Recommend me a dive computer please

[Shake&Bake]

• Mods, I've opted to post this in the lounge as other divers may not be necessarily interested in other gadgets if I had posted it in "computers, gadgets & stuff" and may miss this.

Having recently gotten my PADI open water wings, I am keen to purchase my first dive computer. With so many on the market, I would appreciate someone's first hand advice. The criteria I have chosen to shorten the list would be the following -

- Wrist worn
- Relatively easy to use
- Displays for Depth, Dive Times, Decompression, Ascent Rate, Surface Intervals and Nitrogen Absorption-and-Release
- Appearance not really important as it will only be used for diving, not every day.
- Battery needs to be interchangeable without the need to send away, as I travel a lot
- Great plus to have an integrated compass
- Usual safety algorithms
- Needs to be back lit
- Needs 2 gas mix as a minimum
- Audible alarm
- Dive log software, with a decent memory, and should be up loadable
- My plan is to advance my training as quickly as possible, with my next certificate being the advanced open water and so on, so while I am a novice now, it should be capable of being the only computer I would need for say the next 5 years.
- Below $500

Some of the ones that are very close to making the grade are the Mares Smart Wrist Computer, Cressi Giotto Wrist Computer and the Suunto D4i. However none seem to tick all the above boxes.

Thanks.

[tescorank]

Having dived a few thousand dives over 30 years, I've always used a standard swatch which oddly the secondhand always stops at 30 metres or 100ft due to the concave plastic bending. I've seen many DC's go wrong and always have a smirk when seeing the 10 dives a year chaps comparing features as if they are the modern Jacques Cousteau.

[Jasandjules]

I have a Suunti - older version though I got mine 10 years ago

[Orillion]

I've used a Suunto Vytec for several years. It's been a very reliable bit of kit. I don't think it's available any longer, but this looks like the replacement.

http://www.suunto.com/en-GB/Products/dive-computer...

[steviejasp]

Uwatec Galileo Luna without a transmitter should do you

[trickywoo]

I've got a mares puck which has all the features you mention. It's at the cheaper end of the scale but always matches what other divers computers say when in a group.

I also have a normal watch just in case but tend always to stick to no deco with a safety stop.

[Jasandjules]

Oh I also have an Uwatec Aladdin (I think) Ultra - It was handy when training as it is bulky...

[Phud]

Suunto, just make sure it has nitrox, D6 or Vyper, your price might be a bit low.

I have used Vr3's eon, mares now and for the last 10 ish years have used a Helo2, next will be an EON.

Good log book software and self change batteries.

[indi pearl]

I would question the need for a newly qualified diver to need both decompression and multiple gas options for their first dive computer. Both decompression diving and multiple gas (excluding Nitrox) are the province of technical diving, not the province of the newly qualified. Computers capable of technical diving requirements are considerably more expensive than those for PADI/BSAC sport diving.
The Suunto Vyper (or latest equivalent) has every option a sport diver requires, including both Nitrox and basic decompression (accidental/emergency caused) algorithms at a very good price. This computer has been around for many years, stood the test of time and I suspect may well be the most used worldwide.

[jgtv]

indi pearl said:

I would question the need for a newly qualified diver to need both decompression and multiple gas options for their first dive computer. Both decompression diving and multiple gas (excluding Nitrox) are the province of technical diving, not the province of the newly qualified. Computers capable of technical diving requirements are considerably more expensive than those for PADI/BSAC sport diving.
The Suunto Vyper (or latest equivalent) has every option a sport diver requires, including both Nitrox and basic decompression (accidental/emergency caused) algorithms at a very good price. This computer has been around for many years, stood the test of time and I suspect may well be the most used worldwide.

I agree, The Suunto Zoop is probably one of the best cheap computers out there, Nitrox, it beeps it does everything you need, but no compass and I dont think it has air integration without spending more than the computers worth on a transmitter. £140 I think you cant knock it in my eyes, especially if your only diving on holiday in clear waters.
Its going to be future proof for a LONG time tough as old boots and many a school has them.

That plus a compass will come in well under $500 and with a little bit of bungee its jobs a goodun.

The D4i Novo is pretty much the same but its more expensive (£330) but much more watch like,

[RobM77]

indi pearl said:

I would question the need for a newly qualified diver to need both decompression and multiple gas options for their first dive computer. Both decompression diving and multiple gas (excluding Nitrox) are the province of technical diving, not the province of the newly qualified. Computers capable of technical diving requirements are considerably more expensive than those for PADI/BSAC sport diving.
The Suunto Vyper (or latest equivalent) has every option a sport diver requires, including both Nitrox and basic decompression (accidental/emergency caused) algorithms at a very good price. This computer has been around for many years, stood the test of time and I suspect may well be the most used worldwide.

I did a whole load of research into this last year for my wife and I and bought two Suunto Vypers. They seemed to do everything we need, including an option to illuminate the display for night dives or low vis, and they have a nice large clear display. As fairly newly qualified PADI AOW divers I couldn't see us using any more than the basic functionality plus perhaps Nitrox in the future. Sadly with recent building works at our house taking all our money and time we haven't used them in anger yet, but we've managed to sneak in a dive trip to Mexico for December which we're looking forward to

[Zod]

tescorank said:

Having dived a few thousand dives over 30 years, I've always used a standard swatch which oddly the secondhand always stops at 30 metres or 100ft due to the concave plastic bending. I've seen many DC's go wrong and always have a smirk when seeing the 10 dives a year chaps comparing features as if they are the modern Jacques Cousteau.

You use dive tables? In 2015?

I've had my computer (Suunto Mosquito) for 14 years. It's never let me down.