Oceanic OC1 Wireless Air Integrated or Atomic Cobalt Console

[RonP]

Hi Everyone,
:confused:I can't seem to decide between the Oceanic OC1 Dual Algorithm Wireless Wristwatch Air Intergrated and the new Atomic Aquatics Cobalt Console. I don't currently have a computer/gauge since I've always rented equip when diving. It's now time to buy. I really love the idea of having a wireless wristwatch but not sure of reliability due to transmitter failure. Also not sure of OC1 functions. Heard LUNA was a great computer as well but felt a bit big on my wrist. Everyone seems to love the new Atomic Cobalt console. If it wasn't for the Atomic Cobalt I believe I would def go with a wireless air integrated wrist device. The price for the Luna, OC1 and Cobalt all seem to be all the same currently. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks, Ron

[pentae]

I just had to face this same decision. To me it comes down to a preference of Console or Wrist. For recreational divers these are the sexiest computers on the market and if your anything like me the subtle style points are important. After much deliberation i've decided on the OC1. The Cobalt is great and looks beautiful but I really cant see myself without a wrist computer. Its really a personal decision I feel that they are both great. Good luck with your decision

[drrich2]

One thing people seem to love about the Cobalt is how easy it is to navigate menus and change settings without referencing the manual, in stark contrast to some other dive computers.

Which begs the question; do you do much 'fiddling' with settings?

I use an Oceanic VT3; on a Bonaire trip, I pull out the manual (which I find fairly miserable to deal with) as I'm mainly a vacation diver and it's not practical to learn all the ins and outs and memorize them permanently, and eventually work out how to set it to Nitrox EAN 32%, and I can pull up the onscreen log and run through dives I've made to get max. depths and times. Other than that, I pretty much run it on 'auto.' for the week. So for me, buying a Cobalt as a nifty toy would probably not be a justified expense.

But if I did a lot of customized settings over the course of a week, I might think again.

Plans are for a wrist version of the Cobalt. Would it make sense for you to buy a cheaper, non-AI wrist unit like a Geo, put the extra money aside & wait for it?

Richard.

[crogue]

I questioned the Atomic people at the DEMA show last month as to when they were going to come out with a Cobalt wrist unit. Basically the answere was yes, some day. But they have not
even started the design work on it. So I am thinking maybe in a couple of years. I am completely
sold on using a hoseless air integrated dive computer. Have been using one for several years. Both primary and backup.

[Downing]

Yeah, you're most likely in for a long wait for a wrist model of the Cobalt. It took Atomic years to develop the console unit, and release to the public was delayed almost a year after it appeared on the Atomic website. Last spring, I assumed I would be diving with one over the summer in Belize. Wrong. Atomic finally released it last month.

It's not like AA would be starting from scratch, but, like croque said, my understanding is that they haven't even begun working on it. My guess is that the price would be higher than the console, which is a pretty spendy unit as it is.

I agree that it should come down to which style you prefer and how much you like to use the settings. I'm a huge Atomics fan and just so happen to prefer a console so it was a no-brainer for me to replace my Suunto Cobra2 with a Cobalt. I liked the Cobra, but the the learning curve was steep, the operation was not especially intuitive and the dark numbers on a gray background were not as easy to read as I had hoped. The Cobalt crushes the Cobra in all three areas.

My only issue with the Cobalt is that once my wife sees mine she's going to want one, too. So I'm trying to keep mine under wraps until her birthday.

I think reports of transmitter problems with wrist units are somewhat overblown, but I suppose that is an advantage of a console. Personally, I wouldn't make that the critical factor in choosing which style. There are plenty of wrist model fans out there who have never experienced a significant issue with transmitter failure.

Have fun making your decision!

[bs63366]

I am also diving a VT3 and I have never had a problem with the computer and transmitter losing sync. I heard a lot about that when I was in the market but still liked the wrist mount over the console so I took a chance and I could not be happier with it. I have not gotten a chance to dive the OC1 but I can only imagine that its close to the VT3 with a few extra features and a smaller package.

[DiveNav]

........I can't seem to decide between the Oceanic OC1 Dual Algorithm Wireless Wristwatch Air Intergrated and the new Atomic Aquatics Cobalt Console.......
Completely different machines; one is a very nice watch you can wear all day long (I even sleep with my OC1-LE on ;)) while the other is a console. One has a color OLED display the other not.

In terms of navigating / using the dive computers, the OC1 too has an easy to navigate menu. Of course its display is smaller so there is less info on it, but the STEP BACK and STEP FORWARD functions are quite helpful.

Also, we have designed an online class for the OC1 and it is also available in our simulator so you can go for a virtual dive with it ;)

Alberto (aka eDiver)

[Byte Me]

If the OC1's wireless functionality is anything like the VT3 that I've had for three years now you've got nothing to worry about with syncing or losing it. I've never had it lose contact with the transmitter and LOVE the VT3. Would buy again (or the OC1) in a minute.

[fnfalman]

I'd go with the UEMIS. Wireless AI coupled with easy to use sliding buttons for navigation and set-up AND colorful graphics.

[scubafanatic]

One thing people seem to love about the Cobalt is how easy it is to navigate menus and change settings without referencing the manual, in stark contrast to some other dive computers.

Which begs the question; do you do much 'fiddling' with settings?

I use an Oceanic VT3; on a Bonaire trip, I pull out the manual (which I find fairly miserable to deal with) as I'm mainly a vacation diver and it's not practical to learn all the ins and outs and memorize them permanently, and eventually work out how to set it to Nitrox EAN 32%, and I can pull up the onscreen log and run through dives I've made to get max. depths and times. Other than that, I pretty much run it on 'auto.' for the week. So for me, buying a Cobalt as a nifty toy would probably not be a justified expense.

But if I did a lot of customized settings over the course of a week, I might think again.

Plans are for a wrist version of the Cobalt. Would it make sense for you to buy a cheaper, non-AI wrist unit like a Geo, put the extra money aside & wait for it?

Richard.

I'm using Oceanic Pro Plus II's (which are very easy to program), Atomic Cobalts, (which are insanely easy to program)....and Cochrans, which are moderately hard to program, but if I review the owner's manual and play with the settings before a trip I'll remember how to set them up....plus I'll bring an owner's manual for the Cochrans, just in case.

I'm surprised to hear the Oceanic VT3 is hard to program, as my Pro Plus II's are also Oceanic's and are quite easy to figure out. That said, once you are exposed to the Cobalts in real life...you REALLY will want to upgrade, and you will have a major case of 'gear envy' if you don't.....high coolness factor!

[rad21]

I just had to face this same decision. To me it comes down to a preference of Console or Wrist. For recreational divers these are the sexiest computers on the market and if your anything like me the subtle style points are important. After much deliberation i've decided on the OC1. The Cobalt is great and looks beautiful but I really cant see myself without a wrist computer. Its really a personal decision I feel that they are both great. Good luck with your decision

It definitely is a personal decision. I don't like having a clunky computer (or anything) strapped to my wrist. In fact, I only wear a watch occasionally and it is a lightweight, thin one.
When I used a wrist dive computer, I found myself removing it whenever I got back on the boat because I hated the feeling of the weight on my wrist. Of course, when I got ready for the next dive, there was more than one time that I left the wrist computer sitting on the boat:depressed: For the past 5 years I have been using an AI console that I secure with a retractable lanyard to keep it from dragging around. It is always attached to my first stage so there is no way to leave it on the boat. I will probably purchase the Cobalt in 2011.

[drrich2]

I'm surprised to hear the Oceanic VT3 is hard to program, as my Pro Plus II's are also Oceanic's and are quite easy to figure out.

It's not so much that it's hard to program a VT3, but you need to know what you're doing, and if you almost no clue, figuring it out by fiddling with it could be arduous. And my impression of the Oceanic Worldwide manual is rather negative; I've noticed some other postings on this forum that criticize their manuals for being difficult, although many people like their computers (& that's all I've bought so far).

It sounds like the Cobalt could be figured out without pouring through a difficult, technically dense manual to find out what button combo.s get it in the right mode, then cycle through the options. For someone who gets in a dive trip maybe once or twice per year & doesn't remember trip-to-trip how to work his computer, that is a compelling advantage. Whether Atomic can work that interface on a wrist unit we shall see someday, perhaps.

Richard.

[Kern]

It sounds like the Cobalt could be figured out without pouring through a difficult, technically dense manual to find out what button combo.s get it in the right mode, then cycle through the options. For someone who gets in a dive trip maybe once or twice per year & doesn't remember trip-to-trip how to work his computer, that is a compelling advantage. Whether Atomic can work that interface on a wrist unit we shall see someday, perhaps.

Richard.

As there are already several wrist mounts that use hierarchical drop down menus, I'm sure Atomic will manage too.

[HowardE]

I've used the OC1 for hundreds of dives since I got it last year. I've had no problems with the sync, and I'm still on the original batteries. I've been extremely happy with the ease of use on the OC1, and dive it on almost every dive, either as my only pressure gauge (on easy recreational dives), on technical dives as a backup, and on hard hat dives I use it on my EGS bottle.

[Dgsmith]

I went from the Aeris elite T3 to the Atomic Cobalt. I took it for a week to Bonair in Dec. about a week after I recieved it. You do not need a manual. It is a very intuitive Dive computer. Lot of compliments after showing it around. Took my nitrox course while at Bonair and the instructor asked if I brought my manual. I said no but said it can't be to hard. After I changed % in a few seconds I think she started drooling. I liked my wireless but this is a whole lot better in every way.

[Daveo957]

Cobalt review
NOLA DIVER: Atomic Aquatics First Dive Computer (http://noladiver.blogspot.com/2011/01/atomics-fist-dive-computer.html)

[RonR]

Yeah, you're most likely in for a long wait for a wrist model of the Cobalt.!
Well, speaking up here as the original designers of the Cobalt, I can say we have been working on the wrist mount electronics and software for some time- in part alongside the console, though the decision was made to put the console out first. Don't get too pessimistic about timing. Atomic first publicly showed the Cobalt at DEMA in '09, anticipating a late Spring 2010 release. We weren't actually able to start shipping until late October. The delay was a disappointment, but Atomic is pretty conservative when it comes to making sure things are well and truly tested before they start selling them.

That said, bringing out the wrist mount models involves migrating an existing system over to a different configuration, nowhere near as complex as starting from scratch. It won't take nearly as long.

But the Cobalt wrist mount will not be a watch style computer, it will have the full sized screen, so it will remain quite a different device from the OC1, and not something you would wear for daily use!

Like others here have said, it comes down to wrist vs. console. I wouldn't worry too much about loss of synch- if it were a huge problem wrist AI computers would not be nearly as popular as they are.

[chris514scott]

So which one of these two would be better if i plan on getting into technical diving? I like that the Atomic looks easier but if the OC1 will do more then I just need to get my but in gear and learn it. Thank you for any help.

[HowardE]

I only can speak from the OC1, but for technical diving... Get a technical diving computer. Don't use a recreational dive computer for tech diving... Unless you're just using it as a backup timer and possibly backup pressure gauge.

I HAVE used the OC1 for tech dives, and the deco is reasonable, but different. A lot more time at the shallow stops.. less deeper stops. Also the thing I did like was (since i have 2 transmitters) a transmitter on my back gas, and one on my deco bottle.

[DiveNav]

....... I like that the Atomic looks easier but if the OC1 .....
The OC1 is not that difficult at all .... plus, according to Oceanic website (http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/divecomputertraining.html), you will get a FREE online class (http://www.divecomputertraining.com/classes.php?page=diveComp&class=11&module=1&section=1) (tons of videos with how-to examples, quizzes and final test) if you register your dive computer with them.

Alberto (aka eDiver)

[RonR]

So which one of these two would be better if i plan on getting into technical diving? I like that the Atomic looks easier but if the OC1 will do more then I just need to get my but in gear and learn it. Thank you for any help.
If by technical diving you mean trimix, then neither of these are suitable. If you mean diving outside recreational depths, or using nitrox mixes up to 100%, or using multiple mixes on one dive, then both will work. The OC1 does allow for pressure sensing on multiple tanks (if you buy additional sending units). While the Cobalt will calculate the deco for multiple gases, there is only one tank pressure sensor.

I doubt the OC1 is that difficult to use, as much as it is less intuitive- you have to remember what to do to get where you want to go. The Cobalt was designed to be simply picked up and used, without needing a manual, cheat sheet, or specialty class. Our experience has been that divers know how to use it- set mixes, PO2 limits, and preferences- in just a few minutes of playing with it. I think people do need to refer to the manual to effectively use the dive planning functions, since it replicates the capabilities of desktop dive planners. It has features that you would probably not figure out without reading the instructions.

How long before you start tech diving? I'd chose the computer to suit the diving you will be doing in the near future, and cross the tech diving computer bridge later, when you have a clear idea of the type of diving you will do.

Computers are evolving rapidly, and there will probably be something better- perhaps a wrist mount Cobalt with multiple tank and/ or trimix capability:D- in the future.

[RonP]

wanted to let you know with what I went with. Got the OC1 and over 150 dives with it. love it.