For recreational diving, which brands seem to be the 'work horses' of the industry? I'm not interested in the prettiest or fanciest. (But because I'm 57 years old I DO like the computers with large displays!) Which brand seems to be most reliable for the long haul?
Even if you prefer an SPG and a wrist computer (so not air integrated) - which brand wrist computer do you rely on?
Hi
@Kimela
What brand of computer do you currently dive and what decompression algorithm does it run? Are you happy with the brand and the decompression algorithm? The answers may influence your choice of an AI computer. By the way you posed your question, I'm assuming you are interested in a hoseless wrist AI computer, of course, I may be wrong.
The marketplace of hoseless AI computers is complex and has changed very significantly over the last couple years. American Underwater Products used to own Oceanic, Aeris Hollis, and Pelagic Pressure Systems, among other companies. AUP sold PPS to Aqualung in 2015. Why is that important? PPS is an OEM that manufactures the AI computers and transmitters for Oceanic, Aeris (brand discontinued in 2014 and folded into Oceanic), Hollis (no longer offering computers, last of the DG03s sold by Dive Gear Express), Aqualung, Sherwood, and Tusa. PPS also manufactures the transmitters for Shearwater. To make it even more interesting, AUP sold Oceanic and Hollis to Huish just this year, the ramifications are yet to be seen.
Suunto, Scubapro, Mares, Liquivision (discontinued their line of computers this year including the Lynx AI), and Ratio all have proprietary transmitters that work only within their brand.
All of the PPS computers run DSAT and/or PZ+ (proprietary Bulhmann derivative). Shearwater runs Buhlmann with GFs. Suunto and Mares run proprietary versions of RGBM. Scubapro runs a proprietary version of Buhlmann. Ratio runs Buhlmann.
Sorry if all of this just added more confusion, but, an informed consumer is a good consumer. So....for a personal anecdote. I have been using an Oceanic VT3 AI since 2010, nearly 1000 dives. I have been diving Oceanic computers running DSAT since 2002. As much as I like Oceanic computers, I am not happy with the direction of their newer computers. When/if my VT3 dies, I will likely replace it with something like the Shearwater Perdix AI, or a similar computer available by that time. To that end, I switched from an Oceanic Geo2 backup to a Dive Rite Nitek Q over a year ago to learn more about Bulhmann with GFs.
Some would say all of this is overly complicated for a diver mainly doing rec dives with about 5% light deco. Well, I love my diving and take it seriously. The more you know, the better you can do.