Atom 2.0 vs Suunto D9

[MBrady]

Hello,
I am looking for some advice regarding the Atom 2.0 and the Suunto D9. I find myslef in a postion to splash out (pun intended) on a new dive computer and I decided that I wanted to go wireless.

I've narrowed it down to either the Atom 2.0 or the D9, but that's as far as I got. The Atom has a user replaceable battery and is cheaper, whereas the D9 has a built in compass. I have never used a wireless dive computer before so I would appreicate any advice or experiences that anyone may have with either item.

Of course, I am also open to any other computer suggestions.

And if anyone lives in Guam, I'll be back from Iraq in...8 days!!!!!!!

 

[maged_mmh]

if you don't bother to use it as day watch; uwatec SOL is a good option as well

 

[MBrady]

I was kind of hoping to use it as a day watch too. Should of mentioned that. I ma gearing towards the Atom, just because it has a user replaceable battery. I would of thought that was a common sense thing when designing a computer.

 

[irie1029]

+1 atom 2 easy to learn... cool as day watch and downloads to pc easily.

 

[maged_mmh]

why not wait for the new Oceanic DC1

 

[Tamas]

why not wait for the new Oceanic DC1

That is the route I would go as well, but I am guessing it will be more $$$ than the Atom.

BUT if you have to choose - go with the Atom, had the 1.0 and liked it...heck I have had several Oceanic computers, and IMO they are the way to go.

 

[RAWalker]

Reports on the Suunto's compass are not very favorable.
As you state the Atom 2.0 has an user replaceable battery.
I own the Atom 2.0 myself and am happy with it.
This is just my own opinion but... I wouldn't wear a dive computer as a everyday watch.
I do wear mine as such while on vacations that I am diving but my thought is that wearing it more often increases the risk that it will be damaged and fail when it is needed during a dive.

 

[Rhone Man]

Can't speak for the Atom but I own a D9. My quick thoughts:

Good things: very reliable, gas switching, multi functional, looks good, just about small enough to use as a day watch (although I don't), good battery life.

Bad things: counter intuitive menu, bit "fiddly" scrolling the display to the data you want (esp with gloves on), small display.

Neutral: conservative algorithm (I hate it, others love it), compass (not the best compass in the world, but a useful backup).

Initially I didn't like it as much, but it has grown on me. I found the algorithm annoying when I just used to do no-decompression diving (it has shorter NDLs than most other computers), but moving to tec - it produces almost exactly the same deco profiles as much more expensive trimix computers that my friends use, so I have a slightly new found respect for it in that light.

 

[textilet]

I can't say anything about the suunto one way or the other, but i owned an Atom 2.0 for about 50 dives. Had some issues:

1. i didn't like having to add an extra wrist band onto it to wear it with a 7mm wetsuit--which i wear on every dive here in california. The extra band was a pain to keep track of and a major pain to try and buckle or un-buckle while wearing gloves because it was basically a just watch band.
2. The thing looks like a hockey puck on your wrist and is a little expensive and over-qualified to be used as a time piece.
3. The glass lens, while pretty tough, did get a couple of good scratches on it (lobster diving) and eventually a couple more of those scratches would have reduced my ability to see the screen.
4. I changed the battery, and was kind of scared to discover that all that separated the ocean from the innards of the computer is an o-ring about the thickness of a piece of thread. On top of that, the battery compartment cover was just a thin plastic cap that sealed with a quarter twist and didnt feel solidly seated even right out of the box.
5. It broke. The microscopic o-ring, which i replaced along with the battery, eventually failed. Sea water entered the battery compartment, and the battery leaked acidic goo all over the unprotected circuit board.

While i hear oceanic is good about honoring warranties, i wasnt impressed enough with the physical design of the computer to want another one. Also, i decided that i dont like wearing a giant black rubber thing on my wrist that looks like a $10 watch but is actually a $600 computer. And since i didnt really need it to be a watch, i didnt really need the screen to be small and hard to read in low light either. In the end i decided that i didnt really need my dive computer to be anything else but a dive computer. So now i have a wrist computer that is sealed, still wireless, and has a nice big screen with all the info i want all at once and a replaceable cover to protect the screen.

Hope thats helpful, i dont want to rain on your parade but i think i could have done better if i had known this when i bought my Atom 2.0

 

[RAWalker]

I can't say anything about the suunto one way or the other, but i owned an Atom 2.0 for about 50 dives. Had some issues:

1. i didn't like having to add an extra wrist band onto it to wear it with a 7mm wetsuit--which i wear on every dive here in california. The extra band was a pain to keep track of and a major pain to try and buckle or un-buckle while wearing gloves because it was basically a just watch band.
2. The thing looks like a hockey puck on your wrist and is a little expensive and over-qualified to be used as a time piece.
3. The glass lens, while pretty tough, did get a couple of good scratches on it (lobster diving) and eventually a couple more of those scratches would have reduced my ability to see the screen.
4. I changed the battery, and was kind of scared to discover that all that separated the ocean from the innards of the computer is an o-ring about the thickness of a piece of thread. On top of that, the battery compartment cover was just a thin plastic cap that sealed with a quarter twist and didnt feel solidly seated even right out of the box.
5. It broke. The microscopic o-ring, which i replaced along with the battery, eventually failed. Sea water entered the battery compartment, and the battery leaked acidic goo all over the unprotected circuit board.

While i hear oceanic is good about honoring warranties, i wasnt impressed enough with the physical design of the computer to want another one. Also, i decided that i dont like wearing a giant black rubber thing on my wrist that looks like a $10 watch but is actually a $600 computer. And since i didnt really need it to be a watch, i didnt really need the screen to be small and hard to read in low light either. In the end i decided that i didnt really need my dive computer to be anything else but a dive computer. So now i have a wrist computer that is sealed, still wireless, and has a nice big screen with all the info i want all at once and a replaceable cover to protect the screen.

Hope thats helpful, i dont want to rain on your parade but i think i could have done better if i had known this when i bought my Atom 2.0

1. When you purchase a wristwatch/dive computer what did you expect 2 different way to wear it? The band extension works fine just put the thing on before you put on your gloves.
2. It's design is that of a Sports watch. I like Casio G Shock watches also to each his/her own as for taste or style.
3. The computer comes with a thin replaceable lens protector for protection on the surface. It also comes with a heavy clear protector that goes over the face and buttons for use underwater. This cover actually makes it a bit easier to press buttons with gloves on.
4. Obviously you are not an engineer or tech with knowledge of o-ring seals. Properly engineered sealing surfaces depend of limiting the motion during the seating. The fact that the cover seals with less than 1/4 turn saves wear on the o-ring. Since the wear is limited a o-ring with a larger cross section isn't needed as long as the tolerances of the housing and cover are tight.
5. The o-ring is a maintenace part and should be replaced with the battery. If not replacing the o-ring at the very least it should be cleaned, inspected under magnification, lubricated and reinstalled with a great deal of care to not allow any dirt or debris onto the o-ring or the seating areas of the computer or cover.

The O-ring that seals the back of my 200m rated Casio G Shock is no thicker but the cover requires 4 small screws torqued to a specific value so the piezo alarm can sound. Oh and the Casio is 10 years old and is still water tite after a battery replacement 3 years ago.
No matter how well designed something is you can't account user error.