If you would rather spend less on a computer for now then possibly upgrade in the future might I suggest the Oceanic GEO. I have this wrist mount style computer and I actually wear it everyday as a watch and then the extender strap stays in my dive bag. You wont loose it like some people say because again i wear it as a watch so if I get out of my gear and into clothes I will know im missing my watch. It does Air & N, free diving mode, gauge mode. It is a bit on the smaller side but even without my glasses I have no issues seeing it under the water. Just wanted to give you my thoughts, hope it helped.
Advice for Newbie: Computer vs Console and Integrated inflator vs Octo
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If you would rather spend less on a computer for now then possibly upgrade in the future might I suggest the Oceanic GEO. I have this wrist mount style computer and I actually wear it everyday as a watch and then the extender strap stays in my dive bag. You wont loose it like some people say because again i wear it as a watch so if I get out of my gear and into clothes I will know im missing my watch. It does Air & N, free diving mode, gauge mode. It is a bit on the smaller side but even without my glasses I have no issues seeing it under the water. Just wanted to give you my thoughts, hope it helped.
AceszHigh
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mts0628
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From DeepSeaSupply. I have one for my SK7, one for my Vyper, and two for my Uwatec BT's. The best upgrade you can get for yourself and instruments. Just follow the instructions for assembly and bungee/ shock cord adjusting.
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For me I chose a wrist mounted computer (Oceanic VT3) for the following reasons. 1) I wanted all the information displayed in one place. 2) I was concerned over the sensitivity/accuracy of traditional depth gauges. 3) Reading a SPG console when it's tucked into your BCD as annoying and awkward and as you too have noticed...cumbersome.
I enjoy having the AI option with the VT3, plus i found it cheaper with the transmitter than other brands without the transmitter. Even if you don't want AI yet, you may want it in future.... keep that option open.
The air gauge with WM computer is certainly an option and a safe bet. Purely because even with a AI computer, many divers still recommend keeping the air gauge as a backup in case the AI fails.
With the Regulator question..... an integrated inflater provides a nice compact solution over the octo. There are those that say that the Integrated option isn't as comfortable to use (based on what i've read) compared to the traditional 2nd octo with a longer hose. Granted you shouldn't ever have to ever get into a position where you'd need to use the 2nd octo in an emergency situation. But if it does happen you want your buddy to be able surface with you safely.
At the end of the day, all the equipment available today is arguably very reliable.
You just have to decide if you want a very streamlined and minimal set-up (AI computer and Integrated inflater) or with a more traditional set-up.
It's best to look at the type of diving you will be looking at doing. Cave/wreck/tech diving generally have special considerations.
I enjoy having the AI option with the VT3, plus i found it cheaper with the transmitter than other brands without the transmitter. Even if you don't want AI yet, you may want it in future.... keep that option open.
The air gauge with WM computer is certainly an option and a safe bet. Purely because even with a AI computer, many divers still recommend keeping the air gauge as a backup in case the AI fails.
With the Regulator question..... an integrated inflater provides a nice compact solution over the octo. There are those that say that the Integrated option isn't as comfortable to use (based on what i've read) compared to the traditional 2nd octo with a longer hose. Granted you shouldn't ever have to ever get into a position where you'd need to use the 2nd octo in an emergency situation. But if it does happen you want your buddy to be able surface with you safely.
At the end of the day, all the equipment available today is arguably very reliable.
You just have to decide if you want a very streamlined and minimal set-up (AI computer and Integrated inflater) or with a more traditional set-up.
It's best to look at the type of diving you will be looking at doing. Cave/wreck/tech diving generally have special considerations.
As has already been said every one is different, try a few configurations and see what suites you, also the type of diving you do should influence your gear selection. For what it's worth I like the Octo/inflator, more streamlined, one less hose, and for air share, donate primary and breath of the Octo/inflator yourself. ( I regularly practice oral inflation of my BCD, and with this config. I don't even have to swap the reg for the inflator to do that). I like a console computer, I have always used air integrated, and having it on a console is just one less battery to die, a physical connection removes the uncertainty of radio coms for pressure, it's always there attached to your reg, and not yet another piece of gear that needs to be strapped on when kitting up. All the information is in one place, depth, time, pressure & no deco time, so it's hard to negelct any of them. I have only 1 instrument (Cobra 3) which is an air integrated computer with built in compass, all up light and simple for travel. Having said this I am a pure recreational diver with no aspirations to do Tec (overhead/deco dives). If you may go down that route then gear configuration should probably be very different.
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