@Bubble: Having one's computer go into deco mode may be fine if one is prepared for it and understands what it means and what to do, but I had never seen it, and it caught me totally off guard. I don't think I had even read the section of the manual on deco because I never intended to do deco dives, which is why the first time it happened I ended up blowing it. By the second time, I had at least read the manual and understood what the display was instructing me to do and the 48-hour lockout that would occur if I ignored it. After the second time, I indeed informed my dive buddy that this might happen and the hand signal I'd make if it did. But I have been vigilant to avoid it since then. My only point in relating my story was that when one person in a group has a computer that's apparently more conservative than the computers used by the other five or six people, it can lead to a situation that it sounds like the original poster here would like to avoid. Just trying to add an anecdote that may be relevant to the OP's question, not suggest that my computer is "to blame" for the incident. If anything, a good lesson would be to read the manual in its entirety, including the parts that you think you won't need because you "don't do deco dives." Any dive can suddenly become a "deco dive" if your computer decides you need to make an unexpected stop. Please excuse me if I'm stating the obvious.
And not to hijack the thread, but as to my own question above, unless someone suggests that there is an advantage to two buddies having computers with different algorithms, then I think my logic of my wife and I using computers with the same algorithm is sound. I like the conservatism of the Suunto, and my wife would, too. My only complaint was getting caught with a deco obligation when I didn't expect it and barely understood it. If one is prepared do these these "extra stops" when called for, the Suunto can be a great choice.
And not to hijack the thread, but as to my own question above, unless someone suggests that there is an advantage to two buddies having computers with different algorithms, then I think my logic of my wife and I using computers with the same algorithm is sound. I like the conservatism of the Suunto, and my wife would, too. My only complaint was getting caught with a deco obligation when I didn't expect it and barely understood it. If one is prepared do these these "extra stops" when called for, the Suunto can be a great choice.