TEArrington
Registered
I'm new to tech diving and am considering purchasing a new dive computer. I'd like advice (flame and rant free if possible) from some more experienced folks. I got some really nice advice from folks at my LDS, and I'd just like to see if a larger audience has anything else to say.
Here are a few things about me that I'd like you to consider before giving me advice on dive computers for technical diving:
- I prefer to follow more conservative algorithms as I am not in the best shape and middle aged. I've only been diving a couple of years, and started out with a Cobra Suunto. While most of my dive buddies dive Cochran or something more liberal, I am not convinced that is the right choice for me. At minimum, I'd like to be able to choose to be more conservative.
- I am Nitrox certified and in the Trimix and advanced Deco classes. I anticipate trying other gas mixes (Heliox) after I become more experienced when they are needed to meet a dive objective. Ideally I think I would like to be able to change gases at will during a dive.
- I've done the cavern class and will probably do a cave class next year. Mostly I love shipwrecks, and deep shipwrecks are the primary reason I'd like to do technical diving.
- I have not yet tried a rebreather, so I have no knowledge of whether I will one day want to or not.
My goal in determining what dive computer to purchase is to get something that works very well for me now, and that will work for me for at least a few years to come. I purchased all my own gear at the start of my recreational diving experience, which I think was a great choice. But I didn't anticipate at that time that some day I might want to be a technical diver, and so gear that's less than two years old doesn't really work for my new approach. I'd like to avoid buying stuff now and wishing I had something different in six months. If there is any other information you need to know to recommend a computer, please let me know. So far, the one I've seen that might work best is the Shearwater Predator, but I am not 100% convinced yet.
Thanks to all the great divers out there willing to lend a helping hand or a word of advice to newer divers.
Here are a few things about me that I'd like you to consider before giving me advice on dive computers for technical diving:
- I prefer to follow more conservative algorithms as I am not in the best shape and middle aged. I've only been diving a couple of years, and started out with a Cobra Suunto. While most of my dive buddies dive Cochran or something more liberal, I am not convinced that is the right choice for me. At minimum, I'd like to be able to choose to be more conservative.
- I am Nitrox certified and in the Trimix and advanced Deco classes. I anticipate trying other gas mixes (Heliox) after I become more experienced when they are needed to meet a dive objective. Ideally I think I would like to be able to change gases at will during a dive.
- I've done the cavern class and will probably do a cave class next year. Mostly I love shipwrecks, and deep shipwrecks are the primary reason I'd like to do technical diving.
- I have not yet tried a rebreather, so I have no knowledge of whether I will one day want to or not.
My goal in determining what dive computer to purchase is to get something that works very well for me now, and that will work for me for at least a few years to come. I purchased all my own gear at the start of my recreational diving experience, which I think was a great choice. But I didn't anticipate at that time that some day I might want to be a technical diver, and so gear that's less than two years old doesn't really work for my new approach. I'd like to avoid buying stuff now and wishing I had something different in six months. If there is any other information you need to know to recommend a computer, please let me know. So far, the one I've seen that might work best is the Shearwater Predator, but I am not 100% convinced yet.
Thanks to all the great divers out there willing to lend a helping hand or a word of advice to newer divers.