Hose or wrist mounted computer?

[scubabunny]

I prefer the Oceanic DataMax ProPlus to the Cobra. It is also air integrated (but not hoseless) and you can set when the alarms go off for "low on air" so you can set it to your personal comfort zone. Plus, I think, for a new diver it is easier to program and read.

It also is not near as conservative as the Cobra. Conservatism is good...but the Cobra has a tendency to put you into very long deco times, and locks you out if you are following a more liberal computer. For recreational diving, its great, but for someone who is an instructor and in the water ALLLLL day, it tends to be a pain.

I dive with the Aladin Pro Nitrox, and absolutely love it! Started out as a wrist mount, but I kept leaving it on the coffee table when I went diving, so I invested in a console. (Still had a depth gauge on my reg...but it just wasn't the same!) Unfortunately, ScubaPro just revised their wrist mounted computers, and the new nitrox version (Ultra Pro) doesn't fit in a console. But, if you can find one (should be pretty cheap now!) I would go for that! I wouldn't give mine up for the world!!

 

[capt.nemo]

Nothing like a wrist mount for underwater videographers. I wear mine on the inside of my wrist and can keep tabs while shooting. Nice to know when you are trying to follow that ray/turtle/shark into the depths.

 

[mcm007]

LoCz,
Looks like you're just full of questions... Before we continue with this let me just say that most divers are either very for... or very against air-integrated hoseless dive computers.

I picked up my first one in the 95-96 timeframe... I forget which, I read about the Sherwood Escort and it's feature in a magazine, but noone in town had one yet. I was in the Navy and headed to a lengthy deployement, so I took a leap of faith and ordered one without ever seeing it, and had it shipped out to the USS Kitty Hawk... Argh flashbacks...

There was two things I was told to be careful with. One, the transmission range from the first stage to your wrist not to exceed something like 4-6ft... I figured if that is ever the case something not so nice is swimming away with your arm, in which case losing your computer is the least of your worries... LOL

Second there could be period's of momentary blackouts of the cylinder pressure info on the display when in close proximity to either high powered underwater strobes and DPV's (Diver Propulsion Vehicle)... both of which I used all the time and never had any trouble with.

The second unit I was the proud owner of was the US Diver's SCAN 5, which internally was identical to the Sherwood as well as the Dacor, as well the Oceanic versions. All of these computers are actually manufactured by the same company so it's futile to talk about which is better than the other, they do however differ in how they visually display their data.

The new breed is the Oceanic Data Trans Plus with it's Nitrox addition... Here's a cool website in which you can do an online comparison for Oceanic dive comptuers which to my understanding now accounts for more than 50% of computer sales in the diving community.

http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/ProdLine.cfm?PL=comp

The only other company that makes a feature filled all inclusive, reliable, proven computer is Uwatec... the other school... my personal choice right now... I used to have the older model, but have neglected to pick up this new one... maybe Santa's just running a little late... So if you're looking into this range of computer, compare the DataTrans Plus to the Uwatec Aladin Air Z O2 unit. The Uwatec comp is unique because it has the capability to be used with open circuit air/nitroz gear as well as semi-closed rebreather's with the Oxy-2... Rrrr Rrrr Rrrr!

The new Uwatec's are available for comaprisson in Hard Copy at Dive shops that carry them, but oddly enough their website doesn't have them on it yet...

http://www.scubapro.com/instruments.html

Hope everyone is having Happy Holidays!
Mario

Mario, do you still have your documentqtion for US Divers Scan 5 Wrist Wireless Dive Computer.?? I just bought one and thier website doesnt support any US DIVER Equip since they were bought out by Aqualung..

thx

MAC