a Dive computer, please help with choices

[halocline]

You have to buy the cable, but some enterprising people have come up with a hacked suunto cable (I think) as well as a hacked software patch to allow the gekko to download. Usually the dive log software is available for download on the dive computer manufacturer's website.

Personally I would not get too involved with downloading the dives, but I spend way too much time in front of a computer already so I'm pre-disposed to not want the download function. IMO a dive computer should do a couple of things, be very easy to read and operate, and that's it.

 

[dogenia]

Actually I personally learn a lot by analyzing my dives and all the other info that is gathered during the actual dive. The ability to "replay" the dive in the Aeris software is particularly usefull to me as well.

I considered the cost of a cable as part of the investment. Looking back however, I would have bought the hoseless computer first (Aeris Epic has the cable included, no transmitter) and then at a later stage I would have gone full hoseless in a couple of months. Tell you the thruth I'm not even sure I want to part with my Manta even after I get the Epic.

Hope this helps.

Don

 

[sipadiver]

Yeh Ive looked at the Alladin a bit, Can you buy these kind of dive computers there?

I'm here in Singapore and also hunting for a good dive computer... I looked at the GEO and the STINGER. The GEO has a bad reputation- I've heard too many complaints about the watch, apparently even the staff don't like their dive coms.

The Stinger... you can get it here for S$800... ah thats about US$560+ depending on the exchange rate.

I was over at the North Bridge Road- and came across the UWATEC agent shop... He told me all about the Swiss UWATEC Aladin Prime and Tec G2 dive I computers. Man, they look so tough and big they could survive a Nuke bomb. If you're a big sized guy you might like it.

The Prime - you can change the batteries by yourself - and if it floods, it only affects the battery compartment. The electronics are sealed off. It also comes with the computer accesories and software + plus it has infrared so you can download the data onto your PDA computer for analysis and record keeping

The next model up - the G2 has a setting where you can make more appropriate estimates based on your age, health, gender, etc..

Both models have temperature gauges to help in its calculation on depth time. The warmer it is, the longer you can stay down.

Apparently both models also have superior computer processing power compared to the SUUNTO STINGER.

The UWATEC coms - apparently - also have superior recording abilities compared to the Stinger (not too sure whether this is accurate) - they measure your time at depth in more detailed (smaller) increments than the SUUNTO... NOTE: I haven't yet found a tech specification confirmation on that yet.

Repairs are done here in Singapore (unlike Suunto which has to be mailed back to Finland) - and the regional lab for Uwatec is in Hong Kong.

The UWATEC Prime retails for S$560 (US$400+)... the G2 for S$720 (US$500+). Don't quote me on the exchange rates. Both seem more impressive on paper than the Suunto Stinger.

But this is just on a afternoon discussion with the UWATEC agent

Still doing more research...

 

[Clarifon]

Thanks alot sipadiver for the response and all the info. Did you maybe see one of those Tusa's in a shop? Im not so sure about the different brands and the algorithms. Im in South Africa so repairs anywhere in the world will probably take me about 3 weeks I think to get done. I think some of the main things Im looking for are nitrox, user replaceable battery, software thats either included or not $300 or something rediculous. I think I might stil stick with the Tusa IQ 800, I really like the large screen and other functions like the vibrate. The stinger is also nice but looks alot like a $50 Casio toy watch.

 

[sipadiver]

Thanks alot sipadiver for the response and all the info. Did you maybe see one of those Tusa's in a shop? Im not so sure about the different brands and the algorithms. Im in South Africa so repairs anywhere in the world will probably take me about 3 weeks I think to get done. I think some of the main things Im looking for are nitrox, user replaceable battery, software thats either included or not $300 or something rediculous. I think I might stil stick with the Tusa IQ 800, I really like the large screen and other functions like the vibrate. The stinger is also nice but looks alot like a $50 Casio toy watch.

Yeah, I agree that the Stinger looks like a Casio. They say its a nice dress watch... but I wear an Omega Speedmaster... so I'm gonna be a snob here and say, "No, I disagree." :/

Having said that- the Stinger has a great reputation among Divers. A lot of divers I see- wear one.

I'm just wondering whether if I get the UWATEC G2 or Prime- which is 3 times larger than the Stinger- can I wear it as a dress watch when I'm not diving...

Anyways, the G2 comes with the software and cable. Also has infrared - so you can download it into your PDA or computer.

Have not seen a TUSA. Maybe if I saw that- I'll be raving about that the next time

 

[Clarifon]

hehehe, well I asked my cousin to bring me the IQ 800 from Tusa, cant wait for him to get back so I can start diving. By the way, anyone dived in Bali? Whats the diving like around there? Any recommended dive sites or dive trips I should consider?

 

[viceroy]

Clarifon,

Where abouts in SA are you and how much in Rands are you looking at spending?

I'm picking up my fiancee's Mares Nemo Sport tomorrow night for R3999.99
You might also be interested in the Mares Puck which IU think goes for about R3000.

ps. Have you had the opportunity to play with a Stinger...no where close to the Casio toy watch you talk of...Only problem I have with the Suunto's is their price. Stinger is retailing in the R7000 bracket...so glad I got mine when they were still R4000

bugger...scratch all that...I see you've decided on the Tusa

 

[glenmaclarty]

My wife and I have Uwatec Aladin Tec2g dive computers and have just come back from a 32 dive trip to the Philippines. These are the features that are great about this computer. I have done about 50 dives with the computer currently.

1. It does multiple gases, including a deco gas. This may not be useful for you now, but you never know down the track.
2. Changing the O2 percentage for nitrox is easy.
3. It does all those things like water contact, beeps on/off, safety stop duration and all that jazz.
4. Easy to use buttons and interface to allow cycling through the menu options.
5. Easy to read display, information is cycled so you can access all the information quite easily when underwater.
6. A good algorithm that gives good no stop decompression time.
7. A good fall back and information on when you DO need to do decompression stops.
8. User replaceable battery.

The BEST things about this dive computer.

9. Infra-red computer interface that means that you don't have contacts points that will corrode, don't need a specialised cable and can just use a cheap USB infrared dongle if you're laptop doesn't have built-in infrared.
10. Microbubbles feature that means that you can set a more conservative no-stop option, BUT that will fallback to less conservative levels if you decide to stay at a deeper level. The Level0 no stop time can be easily displayed while underwater by cycling through the display option.
11. A good (and free to download) computer program (SmartTrak) that allows you to transfer and manage your dive logs from your computer. The computer will store the last 20 and give you access to basic information (entry time, dive time, max depth, desat time) but once you transfer you get all information.
12. Very reasonably priced. Online stores such as Buy scuba gear, scuba diving and snorkeling equipment, and everything underwater from LeisurePro.com have this dive computer available for US$450 or thereabouts. Shipping is reasonable and you will get an equivalent manufacturers warranty.

When I was initially looking at dive computers, I was looking at Suunto, but there are a number of issues with these with computer interfaces which was important to me. The algorithm is also very conservative which means that you will have to ascend while others still have no-stop time.

The Tec2g is well sized, somewhere between a watch style computer (that can be difficult to read) and a big computer that can be bulky. The size is easy to read but not overly bulky meaning it doesn't cause problems when taking your BCD off while leaving your dive computer on your arm. The last thing you want is for your dive computer to fall off the side of a dive boat when you take it off in order to get your BCD off.

You CAN download the computer program for free and see what it is like. The actual dive computer display is show through the computer program to give you a good idea of what information is displayed when you cycle through. Go to SCUBAPRO UWATEC | Deep Down You Want the Best and follow the links.

About the only thing I DONT like about this computer is actually moreso with the interface program that doesn't allow sharing of dive site information between logbooks. This means that for my wife and I who can use the same computer to manage our logbooks through SmartTrak, we must enter the dive site / dive conditions information twice (once for my logbook and once for my wifes). This is a minor issue and something that can be fixed by a software upgrade.

Safe diving with whatever option you choose.

 

[sipadiver]

I just came back from Maldives - having dived 27 dives there. Brought along the UWATEC G2 - purchased for US$500 (Singapore$720)

Here's my short review.

First off - if you set the Microbubble setting to Level 0 - you're going to be down there a long time. I ended up pissing off my entire dive team who were mostly using SUUNTO and Oceanic watches.

I wish the watch would beep me and get me to go up if I stay down too long.

But after setting the Microbubble level to 4 - things got a bit better.

Good issues:
As you mention the infrared comms device makes it very easy and fast for me to download the data to my computer. However the info is not so accessible when you are under sea.

Bad issue:

The font seems a bit too small for such a big watch- I found it hard to read some of the data underwater despite having good eyesight.

The plastic cover is easily scratched. I placed the watch in my carrybag together with the manual- the smooth cover manual rubbed against the plastic and sandpapered it.

Unnecessary info like Gas is shown. I understand its importance- but if I am NOT using GAS or nitrox- I do not want to see the info clouding up the display.

No countdown function for levels lower than 5m. I hit 30m and to be on the safeside I wanted to do a 2 minute safety stop at 15m- before proceeding to a ss at 5m- the watch has no timer for the 15m.

Big is not necessarily good. Due to its size I strapped it to the lower part of my arm nearest to my elbow. It came off twice. Once after I boarded the boat - it slipped out and fell to the floor- thankfully it didn't roll off into the sea. I strapped it to my wrist and it stays put there. But its big and bulky for me (I'm 170cm). Also due to the size it felt awkward wearing it on my arm - whilst the other jokers were wearing their SUUNTOs and GEOs on deck.

I'm still toying with the watch- its my first trip with it. One other issue is uniformity. If the rest of the dive team are wearing SUUNTOs or GEOs- you have to follow them as you can't be the last one left in the water. Easy solution tho- find new dive buddies who wear the G2