100 replies to this topic

[6Gill]

Well Hex,
Good news is what ever you choose there will be people agreeing,the bad news is that there will be those that disagree.
Sit down and list the features you feel you need/want then see what meets your list.
The fact you dive within the limitations of the computer/tables you choose this doesn't mean you will not get bent.I've known people that have been bent using both methods and different computers/tables will give you different profiles...so which one is right?

[PerroneFord]

1. Choosing to use a computer is your choice. I made a different choice. No issue

2. Your opinion. I wanted a computer that could download to my PC. I also wanted one that I could use as a computer if I had to. And I wanted one with guage mode, and a more modern deco model if I HAD to use it to bail with. I also got it at just over wholesale. So in *my* opinion, I got a good deal.

3. I don't want an air integrated. I prefer not to lose all my dive information if one piece of gear fails. You choose differently and that's your prerogative. An integrated computer would not streamline me any more.

4. I am familar with the RGBM model, as well as the comptuers that employ them. I've spent many nights curled up reading about deco models, and talking to my instructor about deco theory. I also spent some time with the author of Nautilus, and the author of DecoPlanner chatting about these implementations. I had hoped to talk to Weinke last year, but other commitments kept me away. I do get to speak to my friend (and fomer classmate) who is a dive medicine researcher at NEDU. In fact, I hope to catch him this weekend or next.

Some people need to stop taking swipes at those who choose to dive DIR, and stop assuming they are mindless idiots.

1. so far, the deco profiles i've done on my DC have kicked the living hell out of anything cut using tables. check any of my dive reports posted on here for proof.

2. poor way to choose to spend money on a DC your not realy going to use as a DC

3. if you used the air intergrated model you'd gain several features already discussed while at the same time eliminating a less accurate guage which is an entanglement hazard. oh yeah, which would also help streamline you even more.

4. plenty of of computers actualy do have RGBM in them. if you realy understood RGBM you might not realy want it. there are models that are air integrated. and there are a few that are programed for deep stops.

some people need to stop drinking the haterade and do objective research

[BradfordNC]

Some people need to stop taking swipes at those who choose to dive DIR, and stop assuming they are mindless idiots.

i can't seem to find any reference to such remarks.

so why would you think them?

[6Gill]

some people need to stop drinking the haterade and do objective research

[
i can't seem to find any reference to such remarks.

so why would you think them?

If I was to hazzard a guess....but I may have missed something in the translation being Canadian and all

[BradfordNC]

some people need to stop drinking the haterade and do objective research

[
i can't seem to find any reference to such remarks.

so why would you think them?

If I was to hazzard a guess....but I may have missed something in the translation being Canadian and all

no reference to DIR or their followers at all.

but it is interesting how conspiracy theorists can find "grassy knolls" everywhere and believe they are being persecuted by everyone.

[ScubaDadMiami]

Please, kids, let's play nice.

[Geek]

Please, kids, let's play nice.

I agree. There are plenty of boards that have degenerated around the issues that are starting to come up here. Let's keep this a fun place for recreational divers and those who want to make social contacts with other divers.

New divers are going to ask questions about equipment choices. We should be able to offer differing opinions without degenerating into criticism of each other's advice. As an active participant in this thread, let me start by apologizing to everyone for any post I have made that may have been construed as critical of anyone else's advice.

[novicediver]

as I preface about every post with, I am a new diver with little or no knowledge of dive gear or diving skill, for that matter.
Accordingly, I have been intently reading the post here concerning computers. I am one of those guys that went out and got all my dive gear when I decided I was going to start diving. As part of that gear, I bought a Scruba Pro Smart Com computer.
Surprisingly, I have not seen anyone comment on this computer. Of course, I was thinking my Smart Com was the best thing on the planet and not seeing any comments on it here are shocking. Hmm, did I get a good computer? Did I get one that is reliable, dependable, and most importantly, able to give me the info I need when down under?
I can say I am pleased with the info it gives me and I trust it - although, as I said, what do I know? The computer gives me water temp, my deepest depth and my current depth. It also offers remaining bottom time calculated at my current depth, breathing rate, remaining air, etc. It is air integrated so it gives me pressure, air used this dive and measures proper ascent rate, if I am breathing too strenuously, no fly time, surface inteval time and provides dive planning information. Lastly, it transfers info to my computer which provides a detailed breakdown including a graph pointing out anyplace where I may have exceeded recommended safety levels - depth, ascent, breathing rates, etc.
Since I am new, I not only rely on the information offered from this computer, but I also use dive tables to gain necessary info for my dive log entries. I do not pay much attention to the dive planning features because I have not done more than 2 dives in a day and always the second dive is shallower than the first and well within the safety levels to avoid excessive deco times.
So, in mentioning all this, why is it that apparently no one else chooses to use Smart Com and what would be a better choice?

[Geek]

ScubaPro acquired a line of computers from Uwatec a couple years ago and you will hear people refer to either ScubaPro or Uwatec now. It is a well regarded brand and the Smart Com is probably at the high end of the computers being suggested here, both in features and price. For a novice to intermediate diver, it has all the features you are likely to need in the foreseeable future.

My personal opinion is if you are still buying your initial equipment and you are operating on a limited budget, I would suggest that you go cheaper on the computer and spend the money saved on better regulators, but if you have the funds to do both, then the SmartCom is an excellent choice, competitive with similarly priced models mentioned in this thread.

[Capn Jack]

Think before you buy is great advice, and I strongly suggest renting and using before committing.

A real plus for SD members. If you´re taking one of the trips, SD is working with DAN on some research, and we're using Cochran computers (various versions) to collect the data. Thus, you get an easy way to try one of these in a diving environment.

Contact WW if you´re signed up for a trip and interested in participating.

[PerroneFord]

How have the tests gone with Cochran? Mine has left me grossly underwhelmed.

[PerroneFord]

So you guys didn't download your dives? Or work with the Analyst software?

I own a Cochran product, and know quite a few people that do also. I only know one person that seems happy with the product. The software is very buggy, and customer service is poor at best. If you're interested, I'll forward you some of the emails back and forth I've had this year with Cochran, and you can judge for yourself.

I know I'll never spend a dime on anything else they ever offer. And I went into my purchase knowing their reputation and was really hoping it was wrong.