Which Dive Computer?

[James Price]

HI

  I have had a suunto stinger and want to upgrade to something that is a little "more", I still want it to show the time when asked but want a computer that has more applications for use as my diving experience increases. I do like air integrated computers ( vytec and aladin air z 02 ) but the vr2 has a alot more on offer in the later stages of diving.
  Anyway does anyone have any suggestions?

thanks
james

[Dominic]

I don't like AI computers, they're a rip-off price for a very minor functionality upgrade. But if you want the feature, go for it.

But don't get the Aladin AI - I use their non-AI Pro Ultra & like it a lot. But it makes guesswork-based modifications to your deco time based on your breathing rate. A freeflow or a buddy going onto your octopus can turn a non-deco dive skyrocketing into a major stop.

[Rob Meddes]

<font color='#8D38C9'>Can you not stretch to a VR3. You can always sell your Stinger on. As they say it's the last pooter you'll ever need. SDS do good deals. If you phone about &amp; get a good price then ask if they'll beat it. They usually can.
Good diving
&nbsp; Rob

[kramynot2000]

Santa (dressed as the post man) brought me a new Vytec this Christmas. &nbsp;I'm upgrading from a non-nitrox Oceanic Prodigy, which I'm in the process of selling. &nbsp;I gotta say, this is one cool computer. &nbsp;I didn't get the AI transmitter though.

With this computer, you can purchase an interface from a third party - Athens Home solutions http://www.athenshomesolutions.com/

for about $50 + shipping (hopefully mine will come today) and then get a free download of divemanager from the Sunnto site and you'll be able to transfer your dive profile over from the Vytec to the PC and analyze it after a dive. &nbsp;Pretty neat stuff.

From what I've read in the manual, the Vytec allows three nitrox mixes, along with an air and guage mode. &nbsp;I'm still playing around with it so I'm not sure what else it does.

[SteveC]

I too have a vytec and have been very impressed with it. &nbsp;Before I got it though I did some reading around on forums on peoples thoughts on the subject and you'll probably find a fair few articles on the net if you search the relative archives. &nbsp;Basically suunto's customer service is second to none and if you keep your stinger then it will have the same decompression model similar to the vytec's and so will be a good backup, and so you wont end up with annoying discrepancies in deco time, which may happen if you got an Uwatec which works on a different decompression algorithm.

Integrated air is just a gimmick and you should never solely rely on it, and in any case have a gauge as a backup anyway so in which case its not worth having it IMO, which makes it a very expensive luxury.

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (SteveC @ Jan. 02 2004,16:56)]Integrated air is just a gimmick and you should never solely rely on it, and in any case have a gauge as a backup anyway so in which case its not worth having it IMO, which makes it a very expensive luxury.

OK I'll bite, &nbsp;why not rely solely on it?

Sure it may go wrong or not function correctly but then so could a analogue guage.

In which case maybe we should all have 2 guages just in case one goes wrong, and how would we know which one had gone wrong if there was a discrepency?

Yep it's a gimmick, yep it's a expensive luxary, but personally I would not consider it any more unreliable than a analogue guage.

Daz

[Helen F H]

<font color='#000080'>I got a vytec after i killed my old suunto solution nitrox and they gave me one at a very reasonable price (the excellent customer service). &nbsp;I must admit im going to have to ask someone how to use it to set nitrox etc - i think the hair colour is affecting the IQ again.

[DIVE BUDDHA]

my wife bought me a suunto vyper and i use the suunto favour s as a back up!!!!!!! i love suunto stuff nice functions for the price you pay &nbsp; &nbsp;

[Phil Ennis]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (daz @ Jan. 02 2004,20:15)]

OK I'll bite,  why not rely solely on it?

Sure it may go wrong or not function correctly but then so could a analogue guage.

In which case maybe we should all have 2 guages just in case one goes wrong, and how would we know which one had gone wrong if there was a discrepency?

Yep it's a gimmick, yep it's a expensive luxary, but personally I would not consider it any more unreliable than a analogue guage.

Daz

<font color='#810541'>Is there a prize for starting the first ruck of the New Year &nbsp;

Go for it Daz. &nbsp;

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Phil Ennis @ Jan. 02 2004,20:50)]Is there a prize for starting the first ruck of the New Year &nbsp;

Go for it Daz. &nbsp;

&nbsp; The prize is probably a faulty AI computer &nbsp; &nbsp;