any recommendations on the best dive computer to buy? i'm debating whether air integration is worth the huge price hike. i think i'd like something that's wrist-mounted so i can keep my gauges for redundancy. any suggestions?

1/27/2008 1:41:47 PM

scuba diving is a sport?

1/27/2008 2:03:23 PM

to the lounge

1/27/2008 2:52:17 PM

Mike,

Personally I'm not a fan of dive computers. They are fine for most recreational divers but the more you learn about deco theory, the more you realize that computers just don't cut it.

First, they require that you turn off your brain, and trust what the computer is telling you. Second, realize that they aren't sampling your bodily tissues for nitrogen -- they are using pre-made algorithms that mathematically model nitrogen absorption based off of depth and time (and in some more expensive models, a few other variables). They don't know that you stayed up late last night, might have had one too many, don't know how YOU feel and what YOUR own body is like -- they just spit out a number based on depth vs. time for the average person.

Remember that no dive computer, algorithm, or set of tables is "right". Decompression science is as close to "voodoo magic" that you'll ever see.


As to air integration -- Not a big fan of that either but that's just my own opinion. I don't believe it's worth the hike in cost. Seen too many of them fail. Get a simple 'brass & glass' SPG from http://www.soggydiving.com/ for $60. Simple and reliable, and it isn't on some huge brick of a console.

Grab a Uwatec bottom timer from the classifieds sections on TheDecoStop or Scubaboard for cheap. They retail for ~$180 but can be had for $50-$100 used. Got to be quick, though...they're highly sought-after and are usually claimed within a few minutes of being put up for sale. Note that it's just a bottom timer -- only shows you current depth, max depth, time elapsed, and current temp. Doesn't perform any deco calculations.
http://www.scubapro.com/#,en_US;contenthandler,12706,


If you're looking for a good equipment setup, go read these. They're a bit long, but worth it.
http://www.gue.com/Equipment/Config/index.html
http://dir-diver.com/en/


If you are looking for diving specific info, might I suggest you try these message boards:

NCDivers -- good local board mainly specific to NC. Has a few of us from the NCSU program on there.
TheDecoStop -- mainly oriented towards technical diving
DiveMatrix -- started by some guys on the west coast so there's a large concentration from SoCal & the pacific northwest, but still plenty of good info.
Scubaboard -- more for entertainment purposes, most people on scubaboard are stupid beyond belief

--Charles
PS: Is there any way you can fix your webpage so it doesn't auto-resize my web browser's window...?

[Edited on January 27, 2008 at 3:26 PM. Reason : ]

1/27/2008 3:22:24 PM

Just another quick word:

The Uwatec bottom timer is definitely wrist mountable -- I have one, my girlfriend has one, and one the other Mike's in the rescue class has one. They are all mounted in a DeepSeaSupply instrument mount.
https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?category=instruments

If you need a compass, the Suunto SK7 is a nice buy. ~$55 from Leisurepro and DeepSeaSupply makes a wrist mount for it as well (got one of those too ). The SK7 can be read from a large tilt, whereas the ones on the slates in class need to be perfectly level to work best. But, the ones in class are slightly more accurate due to the SK7 showing degree demarcations in 5º increments. The ones from class are great for giving you an exact heading, whereas the SK7 is good for giving you a general, but not exact idea of heading.
http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/SQTCBCC.html

Remember that every piece of gear has advantages and disadvantages.


If you want, I can bring my bottom timer and compass to class on Tuesday and show you. The mounts are low-profile, much lower than the standard mounts/boots. The bungee system is nice as well, since it's depth compensating. With a standard strap it's only tight while you wetsuit isn't compressed, whereas the bungee will stay taught as you descend. Plus with 2 bungee straps you've got a bit of built-in redundancy if one comes loose/breaks.

1/27/2008 3:48:57 PM

i won't pretend to know as much on this as CharlesHF, and I do dive with a computer, but I would also rather have a plain old steam gauge for tank px instead of any air-integrated computer.

lots of computers also have all kinds of features that most divers won't use. i got the most basic Suunto...it's big and clunky compared to most, but it works just fine, does everything i need it to do and then some, and didn't cost nearly as much as the alternatives.

1/27/2008 4:31:36 PM

what an awesome reply. thanks for the help, i really appreciate it.

1/27/2008 4:31:49 PM

Mike if you want to do a few warm-up dives before your rescue open water dives, let me know. There's a group of us that heads out to Fantasy Lake fairly regularly.

If I recall, the open water dives for your class are in early May. That should put the water temps in the low-mid 60s. I took all my readings from the past two years and came up with a nice graph. The red line represents my readings with the black being a line of best fit. If there's a steep drop in the red line, it's due to me heading towards the deeper sections.

1/27/2008 4:52:08 PM

that would be awesome. i'll catch up with you and get the details.

1/28/2008 12:26:30 AM