#28736
RAWalker - 5/21/2008 5:32 PM
I’d have to go along with looking at advanced recreational gear. Consider the type of diving you’d like to do in the future and make your purchases based on that instead of what you are doing today. That said... Any computer you consider should be nitrox compatable.


Air integrated computers give you a lot of extra information that you may not use immediately but it won’t hinder your progress as long as you figure out the info that you do need and how to read it properly.


Wrist computers vs console - A wrist computer has one advantage even when diving on rental gear you can use your computer that you are familar with and it will be located at the same position you are used to using it in. If your wrist computer happens to be a wireless AI computer most of them will still function without the pressure transmitter and give you all the functions that don’t relate to bottle pressure, air consumption and remaining dive time. Again this is using and interface you are familiar with.


With a console computer you need to bring your regs this isn’t necessarily a bad thing but more to pack and if you are traveling light could be a problem.


While some people have reported problems with wireless AI computers syncing with their transmitters this is actually not very common with most recent models from respected manufacters. Loss of sync does happen but in most cases reestablishes itself within a few seconds and the computer updates based on the lastest pressure readings and elapsed time. From time to time devices do fail and having a backup depth and time monitor is a good idea. This can be a SPG and dive watch or a second computer. Without this backup your days diving may be over should a failure occur.


I dive with 2 wireless AI computers both manufactured by Oceanic. a VT3 and an Atom and have nothing but praise for them.