Suunto D4 vs. Oceanic Geo 2.0

[RTB_girl85]

Hi there, I am a relatively new diver and am planning on doing my DMT in the spring, so here I am buying my first wrist computer, woot! I am stuck between two options and need some help deciding. I really like the Suunto D4 and the Oceanic Geo 2.0 (I was also kind of interested in the regular Geo but it is actually uncomfortable since the battery sticks out on the watch back).

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great. I really would like a good warranty, easy to use software, good customer service, can turn off or customize alarms/beeps, and reliable. Which would you buy and why? Thanks guys! :fish:

[DiveNav]

use the Dive Computers Research too to see side-by-side comparison (http://www.divecomputertraining.com/diveComputersSummary.php?type=dive&diver=recreational&model=&man=all&asp=watch&air=all&comp=all&price=all)

If you want to see them in action, we have online classes - with lots of videos - for both.

Alberto (aka eDiver)

[RTB_girl85]

Cool thanks, ya I have compared them both and like them the same, was just curious if others had any advice or liked one over the other or had any particular experience with either!

[NCadiver]

I would go with the D4 you will get longer battery life and you would use the dive profile more than you would use the dual algorithm. And the manual is much better.

[fdog]

I went through 4 Geo's, every one of them failed.

I replaced the Geo with a D4 a year ago. It has been flawless.


All the best, James

PS - it's worth mentioning that they were Geo ver 1

[drrich2]

Some people on the forum have posted about Suunto's having more conservative algorithms and giving shorter NDL times than some competing products. I take it that may've been an issue with older products? Does anyone know how the Suunto D4 would stack up to the Geo 2 head-to-head on this? If 2 divers, one wearing each, dropped down to 80 feet & sat there, who'd have to call the dive first? Wonder by how much?

Richard.

[fdog]

As far as I can tell that's still true.

Earlier this year I was curious, so I wore my D4 along side my X1 (runs V-Planner Live) while in Yap.

On the second day of diving 32%, I would routinely be at 60' at the end of a 50-60 minute, multi-level dive, and the readings would be:


D4: 10 minutes of deco
X1: 40 minutes of NDL remaining


Sine I run V-Planner at +3; it is certainly not "liberal" by any means. The shape of VPM is distinctly different from whatever algorithm the Suuntos run, too.

Conservative is not necessarily bad, it all depends on what your body is telling you.

All the best, James

[RTB_girl85]

Gotcha, ya I'm a newish diver so a conservative watch wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Is it something you can ignore? Like will it beep at you once those 10mins of deco diving are up? I think it would be fine for me...I really just need to get a computer and start using it to better understand what everyone is talking about (ie it being conservative and all). I've heard similar things about the regular geo and am leaning towards d4. Thanks!

[CT Sean]

Some people on the forum have posted about Suunto's having more conservative algorithms and giving shorter NDL times than some competing products. I take it that may've been an issue with older products? Does anyone know how the Suunto D4 would stack up to the Geo 2 head-to-head on this? If 2 divers, one wearing each, dropped down to 80 feet & sat there, who'd have to call the dive first? Wonder by how much?

Richard.

According to the owner's manuals of the respective computers (assuming diving on air):

Geo 2.0: 30 mins NDL @ 80 feet (DSAT algorithm)
26 mins with PZ+

D4: 28 mins @ 80 feet


It looks more interesting in this ScubaDiving.com test comparison from a couple years ago (the Geo uses the same DSAT algorythm as the Compumask, XR1, etc...)

http://www.scubadiving.com/files/old/images/pdf/200806_chambertest.pdf

In the second dive - according to their tests - about 37 minutes into the dive, at 40 feet, the GEO would have about 45 mins NDL remaining while the D4 has hit its NDL.

[drrich2]

Well, if you dive with a group (such as on a charter boat trip in the Caribbean, or on a live-aboard), and your dive computer alarm keeps beeping, people will be looking around trying to figure out what the problem is (& who's got it). And I saw a recent post from someone who mentioned some live-aboard had a policy that if you come back with your dive computer indicating you've blown your NDL limit on the dive, you're done diving for that day.

Also, if you get used to ignoring your alarm, you might someday ignore it when you really shouldn't.

I would shy away from a conservative computer, but I have noticed from the forum that some people really like Suuntos. Given how many brands & models are out there, I wonder just what its major advantages are, but I've never used one. I'm not knocking Suunto; just suggesting you consider how shorter bottom times may impact you. From your user name I infer you're a woman, so you may have smaller body size & lung volume than many men, and do very well on air over time. An air hog like me who gets maybe 40 minutes on an 80 cf aluminum tank might have a different situation going from a woman who could clear an hour on that same tank!

Richard.

[RTB_girl85]

Good call, but I definitely do not like diving in a huge group so that wouldn't be a problem for me, small groups all the way. I can't imagine diving with tons of people all around me, ick. But more importantly I don't want to be ignoring something that important. Is it possible to change that alarm? My friend has a Suunto Stinger and I haven't heard his go off at all and we have definitely gone into deco because he showed me how his watch screen changes.

And ya, I'm pretty small and very good with my air. After a 50 min dive I generally have half a tank left!

[fdog]

Gotcha, ya I'm a newish diver so a conservative watch wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. Is it something you can ignore? Like will it beep at you once those 10mins of deco diving are up? I think it would be fine for me...I really just need to get a computer and start using it to better understand what everyone is talking about (ie it being conservative and all). I've heard similar things about the regular geo and am leaning towards d4. Thanks!

You should never ignore your computer (assuming it has not obviously malfunctioned).

Computers allow you to take advantage of reduced nitrogen obligation that comes from multi-level dives, and better evaluation of surface intervals. If you ignore the computer, you are at risk.

Dismissing the computer's NDL indication because it has too conservative of an algorithm, is similar to diving with only a depth gauge, watch, and "NDL by the seat of the pants" (not even the benefit of RD, 120 rule, or tables).

A computer's algorithm is part of the purchasing decision, which balances reliability, size, service, algorithm, features, and price. Personally I place the highest value on reliability, and the lowest on price.

Once you have picked a computer, I would council you to (quite literally!) live with what it tells you to do.


All the best, James

[Ozwald]

I too am looking at these two computers. How is the ease of use with each? I'm all about ease of use.

[NCadiver]

RTB_girl85 if your friend has a suunto it's probably a good idea to get one as well.

Ozwald both of them you could put on and go diving and using the function easy as well but the geo 2 manual is very bad.


drrich2 question is do you have the air to stay down that long. If you blow you limits and surface without the stops yes their going to end you dive for 24 hours.

[RTB_girl85]

Ya I wouldn't ignore it per se, just curious if there is a way to change it but I think I will go for the D4 regardless that it may be conservative. I was told that Suunto works with PADI when it constructs their computers so that their guidelines closely resemble those of PADIs and that Oceanic doesn't, hence they are more liberal. Not that PADI is god or anything but that is interesting to note and kind of makes me feel a bit safer with the D4. Thanks for all your input...now just have to find one to buy.

[jar546]

I am very happy with my Suunto, its manual and software. Even though it is conservative, I am even more conservative with a P-1 setting vs the normal P-0. Although I don't have the D4,(I have Vyper Air), it is still a Suunto product.

The only thing I don't like about the D4 is that I am a big fan of having the tank pressure shown on the computer. Makes it easier.

[RTB_girl85]

Got the Suunto D4 and I love it- haven't actually used it underwater tho yet haha, but I'm sure it will be great! Thanks for all the advice!

[Kern]

Ya I wouldn't ignore it per se, just curious if there is a way to change it but I think I will go for the D4 regardless that it may be conservative. I was told that Suunto works with PADI when it constructs their computers so that their guidelines closely resemble those of PADIs and that Oceanic doesn't, hence they are more liberal. Not that PADI is god or anything but that is interesting to note and kind of makes me feel a bit safer with the D4. Thanks for all your input...now just have to find one to buy.

This turns out not to be the case. Oceanic computers use an algorithm based on the DSAT/PADI algo. The Suunto is based on an Haldanian algo that's been hacked to operate something like the RGBM algo.