Suunto Gekko - Yes or No?

[Sue]

<font color='#000080'>I'm looking for a Dive computer that's isn't too expensive, and I've seen one on Deep Blue's online shop for £169. It's a Suunto Gekko. Does anyone know anyone that has one? Also, there's no battery light, only luminescence when you shine the torch on first. Do you think that will be a pain in the arse? Also, do you think I'll get a better deal at the dive show or is online cheaper.... oh, what's a girl to do!!!

[Juz]

<font color='#32CD32'>Hi,

Guys from my club got the Aladin pro ultra for £179 from Kent Diving at the dive show.

Backlit, nitrox etc

Juz

[Sue]

<font color='#000080'>Cool, thanks Juz, I'll look that model up on the internet and have a look, but I think I might wait for the dive show. Any other good deals you've heard about recently are greatly welcome......

[tom]

I'd think about the Vyper rather than the gekko (which seems to be a cut-down vyper). Go Dive do the vyper for £199 (and the Gekko for £149 - http://www.godive-uk.com/ )

There are also some pretty good deals about on the Mares M1 (£150ish) but these seem to be for the original rather than the RGBM model.

Diver did a comparison test of about 10 computers a month or two ago, including the Gekko, so check the divernet equipment pages for the reviews.

Tom

[Sue]

<font color='#000080'>Thanks Tom, so do you think I'll get a better deal on the net as opposed to the dive show?
I've got to get everything (BC, 5mm wetsuit, fins, torch, computer, regs), so would it be better to try and get the whole lot at one place and ask for a massive discount, or shop around on the net and at the show?
Sorry, only ever rented equipment before, so a bit green....

[Gavin Yates]

<font color='#000F22'>I'd agree with Tom.

The Vyper is a proven unit, Suunto's customer service is very good and in comparison to the Gekko it's worth an extra 50 quid.

They pop up second hand (folk upgrading to Vytecs and VR3s)but if you can wait til LIDS then you should be able to get a deal on one.

[Sue]

<font color='#000080'>Well then Vyper it is chaps.... thank you. At least it's taken my attention away from &quot;Celebrity Come Dancing&quot; for gawd's sake.... Gavin, you'll sympathise being a ex-beeb boy. How do they come up with these programmes? Think of the worst possible programme and chuck money at it....

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Sue @ Jan. 19 2004,16:58)]Thanks Tom, so do you think I'll get a better deal on the net as opposed to the dive show?
I've got to get everything (BC, 5mm wetsuit, fins, torch, computer, regs), so would it be better to try and get the whole lot at one place and ask for a massive discount, or shop around on the net and at the show?
Sorry, only ever rented equipment before, so a bit green....

Sue,

You might get a pretty good deal if you buy everything at one store. &nbsp;But it is only a good deal if everything is exactly what you want.

Your best bet is to make a list of exactly what makes and models you are after and then see if what is on offer. &nbsp;If you buy everything at one place you could be fobbed off with a compromise on what looks to be a good deal.

I was playing the same game at the NEC dive show with a mate who was after everything. &nbsp;In the end we managed to get the majority of what he was after at one store with a few exceptions at another.

The dive shows are very much supply and demand, &nbsp;If the stores have a big rush on certain items and are confident they can sell all their stock of said item they will not discount much. &nbsp;The Suunto computers were very popular at the NEC dive show and I reckon internet prices were probably comparable by the Sunday.

Finally have you considered getting a shopping list and price list based on internet suppliers and seeing what your local dive store can offer in the way of price matching. &nbsp;I would be willing to pay a small premium over internet prices for good local service.

Daz

[Kate R]

<font color='#000080'>just a quick note on the gekko and the vyper....

i don't own either of them, so you'd have to check it out, but i'd make sure that you actually want the extra features the vyper provides. from what i've heard, the only things the vyper does that the gekko doesn't are:

PC interface - yes a good thing, but not if you don't use it

simulation features - ditto

just a thought, k

[Sue]

<font color='#000080'>Daz good point. I went to a dive shop recently to ask about getting the whole lot, but there wasn't much choice and it was expensive. I need to do some digging round to find a good dive shop in London.

There's Ocean leisure, but I've heard that's a bit expensive, so if any Londoners out there can point me in the right direction.....? (Don't say North)

Oh, and what's PC interfacing? Told you I'm green....