DivingDoc once bubbled...
Anyone have any comments concerning Suunto computers....
I am trying to decide between the new Oceanic VT Pro vs. the Suunto Vytec.
Mainly, I suspect the algorithms on the Suuntos might be safer for my middle aged body, but I find the Oceanics to have a much more intuitive display.
The Oceanics implement the time tested PADI/DSAT/Dr Deco algorithm. While a tad bit more liberal than the Suunto model, I find that the Oceanics realtime display of compartment loading allows me to adjust my profiles as desired. The Suunto on the other hand, while calculating more conservative NDL's, has a bargraph that shows I'm "in the green" when in fact I'm very loaded.
There are simulators on the Suunto and Oceanicworldwide websites that you could use to compare.
Here's a comparison of a simple 70' 30 minute dive on the Suunto Vyper and Oceanic Data Plus simulators. (30fpm to 70', 10fpm ascent starting at 30 min runtime).
At 30 minutes Suunto showed 7 min NDL, Oceanic showed 10 min NDL.
.
On the bargraphs Oceanic was in the yellow zone, 14 bars of 15. The Suunto showed 10 bars out of the 11 or 12 on its "CBT" bargraph. The Consumed Bottom Time is just a graphical display of the NDL time. The Oceanic TLBG is a graphical representation of the N2 loading in the leading compartment. Suunto shows this display in the Dive Manager program, but not on the computer itself.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE is upon ascending a bit. At 30', the Oceanic is still in the yellow zone, with 14 out of 15 bars still lit. The Suunto however, has backed way into the green zone, showing just 1 bar of 11. The Oceanic is doesn't clear to the green (12th bar of 15) until going to 15' safety stop and hanging for 4 minutes. The Suunto has cleared ALL bars on it's CBT display at 20', even before starting a safety stop.
The Oceanic more clearly tells you that your tissues are heavily loaded and that you should do a stop, while the Suunto bargraph says "all clear".
Until I can get the Suunto algorithm with the Oceanic bargraph I'll stick with the Oceanics.
YMMV.
Charlie