Question Sheck Exley's Dive Computer

[Antonios (Holy Diver)]

I was reading about Sheck Exley's last dive in Zacaton. The Wikipedia article stated that his wrist mounted dive computer showed a maximum depth of 276 meters. Sheck Exley - Wikipedia Does anybody know what kind or brand of dive computer was it? I was a bit surprised that in early 90s there were DC's capable of withstanding such depths. I wonder also about the role of a first generation, air- only, dive computer in such an extreme, multi-gas dive. Were there any trimix dive computers then? Thanks in advance for your time and bits of information!

 

[rhwestfall]

I know Cochran was making a heck of a computer back around then....

 

[Antonios (Holy Diver)]

I know Cochran was making a heck of a computer back around then....

Do you believe that maybe was a special model, modified especially for Exley's needs?

 

[rhwestfall]

Do you believe that maybe was a special model, modified especially for Exley's needs?

I have no idea what he was using, just commenting on a product I believe was available back then. I got a Cochran in the early 90's as it was one I found that no matter how badly you screwed up, it would keep calculating solutions and not lock you out like many others. It was those years the company had earned a Military contract. They had a few offerings then...

I'm sure there were others...

 

[Antonios (Holy Diver)]

I have no idea what he was using, just commenting on a product I believe was available back then. I got a Cochran in the early 90's as it was one I found that no matter how badly you screwed up, it would keep calculating solutions and not lock you out like many others. It was those years the company had earned a Military contract. They had a few offerings then...

I'm sure there were others...

AFAIK, the first Suuntos , Aladdins and Orca Edge were also available. But I suppose a dive at 270+ meters would be a traumatic event (for a Suunto...)

 

[Vicko]

Dive computers for those depths are usually disassembled, filled with oil and then reassembled.
You can take a old oil filled aladin down to 400m and it won't implode.
It won't show the correct depth either, but again I digress.

 

[rhwestfall]

The "non-military" model of the Commander was listed in their literature to have a functional range to 327'. They also state it will operate below that...

No idea what the non-civilian model would have been capable of back then.


as also said, I have no idea what he was using on his dive(s).

 

[sea_ledford]

My cave instructor used to run tables for Exley. So he was most likely on tables, and his "dive computer" was something like a scubapro digital bottom timer.

 

[BoltSnap]

The "non-military" model of the Commander was listed in their literature to have a functional range to 327'. They also state it will operate below that...

No idea what the non-civilian model would have been capable of back then.


as also said, I have no idea what he was using on his dive(s).

It was marketed through Sherwood first but Cochran went direct shortly afterwards and Sherwood stopped distributing it. I have had one from their first computers on the market and continued to buy their new models until circa 2006. They were unreliable in first 4 years but quality improved afterwards. I was a big dealer for them until I closed my dive center in NY to move to Libya in 2004.

They were the first to bring hoseles AI dive computers to the market AFAIK.

 

[Antonios (Holy Diver)]

My cave instructor used to run tables for Exley. So he was most likely on tables, and his "dive computer" was something like a scubapro digital bottom timer.

Very interesting... So can these bottom timers track your depth, too?