I just joined ScubaBoard and might be a little late in replying to your question, but here is my two cents worth.
When I was in the dive business (I am still an active instructor), I chose to go with the SDI training programs because we teach the use of dive computers rather than the wheel or other traditional tables. This is because statistically we know (in the industry) that divers do not always really remember how to use their tables once they have passed their open water test. Furthermore, when they get out in the real world they can (and do) often make mistakes that can either cost them dive time or put them in danger of too much exposures.
Since selling my business I have been on seven (yes 7) dive boats this year. On only one boat did I see (at total of 3 out of 18) divers with depth gauges and they were relegated to "dive with the divemaster on his profile" while the rest of us were told to dive our computers. On all other boats, everyone was using a computer. This is the way the world is learning to dive these days (sorry PADI). One of the reasons is that computers do not forget how deep you go or how long you have been down there.
If you want a dollars versus dive time rational for purchasing a dive computer think of it this way.
If you go to Cozumel and your trip (including airfare and accommodations) costs you say $1500 and you plan on making 3 dives a day for 5 days this would work out to $100 a dive. If you dove to 80 feet on a standard table/wheel you would have a maximum bottom time limit of 40 minutes. But more likely than not you will not stay at 80 feet for the entire 40 minutes. You probably would use your air up too fast at this depth, for one thing. So logically you will come up from that 80 feet and spend the majority of your dive at about 35-40 feet. On your linear table you would have to surface at the prescribed 40 minues of bottom time allowed.
But if you were on a computer you might touch 80 feet for maybe 10 minutes of your dive and then spend the remainder of the dive at a shallower depth. And in this case (as well as the one above) your air "might" last you for more than a total of 40 minutes.
Your dive computer will recalculate your bottom time (base on reduced pressure) and might allow you a dive time of 60 minutes or longer - probably as long as your air will last. The cost of your dive trip - that $100 per dive now goes down in dollars per minute of the dive from $100 for 40 minutes to $100 for 60 minutes - a 50 percent bonus because you invested in a dive computer for your trip.
There are inexpensive computers out there that will give you the basics, even though I agree with your "ideal computer" selection on your profile. Buy an inexpense one now and invest in the Uwatec when you start upgrading your gear.
My second recommendation with regard to equipment purchase is a buoyancy compensator. Once you own your own BC you will truly be able to begin mastering buoyancy control which is the key to diving comfort.
If you rent the rest - rent at the store where you are taking your training. You will have several advanatages and the first one is better fit and the comfort that comes with that.
BTW, I know a friend who rented a regulator in Cozumel. The second stage fell apart on him on a dive at a depth of 100 feet.
For those Techinical divers who will take issue with some of the above - I am well aware that tables have a place in technical diving (I am a TDI Instructor also). My comments are ment for entry level and advanced open water divers.
When I was in the dive business (I am still an active instructor), I chose to go with the SDI training programs because we teach the use of dive computers rather than the wheel or other traditional tables. This is because statistically we know (in the industry) that divers do not always really remember how to use their tables once they have passed their open water test. Furthermore, when they get out in the real world they can (and do) often make mistakes that can either cost them dive time or put them in danger of too much exposures.
Since selling my business I have been on seven (yes 7) dive boats this year. On only one boat did I see (at total of 3 out of 18) divers with depth gauges and they were relegated to "dive with the divemaster on his profile" while the rest of us were told to dive our computers. On all other boats, everyone was using a computer. This is the way the world is learning to dive these days (sorry PADI). One of the reasons is that computers do not forget how deep you go or how long you have been down there.
If you want a dollars versus dive time rational for purchasing a dive computer think of it this way.
If you go to Cozumel and your trip (including airfare and accommodations) costs you say $1500 and you plan on making 3 dives a day for 5 days this would work out to $100 a dive. If you dove to 80 feet on a standard table/wheel you would have a maximum bottom time limit of 40 minutes. But more likely than not you will not stay at 80 feet for the entire 40 minutes. You probably would use your air up too fast at this depth, for one thing. So logically you will come up from that 80 feet and spend the majority of your dive at about 35-40 feet. On your linear table you would have to surface at the prescribed 40 minues of bottom time allowed.
But if you were on a computer you might touch 80 feet for maybe 10 minutes of your dive and then spend the remainder of the dive at a shallower depth. And in this case (as well as the one above) your air "might" last you for more than a total of 40 minutes.
Your dive computer will recalculate your bottom time (base on reduced pressure) and might allow you a dive time of 60 minutes or longer - probably as long as your air will last. The cost of your dive trip - that $100 per dive now goes down in dollars per minute of the dive from $100 for 40 minutes to $100 for 60 minutes - a 50 percent bonus because you invested in a dive computer for your trip.
There are inexpensive computers out there that will give you the basics, even though I agree with your "ideal computer" selection on your profile. Buy an inexpense one now and invest in the Uwatec when you start upgrading your gear.
My second recommendation with regard to equipment purchase is a buoyancy compensator. Once you own your own BC you will truly be able to begin mastering buoyancy control which is the key to diving comfort.
If you rent the rest - rent at the store where you are taking your training. You will have several advanatages and the first one is better fit and the comfort that comes with that.
BTW, I know a friend who rented a regulator in Cozumel. The second stage fell apart on him on a dive at a depth of 100 feet.
For those Techinical divers who will take issue with some of the above - I am well aware that tables have a place in technical diving (I am a TDI Instructor also). My comments are ment for entry level and advanced open water divers.
