Oceanic Veo 250

[craracer]

I just traded my Mares M1 for the Oceanic Veo 250 and couldn't be more happy. The Mares drove me nuts because, to me, it was so incredibly user unfriendly. Navigation around the computer was extremely frustrating and I had to frequently use the manual for help.

Learning to use the Oceanic was a breeze. It's pretty user friendly and puts the important information at the forefront while diving. Navigation while topside is pretty straight forward.

A few things I don't care for: The audible alarm is very quiet which makes missing a warning easy.
Above 30ft the ascent rate drops to a maximum of 30ft/min. I am use to the standard 60ft/min so I was constantly setting the alarm off.

I've only done 14 dives on the computer and am very happy with the 'upgrade'. I plan on trading in my wife's Mares for the Oceanic.

Oceanic has a computer trade in program in which they will give you $150.00 for your old computer. I couldn't have sold the Mares for that much money so it's a good deal in my mind.

[Jim Lapenta]

Not knowing who you trained with I'm surprised that you think 60 is standard.60 ft per minute is the recommended maximum ascent rate, it is not the standard rate. Most agencies advise 30 as the preferred. A little experience will have you trying not to violate 30. I'm partial to 10-15 myself. As a recreational diver with the number of dives you have, if you're profile is correct you should not be doing anything that would set off any alarms. But you are correct in that it's easy to use. I have the 200 which is the earlier version of the 250 and have dove it for nearly 4 years now. I now usually use it more as a bottom timer in gauge mode. Getting into tech has brought me back to tables and unless diving strictly recreational the comp is not as important. I'll be using it as a comp though next month in Bonaire. 4-5 dives a day in easy conditions will make it nice having it keep track for me. Enjoy it and good deal getting one for your missus.

[craracer]

I have been going by what PADI suggests as the ascent rate; "The proper speed for ascending, which is no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute. A rate slower is acceptable, and appropriate."

I can see why a slower ascent rate is advisable though. It's just tough when I've been ascending at a rate between 30-60 feet per minute over the past year and a half and need to change to a slower rate.

Since starting using the VEO I have slowed down my ascents by watching the ascent graph as I move up. I decided to watch the computer while ascending in order to get a 'new' feel for what the slower rate is like until it becomes second nature.

Thanks for the input! I'm a newbie diver and really appreciate all the information I can get from experienced divers!:D

[diver 85]

Not knowing who you trained with I'm surprised that you think 60 is standard.60 ft per minute is the recommended maximum ascent rate, it is not the standard rate. Most agencies advise 30 as the preferred. A little experience will have you trying not to violate 30. I'm partial to 10-15 myself. As a recreational diver with the number of dives you have, if you're profile is correct you should not be doing anything that would set off any alarms. But you are correct in that it's easy to use. I have the 200 which is the earlier version of the 250 and have dove it for nearly 4 years now. I now usually use it more as a bottom timer in gauge mode. Getting into tech has brought me back to tables and unless diving strictly recreational the comp is not as important. I'll be using it as a comp though next month in Bonaire. 4-5 dives a day in easy conditions will make it nice having it keep track for me. Enjoy it and good deal getting one for your missus.

Sometimes it's not who you trained with but when you were trained.......we were taught(trained) in '85 to stay below your smallest exhaled bubble when ascending......guess what, it works-- the 5 of us are living witnesses, we have about 7000 dives between us........GEAUX TIGERS..........