Hose or wrist mounted computer?

[LoCz]

Im looking for a new computer, my first actually, and im looking for advice on the pros and cons of hose mounted and wrist mounted computers.

Now i will probably be diving with Nitrox when i get certified, so it will have to be Nitrox ready. Also i will definately want a computer that will allow me tochange my own batteries unless the battries have a massive 20 year life heh.

What advantages have a hosed computer got over a wrst mounted computer and vice versa.

Unfortuanately the remote signal/air integrated wrist mounted type of computer is out of my price range.\

I like the look and sound of the suunto cobra but i hear that the hose is a little to short. Isnt it a pain to have to keep looking down at a hose mounted computer?

Would i be ok say with a non air integrated wrist mounted computer and have a pressure and depth gauge also on my tank?

 

[Mario S Caner]

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

 

[herman]

Hi LoCz,
If I understand your question correctly, which you should use, a wrist or hose (console) mounted computer? The answer is simply one of personal choice. Which ever works for you. Having said that, I am assuming you are know that the only difference is the holder it is in. You can purchase a wrist mount and if you change your mind, simple pop it out of the wrist mount, remove the SPG from the console and insert it in there, or put it it in the console first and buy a wrist mount later. Personally, I use a console mounted one, it's always there ( I am not likely to forget my regulator),and I feel more secure with it there than on a wrist strap the might come loose or gets snagged and pulls loose. In any case, changing from one to the other is no big deal. Seems like the wrist mounts run around $25 so they are not cost prohibitive to buy seperately.

 

[LoCz]

Hmmm i never thought about a shark swimming off with my arm Mario good point m8.

But dont hose/air integrated computers monitor tank pressure and gas consistency? I thought that for some reason that most nitrox users use an air integrated computer. :bonk:

 

[Mario S Caner]

LoCz,
There are plenty of non-airintegrated dive computer's that calculate Nitrox tables. Air integration is a completely seperate issue than the type of gas you use.

The benefit of an air integrated computer is roughly this. Since the comp has the ability to consistenty monitor air pressure and time, it can calculate how long it will take to deplete the supply. Therefore they will give you a graphical and numerical value that is very easy to understand. (This is the equivalent of understanding a stop light in most cases...) The computer takes into consideration things like depth, time, cylinder pressure, consumption rate, even work of breathing rate... (my favorite feature) to give you a "Hey dOOd, you have X amount of minutes before you need to get out and reload!" This feature takes all the guess work out of stuff a newbie or even sometimes a verteran diver might make an error on.

Compare it to a base model car that has a gas guage. Though the gauge is very necessary to have, and is easy enough to work with... it's not as functional as the car your significant other has... one that has a trip computer that tells him/her exactly how many miles you can drive to empty, what your fuel consumption i.e. mgg/kpg rate is and has neat little audible and visual stimulie when you're not paying attention to it. Safer... yes!, Pricier... yes!, Worth it...yes!

The choice really isn't that difficult is it...

Mario

 

[LoCz]

Cheers Mario that helped.

So basically your computer works out how long your air is gunna last by current breathing rate. In that case cant i just work this out with a pressure/depth gauge and a wrist mounted non air integrated computer?

 

[Mario S Caner]

LoCz,
Do you want to be making math errors on a slate or enjoy the surroundings while diving? What are the consequenses of making an error? The answer to you question is simply... No!
Diving manufacturers spend millions of $'s to develop functional tools for us. Do you routinely pick up a screwdriver to hammer a nail? Do you use a hammer to tighten a lock-nut? Why would you go out of your way to make a relatively simple task so hard when you have all the tools you need in your toolbox? Same argument when it comes to computer choices...

Mario

 

[LoCz]

Point taken sounds like the cobra then heh. But surely its not that hard to say to yourself "right im going to ascend" when my tank gets to a certain pressure?

 

[Mario S Caner]

The cobra is a great chioce if you prefer an air-integrated computer. The Data Trans Plus or the Aladin Air Z O2 are the choices for an air integrated hoseless comp.

And yes you can look at your digital or analog depth gauge and ascend whenever it's appropriate, but my point is that... point which is appropriate is never constant. Are you deeper than usual, are you breathing more... there are a lot of variables to take into consideration that an air-integrated comp does for you.

Mario

 

[LoCz]

thx alot for your help Mario

btw im on icq