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After starting the thread “Mares Nemo – Any experience or Feedback last November 2003”, I now start this thread with “Actual Experience and Feedback”
I finally, after a long wait, took delivery of my first dive-computer, a Mares Nemo.
My first impressions after unpacking the unit, diving will have to wait another week:
Mechanical Design: Well thought out, no sharp edges. I expect that the computer will not catch or hook onto the diving skin when getting in an out of it. I am a warm water diver only. For those cold water divers with extra protection an extension strap is provided to get around the really thick arms. Feels good and fits snuggly - does not look out of place on the arm. The four pushbuttons (i) at 9 o'clock Menu entry/exit (ii an iii) Up and Down at 12 and 6 o'clock and (iv) Enter at 3 o'clock are large and easy to use - no wet fingers. Again the rounded design of these buttons will not snag.
Display: Going through the Menus, the main display items are clearly visible, but I fear that some of the secondary display items are just too small or fine. For me some icons become completely indistinguishable to my eyes like the AM/PM, Alarm Icon and T2 indicators (My eyes must be getting bad but I think this normal at 52 and not using glasses). The segmented alphanumeric display needs some getting used to.
Menu: First a bit confused, but once I understood the menu structure it was easy to use and I could navigate freely through it using the four push buttons
Handbook: A modern graphic design which is a absolute disaster!- completely un-readable!. The smallest possible print utilising the paper from edge to edge such that the printing gets hidden the binding. Whoever designed the manual with some pages dark grey, shiny and small print only went to design school and has no idea of the real world. I will print enlarged extracts from the electronic handbook (menu structure), laminate them as waterproof reminder sheets to consult when on a diving trip.
Battery: Mares recommends that the battery is to be changed by Mares service centre only. Unless Mares makes available replacement seals, I would follow that recommendation but in an emergency you can try your luck. The strap can only be replaced by a Mares Service Centre.
Algorithm: How the Mares algorithm compares to its competitors I will leave to someone who has access to all different type of dive computers. For those who want to experience the bends, sorry I start again - For dive schools, other diving institutions and for those who know what they are doing this computer allows the resetting of the residual nitrogen levels of the tissue compartments.
Nemo Underwater: Hope the weather is fine next weekend to allow diving. I'll keep you updated and try to answer your questions.
[QUOTE=toni_al]I finally, after a long wait, took delivery of my first dive-computer, a Mares Nemo.
I have been informed by GO_Dive that they will have them in 2 months. (original date was April 2004). Decided to buy other computer. I did read the manual of the Nemo and that looks like this could be a winner
Display: Going through the Menus, the main display items are clearly visible, but I fear that some of the secondary display items are just too small or fine. For me some icons become completely indistinguishable to my eyes like the AM/PM, Alarm Icon and T2 indicators (My eyes must be getting bad but I think this normal at 52 and not using glasses). The segmented alphanumeric display needs some getting used to.
Menu: First a bit confused, but once I understood the menu structure it was easy to use and I could navigate freely through it using the four push buttons
Handbook: A modern graphic design which is a absolute disaster!- completely un-readable!. The smallest possible print utilising the paper from edge to edge such that the printing gets hidden the binding. Whoever designed the manual with some pages dark grey, shiny and small print only went to design school and has no idea of the real world. I will print enlarged extracts from the electronic handbook (menu structure), laminate them as waterproof reminder sheets to consult when on a diving trip.
Nemo Underwater: Hope the weather is fine next weekend to allow diving. I'll keep you updated and try to answer your questions.
I have recently purchased a Mares M1 RGBM computer. It is quite different to the Nemo in shape and size, but I presume the algorithms would be identical. I agree with some of the comments you have made about your computer:
Display: the main numbers and info are generally clear and easy to read, but as you say the secondary info (such as the words "Plan" and "Sim" etc) are almost impossible for my 42 year old eyes to read (even difficult wiht my glasses on). I don't think this will be a major problem in day to day usage, but it is less than ideal.
Menu: I don't find the layout particularly instinctive. After doing 12 dives on it I still struggle to figure out how to access some of the data/features. Like most guys I am pretty good at working out most electronic devices without using the instructions, but not with the Mares computer! I think that if I had a few months out of the water for some reason I would struggle to remember how some features are accessed. I don't think this computer would be ideal for those who only do a few dives per year.
Handbook: the print is ridiculously small for me. The layout took a while to sort out (couldn't even find some of the diagrams they were referring to at first). Hopefully they will soon have a copy of the manual on their website and I will be a ble to print out a larger version that I can actually read.
Underwater Use: in the water it was all pretty simple. The blue backlight feature on the M1 (don't know if the Nemo has this or not) is brilliant for night dives. I didn't hear the alarm beeps at any stage and had to recheck that I had this feature turned on. This is a pity because the alarm beep for deep stops could be particularly handy, as would be the warning that you are about to go into deco time. I didn't get to put the algorithm to the test in any significant way, only a couple of the dives I did went into deco time (and only marginally so). The required deco at 3m cleared on each dive before i reached 3m by virtue of doing deeper deco stops. No matter how much deco time you do at say 6m it will still recommend a 3 min safety stop at 3- 5m (you can either do it or ignore it if you wish since it is only a recommendation). The ascent rate monitor is very sensitive to even the briefest vilolation.
I have a Mares Nemo and so far I like it. I love the smallness of it and the display is great underwater. I have only used it at the lake on a few dives so I will really get to break it in this week on a Flower Gardens trip with repetitive deep diving. I have the stainless steel model, the titanium's have not been shipped yet.
I am thinking about buying a Nemo but am worried about the service centers. Where do we North American's have to send the watches to have the batteries replaced? How much do they charge?
So I finally got my Nemo, and have had a chance to throw down a couple of dives on it. So far, I love it. It's small, compact design is great... It never snags on anything, as it's very rounded and low profile to the wrist. I've taken off my bc and fooled around with my equipment a bunch of times and never a problem. The computer design itself is very slick.. very easy to use, simple divisions of function areas, and it's a piece of cake to use. the manual actually helps a lot, gives you everything you need. I sat down with the computer when I first got it, and read through the manual with the watch, just to make sure I knew everything about it as I figured it out. It took me about 20 mins and within another ten I had it mastered. It's really simple to use.
It performs great underwater... simple controls, easy to read display, easy to use light. You have to press the light button for two seconds to get it to come on, which is sort of a pain, but it's not that big of a deal (I dive in caverns a lot, so i need the light). I can read it easly when I have some light from the surface, and I don't even need to worry about the internal indiglo.
It locks into the dive mode during the dive, so you can't accidentally reset anything during your dive.
All in all.. this watch is awesome. It has a great algorithm.. I've gotten so much more time out of my dives at deep depths than I ever imagined I could... It does have the option to increase the conservatism of the algorithm if you want.. up to three levels. (for example, if you were diving cold or strenuous, you could move the conservatism up one level or so, just like moving a block over on the tables, or if you happen to be an extremely obese smoker, you might want to move the conservatism level up a notch or two) It's alarms are easy to hear, great design.. people are like.. that's your dive computer!?
Anyway, I highly reccomend this computer. I've fooled around with somem friend's comps... including the stinger and mosquito.. and this one blows them away.
Btw.. the support software is easy to use and pretty cool.
All in all.. this watch is awesome. It has a great algorithm.. I've gotten so much more time out of my dives at deep depths than I ever imagined I could... It does have the option to increase the conservatism of the algorithm if you want.. up to three levels. (for example, if you were diving cold or strenuous, you could move the conservatism up one level or so, just like moving a block over on the tables, or if you happen to be an extremely obese smoker, you might want to move the conservatism level up a notch or two) It's alarms are easy to hear, great design.. people are like.. that's your dive computer!?
Anyway, I highly reccomend this computer. I've fooled around with somem friend's comps... including the stinger and mosquito.. and this one blows them away.
Btw.. the support software is easy to use and pretty cool.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the update. I just bought the Nemo myself, but have to wait a little to dive with it. Just a question--do you plan on changing batteries or do you plan on sending it somewhere. Thanks,
Jon
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Originally Posted by toni_al
