Suunto Cobra - Good or bad

[alexgottz]

Hey fellow divers,

I'm thinking about buying the Suunto Cobra. Does anyone have it or have any comment for me???

Thanks for the help


AGottZ

[CoyKoi]

I've had mine for 3 years and love it. Easy to read, program, and very reliable. I use the Nitrox settings alot and really like how it works. The dive planning and simulation features are very handy, too. Make sure you are supporting your local dive shop by buying your Cobra from them and not online or mail order.

[parabolic]

What is the battery for the Cobra?

[Ann Marie]

I can't remember the number of the battery off hand. It is a flat medical style, user changeable.

[speedhound]

Hi Alex,
You seem to have started two threads on this. Here's what I posted to the first one I saw.
I like mine. At first glance it looks complicated, but has a logical structure to the menus. Important to me is that it also does Nitrox and can switch between metric and imperial units. (I'm heading back to Europe after spending more than a few years in the US).
It is bulkier with the compass, but I keep mine clipped to my BC on a retractor to stop it from dangling.

I bought mine after shopping around and talking with my LDS, and would recommend it to anyone.

Dive safe and have fun!

[dkktsunami]

What is the battery for the Cobra?

Battery numbers: Energizer 2450 or Duracell 2450. 3 volts, about $5.

[dkktsunami]

Hey fellow divers,

I'm thinking about buying the Suunto Cobra. Does anyone have it or have any comment for me???

Thanks for the help


AGottZ

My wife and I both have Suunto Cobras and have had no problems. Battery can be replaced by owner. Have over 450 dives on mine, maybe 100 on wife's. Be sure to get the quick disconnect and to mount compass on Cobra. Instructions were a little tedious for me but I didn't grow up with computers.

[dherbman]

Cobra suxors:

Too expensive
crappy sw
too expensive
cluncky, too expensive PC interface (serial), though they now have a USB cable I understand.
too expensive
covoluted menu hierarchy
too expensive
temp sampling is only pre dive and coldest temp

too conservative
alarms can't be heard with hood on



I'm liking what I see in the smart com(?), but it's also too damn expensive.

BTW, I've got about 80 dives on my Cobra and it's about 7 months old.

As a point of reference, I'd be interested in knowing what other computers people giving feedback have used or had experience with. I too loved my cobra, until I had some experience with it and saw what it could be in other computers.

[Scubar]

I like my Cobra have had it for about a year with no problems. About 50 dives on it. My previous computer was an Aeris AI, failed twice in a years time.

[scubajunkee]

AGottZ,

I've had the Suunto Cobra for 5 years now and love it. It's easy to use, especially when you're switching from air to nitrox and back. It has big clear numbers and icons. It also keeps track of your breathing rate and counts down your air time at whatever depth you're at. On your way up to your safety stop, it keeps track of your ascent rate with a meter and you can really tell if you're ascending too fast. The Cobra has a number of alarms that tell you if you're running low on air, ascending too fast or missing your safety stop--these all can be turned off of course. I seldom hear the alarms since I'm usually diving with a 12mm hood and my drysuit--in warmer waters, the alarms tend to be annoying, since they're so much louder, without the hood. The Cobra can be adjusted as to how conservative (or aggressive) you want to dive. I usually have mine set in the middle. Also, if you plan to do any altitude diving the computer can be adjusted accordingly. And the best part of the computer is the ability to download it to your PC. Since buying the PC download kit, I seldom write into my logbook. I do it all on my PC "logbook" where I can print out the charts, divelogs, and set up any parameters for the printouts.

Have any other particular questions? I'd like to help.

Ericson