Novice (ish) Computer

[Flapster]

Hi guys, I'm sure this has been done to death, but I thought I'd get opinions anyway!

I'm an AOW diver with 55 dives, and looking to get my first diving computer...

I'm going to be doing my nitrox speciaility soon, and at present have no plans to start using trimix etc, at least not for a while...

Is the Gekko a nice entry level?

Many thanks

Jon

[Sipadan]

can't go wrong with a gekko. i got one for my girlfriend at the last b'ham dive show for 120 quid and it's been great.

[Nick Kay]

Either

1. Go for the Gekko now - it'll not lose much value over a couple of years and you can still use it as a backup (though it doesn't have a gauge mode)

or

2. Buy an entry-level VR3

[Mark Chase]

Get a VR3...


Sorry only kidding

Just make sure its a Nitrox capabul computer that does a decent gauge mode.

I dont know the gecko's spec so id opt for the Vyper. If you can stretch to it the Vytec will keep you in usfull diving for a long long time.

I see a few second hand at a good price so well worth hitting Ebay for the Vytec.

Its obviously a lot of computer for your present level of diving but if your into UK diving and not just blue water holiday stuff I bet you find a use for its functions within a few years. And if you go all the way into deco and beyound the Vytec will cope and if you go inot mix diving it has an excelent gauge mode so its still usefull.

I baught a Mares Surveyour, (Air only) then a year later a Vyper (to do Nitrox) then a Vytec (Because it offered accelorated deco) then a VR3 (Trimix) now a Sherewater (Trimix and nice deco). But I still use the Vytec as a back up and wouldent be without it.


ATB

Mark Chase

[Steve S]

Hi I'm not familiar with the Gekko and it's functions but I have an Apeks Quantum £169 which does 2 mixes and that will take you a fair way into your career before you need to upgrade IMO

HTH

Safe diving,
Steve

[diesel]

Had a gekko for just over a year now, doe's what it says on the tin, air/nitrox not had any probs with it found it easy to use. For a cheap n cheerful comp you'll not go far wrong with one

[Dan Wilko]

I have a gekko, you cant go far wrong with it, its really simple to use, and nitrox. Also computer downloadable.

[n_wood60]

Hi,
Ias in a similar position to you not so long ago myself. Whilst I looked at the gekko and considered it I went for a cressi archimedes 2 in the end...can't remember the exact price but it was cheap for what you get, including the pc data-link (although I wasn't too impressed with the pc dive log software).
Appearently it is very similar to the apeks quantam (forgive me if I'm wrong but my memory isn't always right---could have been the gekko.....)

It can run nitrox ad even lets you switch up to 2 gas mixes during a dive so will still be of use when you eventually start accelerating your deco.

It also has a guage mode, etc and a nice large screen.
Hope that helps
Nick

[Digger]

Gekko, Vyper, Quantum. In reverse order. The Quantum is very hard to beat at that price, and I had one for over a year only a couple of years ago. And it works. And keeps working. Unless you drop a wreck on it (Ooops). And even then it worked for the next dive, but went a bit wappy after that. Free replacement mind.

I quite like the idea of a Gekko, and the secondhand market is strong enough that you won't lose more than a few quid if in a couple of years you give up or you're doing different diving.

Oh, and get a DSS boot from Phil, they're lovely they are. Rubber boot so you'll look dead cool with it. I've got a couple and they're about the only thing that looks any good on me.

Digs.

[Digger]

Yes, it's the Quantum that's exactly the same as the Archimede I think. See what's cheaper, they're both the same, but I'd probably go for the Apeks for custerm service, I've never had to deal with Cressi but don't know who the UK distributor is.

Digs.