Hello to you all .I have just passed my padi open water .so its time to start buying my kit .at the moment im looking for a dive computer but not sure what to look for can anyone put me in the right direction .like make how much to spend and so on . cheers robbo.
OK where are you likely to be diving mostly holidays then you may want a watch style computer, or uk big easy to read display with light. Nitrox, then all other features are depending on how much you want to pay extra like air intergration etc. How easy is it to use, there is no point having a computer if it beeps at you and you dont know what they mean or what the display is telling you. Computers are a great tool but you should still plan your dive. Suunto Zoop is not a bad palce to start about £150 i think.
Thanks for a Quick reply puddle fish .well i will be diving in England .but will be doing lots of dives on holiday.i have been looking for a diving hol online tonight lol.I was looking between £150 to £300.dont mind paying out the pennys .I'am looking for a watch style computer.yes your right about planing your dive i have had that drumed into me lol.but thats part of the fun the planing ! cheers robbo.
If you like planning dives then the simplest thing you can find, I use a Uwatec dive timer £80 and a Gekko £150 which I bought when I feel off my dinosaur its that long ago. These two will work well no matter what diving you do, iv even dived to 107 mts using only these two computers. You dont need all sing all dancing expencive computers, the only thing I would say is when its deep and dark a back light would be a nice thing to have but not realy a problem as you just shine your torch near your wrist.
I suppose really it is down to where and how much diving you intend to do, would you like to be able to go a little deeper a little longer in the future (wrecks Ect) Nitrox and back light would be very usefull . These sort of Questions you need to ask yourself. Lots and lots to choose from, some cheap some very not. Oceanic do a lifetime warranty on there computers. So it goes tits up , even if your model is no longer supplied/made ,they upgrade to the next generation . Computer for your diving life , good value,Whatever you pay i think. Make it future proof as i said above IE the functions you may need as your diving progresses, Nitrox Ect . What you spend and model is down to you. Do your research, Making one good purchase now can save you a lot later.
Zoop and Gekko are popular....for less than £200 you could also get a Vyper...same thing with the backlight that Simon mentioned and the ability to download your dives onto laptop via a cable (purchased separately).
Zoop already has a download capabity and the Gekko can be made to download so don't let that sway you. I hear you on the backlight though.
Zoop is a great little computer, Suunto in their wisdom have come out with some new dive manager software ver4. it's full of bugs and it's crap. but hopefully you can use DM3.2, but there is I think a german software package out there which looks pretty neat, (sorry can't remember it's name.) tony
I got a Vyper (because I thought the backlight would be useful), but I suspect any of the Suuntos would be fine as even in Wrasbury on a murky day I was able to read the unlit Vyper. I chose a Suunto because they are nice and big (and my eyesight's not as 20:10 as it was!), because they're relatively affordable and because they always get good reviews. Initially, I wasn't really sure how to use it, but after a few dives I wonder how I ever dived without it - Doesn't hurt to plan your dives, though M
