Top 5 Likes / Dis-Likes on Your Dive Computer

[mikecotrone]

What are the top 5 Likes and Dis-Liked (if any)?


I dive an Oceanic VT3

Likes:
-------
1. It supports up to three tanks with different mixes (easy to switch gases in-dive)

2. Transmitter to stream line my gear by using my computer to manage my gas

3. Supports Nitrox

4. Configurable alarms (visual and audible)

5. Online training for the VT3 through EDiver

Dislikes:
----------
1. Oceanlog VT3 manual

2. I wish the buttons would press in a bit easier. My fingers get tired when i am programming my PO2 and mix for example

 

[TSandM]

Liquivision X1

Likes:

1. The display. It rocks. 'Nuff said. Readable without backlighting or illuminating, and bright enough to use as a backup light on a cave exit. I know.

2. Very customizable -- I can set it up to make the information I want readily accessible.

3. The display prioritized the information I need, even when I allow the decompression software to run. Depth and time are what I want to see -- I'm quite happy to have to peer to read anything else.

4. The unit is small, fits on my arm, and is easy to get through a harness.

5. It's darned near bombproof. I have seen someone throw one on concrete; I myself have dropped mine on asphalt.

6. The battery is rechargeable, so I don't have to check it before a dive trip to see if I need to go in to the dive shop and have the battery changed.

7. The tap interface is intuitive, and I don't have to remember which button to hold and for how long, to access the functions I want. Even underwater, where I tend to be stupid.

8. No buttons means nothing that leaks.

9. It downloads into my computer, with profiles. (And the dive profile is accessible as a graphic on the unit itself, which means I can show it to people at the site. That's pretty cool.)

10. There's a DSS boot for it. That's a deal-breaker on a computer, for me.

Things I don't like:

1. It's rechargeable, which means if I don't remember to put it on the charger, I can end up with a dead computer at the dive site.

2. The tap interface can be temperamental, and my dive buddies, who don't like me running the decompression software anyway, REALLY don't like watching me sit at the gas switch depth and bang on the thing to get it to gas switch.

3. The logging software is pretty primitive. For an expensive device with expensive software, I would expect better.

 

[aquaregia]

Aladin Pro Nitrox

Likes:
1. Simple, easy to use interface
2. Audible alarms

Dislikes:
1. Nitrox in 2% increments
2. Contacts hard to activate while wet



Oceanic Versa

Likes:
1. Survived a 3 month, 110' dive

Dislikes
1. Bloody awful interface
2. No alarms, backlight or glow

 

[DevonDiver]

Suunto D9

Likes:

1. Small size, wrist mounted.
2. Multi-gas
3. Deep Stop
4. Gives dive profile graph

Dislikes:

1. Pathetic, short lifespan rubber strap, with non-generic attachment
2. Battery is expensive to replace and needs specialist to fit
3. No stop watch function under water
4. Interface and menu functions can be time consuming
5. Deco/safety stops measured in minutes, not seconds.

 

[Kern]

pros;

Small form factor.
Display - Well organised, customisable, easy to read.
Intuitive operation.
Ease of operation.
VPM live, algorithm.
Its mine.

cons;

Price.
It's pre version 5 & my depth sensor may fail.
Price.
Price.
Price.

 

[Slamfire]

1. Survived a 3 month, 110' dive

What kind of deco did it give you on that.

pros;

Small form factor.
Display - Well organised, customisable, easy to read.
Intuitive operation.
Ease of operation.
VPM live, algorithm.
Its mine.

Are you referring to a Liquivision?

Mares Puck
Likes
When you make it mad, it locks you out to bottom timer
Good battery life, user changeable
Ascent speed in ft/min

Dislikes
Won't play mp3s
Single gas
Weak, buggy interface software
Excessive penalizing if you decide to do stops slightly deeper (eg. do the 10ft at 15ft to avoid wave action)
Way too conservative on certain repetitive dives

 

[vladimir]

I'll piggyback Andy, since I'm lazy, we use the same computer, and have somewhat different perspectives.

Suunto D9

Likes:

1. Small size, wrist mounted. √ But getting a little hard for presbyopic eyes to read.
2. Multi-gas Doesn't matter for rec divers like me.
3. Deep Stop :Yawn:
4. Gives dive profile graph √
5. The wireless data transmission and pairing has been completely reliable.

Dislikes:

1. Pathetic, short lifespan rubber strap, with non-generic attachment My band (not rubber?) still looks like new, 4 years and ~300 dives later.
2. Battery is expensive to replace and needs specialist to fit √ Yes, I just got mine back from Suunto: $116.
3. No stop watch function under water Doesn't matter for rec divers like me.
4. Interface and menu functions can be time consuming The ease of menu navigation is my favorite thing about the computer, although I agree it can be time consuming.
5. Deco/safety stops measured in minutes, not seconds. Doesn't matter for rec divers like me.

 

[tstormdiver]

I dive a Suunto Helo2
Likes:
* Trimix (when I get the training)
* Multiple gases
* User can set agressiveness or conservatism
* User changable batteries
* Large Screen
Dislikes:
* Screen is a bit busy
* Have to scroll through small numbers to get your dive time
* Have to use the back light. The screen will not glow when light is applied
* Hard to read when screen protector gets scratched
* menu can be complicated to move through

I also Dive a Suunto Vyper air
Likes:
* Multiple gases
* Large screen
*Air integrated
*Electronic compass (never used it, but cool to have)
* User changeable batteries
Dislikes:
*Most the same as the Helo2
*Much more conservative than the Helo2 (Had 15 min deco on it & none on the Helo2)

I also have a Dive Rite Duo
Likes:
* Large, easy to read numbers
* multiple gases
*Easy to program & move through the menu
* Relatively inexpensive for a multi gas computer
Dislikes:
*Ultra senstive to depth change (just moving my arm to look at it can set if off)
*O2 levels default to 50% O2 every 24hrs- Have to reset
*Very conservative

 

[ajduplessis]

Suunto D9

Likes:
1. Air Integration
2. Multi-gas (Nitrox)
3. Deep Stop
4. Dive profile graph
5. Ease of Use
6. Dive Manager & Planner software

Dislikes:
1. Digital Compass. Too responsive
2. Enabling deep stops will disable safety stop during rec diving (3min at 5m)

Suunto Helo 2

Likes:
1. Air Integration
2. Multi Gas (Trimix & Nitrox)
3. Deep Stop
4. Dive profile graph
5. Ease of Use
6. Dive Planner Integration
7. Large Display

Dislikes:
1. None

Suunto Zoop

Likes:
1. Great Rec DC
2. Nitrox Support
3. Ease of Use
4. Download Dive Profile
5. User replaceable battery
6. Phosphorescent Display
7. Large Display

Dislikes:
1. No Deep Stops

 

[Kern]

Are you referring to a Liquivision?

pros;

Small form factor.
Display - Well organised, customisable, easy to read.
Intuitive operation.
Ease of operation.
VPM live, algorithm.
Its mine.

Yes.....