Fathometer?

[CompuDude]

A buddy on a recent dive used a "fathometer", an 8" tube with a readout that showed how deep the ocean floor was below from the surface. Very handy for dropping down at just the right place on those dives with long surface swims.

Anyone know a good place to get one? Pref. cheap? His was a gift, so he wasn't much help...

 

[neophyte]

I have no idea whether or not this is a good one. For that matter, I don't even know if it's a good price. But it's a starting point, if nothing else...

Gray Portable Sonar System

It's from Target, sold through Amazon. I've had nothing but good results buying all sorts of things through Amazon.

The listing says that's it waterproof to 200 feet and "floatable", though I'm not sure quite what floatable means, or if that makes it more or less suitable for your purposes...

For whatever it's worth, I've seen Headhunter using one that may or may not be the same brand, maybe a PM to him would be helpful.

Good luck,

Adam

 

[herman]

Fathometer is an older and rarely used term, it's more often called a depth sounder or fish finder. Depending on the features you want and the resolution of the display the prices range anywhere from $100 to over $2000 for consumer types and the sky is the limit for comercial or military types......I can only imagine what the Navy's cost. If all you need is a depth readout the inexpensive ones do nicely. For identifying the bottom structure and locating fish or wrecks, the more resolution (and expensive) the better. You can find them at any place that carries marine electronics, West Marine and Boats Unlimited come to mind. Also sporting goods retailers have them-Bass Pros and Cabelas for example. Humminbird, Lorance and Garmin are several of the more common consumer manufactures.

 

[CompuDude]

Nice, thanks, I'll check with Christian, too. Interesting link... not the same one my buddy was using, but it just might do the trick...

Herman, thanks for the extra background info. The cheapies should certainly suffice when all I want to know is when I hit the pinnacle or drop off.

 

[jeffrey-c]

One is available at Scuba.com here:

http://scuba.com/shop/product.asp?category=49&fromsearch=1&hashvalue=030505

 

[CompuDude]

Ah-ha! That's the one he had. Thanks! Now I have to decide between the known good one and the cheap one.

 

[neophyte]

One is available at Scuba.com here:

http://scuba.com/shop/product.asp?category=49&fromsearch=1&hashvalue=030505

That *looks* like the one I saw Christian using too...

For whatever it's worth.

 

[Packhorse]

"Extremely accurate to the nearest 10th decimal"

Accurate to .0000000001 feet? wow!!

I have seen wristwatch sized units with wireless transponders that you cast on using a fishing rod before as well.

 

[ClayJar]

I have a HawkEye DF2200PX from Norcross Marine. I've found it works quite well, and at $99.99, it's not too expensive, either.

If you want cheaper, they even sell forctory recertified DF2200PX units for only $54.99.

 

[CompuDude]

I think we have a winner! Cheap is good... at least, for this sort of toy.