Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
Archive-name: scuba/computer-reviews-2
Last-modified: $Date: 1994/06/29 19:54:29 $
Version: $Revision: 1.5 $
This is part 2 of the Review of SCUBA Computers. See part 1
for an explanation. The newest version of this FAQ can
always be found on ftp.isri.unlv.edu in the files
/pub/scuba/faq/computer-reviews-{1.2}
CONTENTS
18) Reviews by Computer
18.1) Beuchat Aladin-Pro
18.2) Beuchat Aladin Sport (or US Divers Monitor I)
18.3) Cochran Nemesis
18.4) Dacor Omni
18.5) Dacor Omni Pro
18.6) Dive-Rite Bridge
18.7) Ocean Edge Computek II
18.8) Oceanic DataMax Pro
18.9) Oceanic DataMax Sport
18.10) ORCA Phoenix
18.11) ORCA SkinnyDipper Mark II
18.12) ScubaPro DC-11
18.13) ScubaPro NC-11
18.14) Sherwood Encore
18.15) Sherwood Sentry
18.16) Sherwood Source
18.17) Suunto Companion
18.18) Suunto Sea Quest Solution
18.19) Mares Divemate Audio-Visual
18.20) Mares Genisis
18.21) US Divers Monitor I
18.22) US Divers Monitor II
18.23) US Divers Scan 4
18.24) Uwatec Aladin Air X
----
========
Subject: 18) Reviews by Computer
These are the reviews of the computers (all that I have
received). If you have a computer that is not reviewed, or
have comments about reviews that are present, please send them
to me.
========
Subject: 18.1) Beuchat Aladin-Pro
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1993 09:39:24 GMT
From: Alan Wright <awright@GS*.BT*.CO*.UK*>
Name/Model: Aladin Pro
Manufacturer: Beuchat
You got me curious so I went home last night and sifted through
an enormous pile of junk to find my Aladin Pro manual. The
Aladin Pro has 4 altitude sectors, listed below.
Sector Alt (m) Alt (feet) Theoretical limit
------ ----------- ----------- -----------------
0 0 - 1000 0 - 3280 800m (2624ft)
1 600 - 1900 1968 - 6232 1650m (5412ft)
2 1400 - 2800 4592 - 9184 2550m (8364ft)
3 2300 - 4000 7544 - 13120
According to the manual, this model is based on 6 tissue
groups with the following half times: 6mins, 14mins, 34mins,
64mins, 124mins, 320mins. It is dated 1988.
[Note: I'd check the feet values, I did the conversions :-)]
========
Subject: 18.2) Beuchat Aladin Sport (or US Divers Monitor I)
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 93 16:12:24 CDT
From: Martin Schuessler <martin@dv*.am*.co*>
Name/Model: Aladin Sport (or US Divers Monitor I)
Manufacturer: Beuchat
Year of Model: 1991
Max Depth: 330ft
Units: Metric or Imperial
Decompression: Full. No "No Stop" time displayed below 140ft.
Algorithm: Buehlmann modified six-tissue
Air Pressure?: Not air integrated
Temp. Gauge?: No
Log Features: 9 dives, showing max depth, dive time and surface
interval, including rapid ascents and missed deco
stops.
Location Wrist or Console
Activation Automatic
Safe to fly
Indicator: Yes. Aladin Sport also shows time until safe to fly
Error
Conditions: Computer freezes 10 minutes after deco stop has been
blown (it does give you a chance to get back under,
which might be a bad idea anyway) and shows you the
"tissue" number which has been insufficiently
decompressed.
Altitude
Compensation: Fully automatic to 13,200ft in 4 steps: sea level,
~2500-6000, ~6000-9000, and ~9000 to 13000.
Approx Cost: $350-400 retail. About $275-300 on sale.
User Replaceable
Battery? No
Comments:
After a dive, it shows the total time it will take for your
tissues to clear completely. It also has a pre-dive planning
feature to show you the no-stop times for the next dive in
10ft increments. It also has a two-stage fast ascent rate
indicator (arrow is displayed if a.r. is above 33fps and the
arrow flashes if the a.r. is above 60fps). The Beuchat Aladin
Pro is similar ( as well as the US Divers Monitor II ), but it has
audible alarms and a luminescent face. When it comes to deco
stops, the Aladin Pro shows the amount of time left at that
depth (and the total time until you reach the surface ---
including all required deco stops) , whereas the Aladin Sport
only shows the arrow (say your first deco stop is at
20ft. Once your deco stop has been fulfilled, the arrow will
change to say 10ft. Once that obligation has been fulfilled,
the deco stop arrow will disappear. The Pro will also show you
the time left so you don't have to wonder).
========
Subject: 18.3) Cochran Nemesis
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1993 23:25:33 CDT
From: Wackerbarth <ifzd321@mc*.cc*.ut*.ed*>
Name/Model: Nemesis
Manufacturer: Cochran Consulting
Year of Model: 1993
Max Depth: 190 feet (gauge mode to 250 ft)
Units: Imperial/metric (field programmable)
Algorithm: Modified Haldanean (12 compartments)
Air Pressure: Integrated
Temp Gauge: degrees F or degrees C
Log Features: Yes
Last 9 dives, computer records information about max. depth
and time, surface interval.
No profile information or permanent log information
from user display, needs PC interface.
External computer interface.
Locations: Wrist display separate from tank unit -- no high pressure hose
Activation: Manual
Safe to fly indicator:
Yes (Gives No. of whole hours before safe to fly)
Error Conditions:
Altitude
Compensation: Continuous to 15000 ft
Approx Cost: $750
User Replaceable Batteries:
Tank Unit - 4 AA Alkaline
Wrist Unit - Lithium
Advantages:
Large display - necessary info on primary screen.
"Extra" info like temp and breathing rate on second screen, Manually
activated.
On entering decompression mode, you get an indicator telling you how
long (in minutes) it will take you to get to the surface, including all
stops needed.
Stores 34 hours of dive profile and 350 dives. Entire memory can be
read out to a PC and displayed graphically.
Disadvantages:
No modifiable algorithm (E.G.. Nitrox), Not suitable for "Ultra Deep" dives.
There is a dive planning mode, where it will scroll through your current
no-stop times, but you can't plan a decompression dive with it.
(see comment at end about new Pro version)
Other notes:
Sherwood will also market this unit.
Date: Fri, 20 May 1994 12:45:11 CDT
From: Richard Wackerbarth <ifzd321@mc*.cc*.ut*.ed*>
There is now available a "pro" upgrade which allows the user, through
a PC interface, to select from a group of models. In particular, you
can eliminate the significant added penalty for depths below 130
feet. You can also select "aggressiveness" of the deco model
parameters.
Nitrox version has been announced, but I have not yet seen one
delivered.
From: Bob <RFLNG@CL*.CL*.ED*>
Date: Mon, 16 May 1994 17:50:00 EDT
[I grabbed it from scuba-l]
I am beginning to get the feeling that I am the unofficial bug-catcher for
the new (2/94) Nemesis-Pro computer made by Cochran Consulting, Inc. :-(
On my latest dive trip, I encountered the first REALLY ANNOYING feature
of this computer, its Gauge Mode -- which means if the computer algorithm
"thinks" you've done something bad, it will CEASE to function as a dive
computer until TWENTY FOUR HOURS have elapsed.
That reminded me of the early models of Orca's EDGE computer -- if you turned
it off before it tells you to, then it could not be turned back on for
24 hours. The basic idea seemed sensible enough ... if the twelve simulated
tissue compartments are not completely offgassed, the SAME DIVER would lose
vital repetitive-dive cumulative info by re-initializing the computer to
ZERO loadings ... hence the 24-hr. mandatory wait. But that presumes that
the machine is smarter than the diver using it| Let's say one diver has
FINISHED his dives with the EDGE (and had 19 hrs. left till flying), and a
DIFFERENT DIVER is ready to start fresh with the same computer. Then the
next diver SHOULD be able to turn the EDGE off and start over again,
rather than wait 19 hours for it to clear. Well, the later models of
the EDGE computer DID remove that silly, mandatory 24-hour shutoff period.
My Nemesis-Pro went into the Gauge Mode on the 2nd day of my CA-III trip
after the first two morning dives, NOT because I violated any deco stop or
any other condition that was supposed to initiate the Gauge Mode, but
because (as I studied the detailed profiles to come to the conclusion) its
algorithm was probably never tested in the regions of repetitive dives I
did, and I was just catching its algorithmic bugs. :-(
The FIRST indication that something wasn't running right on the Nemesis
was on the dive immediately before it went into the Gauge Mode when the
display unit flashed warnings about my AIR when I was breathing normally
with over 2200 psi left. :-) I ignored it of course, because both my
regular air gauge (console) and the Nemesis display showed the same amount
of psi -- enough to last me an hour or two. :-) It wasn't until I came
back from the trip and had all my divelogs downloaded and examined in
detail that I noticed the computer treated my 1st and 2nd dives of the 2nd
day as the 5th and 6th dives of the FIRST DAY ... a physical impossibility
because my four dives of the first day spanned 8 hours, followed by a 15 hr.
surface interval (crossing to Little Cayman) ...
At any rate, NO WONDER the Nemesis went crazy, when it thought I was on my
SIXTH dive of the day (computer erred) diving to a depth of 145 fsw| :-)
Fortunately, I used the Nemesis as my THIRD backup, so that its failure
didn't affect my diving for the week because my primary (SkinnyDipper) and
secondary (EDGE) computers were true to form, tracking in sync, and working
properly in continuous running throughout the week.
Michael (Cochran Consulting's technician) is now studying the charts
(which I FAXed to him) of those dives trying to identify/fix the bugs.
Meanwhile, I think I'd better take a 4th backup computer on my next trip.
-- Bob.
========
Subject: 18.4) Dacor Omni
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 93 21:22:07 EDT
From: Devon E Bowen <bowen@cs*.Bu*.ED*>
Name/Model: Omni
Manufacturer: Dacor
Year of Model: 1993
Max Depth: 250 ft
Units: Imperial ( feet )
Algorithm: Lewis modified, Spencer, Powell-Rogers model. 12 tissues
with half times from 5-480 min.
Air Pressure: None
Temp Gauge: Yes
Log Features: Logs 9 dives since last desaturation (dive number, bottom
time, max depth, surface interval, deco indicator, ascent
and deco violations). Permanent log (max depth, num of deco
dives, num of non-deco dives, num of dive hours).
Locations: Console or wrist strap
Activation: Press a button
Safe to fly
indicator: Yes, 12 hour time to fly with added time for multiple day
and decompression dives.
Decompression: Yes, with decompression stops limited to 30 feet. Below
this the computer will require you to ascend immediately
and shut down if you refuse.
Error
Conditions: 3 error conditions cause shutdown: a decompression limit
exceeded by longer than 2:30 minutes, exposure to a depth
greater than 250 ft (shutdown at surface), and the need
for decompression deeper than 30 feet (if warning is
ignored). Flashing warnings are present for fast ascent
and decompression violations.
Altitude
Compensation: Yes, automatic to 10000 feet.
Approx Cost: $300.00 US Dollars (approx)
User Replaceable
Batteries: Yes, 2 type CR-2032 3V lithium coin cells. Estimate life
of approximately 1200 hours (100 dives).
Data:
Ascent Rates
< 20 feet ascend at less than 30 feet/minute
20-60 feet ascend at less than 45 feet/minute
> 60 feet ascend at less than 60 feet/minute
Initial Max Dive times
Depth (ft) Time (min)
30 99+
40 99+
50 78
60 55
70 40
80 31
90 25
100 20
110 17
120 13
130 11
140 9
150 8
160 7
Advantages:
- Small.
- Easy to read.
Disadvantages:
- Insists on showing you max depth every 15 seconds and removes
valuable current depth information to do it!
- Log only stores last 9 dives on this trip. Once your nitrogen
level clears, it considers the trip over and your next dive
will wipe memory clear. It does not just cycle through the
last 9 dives. Very strange.
Further comments
- This information came out of the Dacor manual. I think everything
was entered correctly but you should always double check with
your salesman before buying.
========
Subject: 18.5) Dacor Omni Pro
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 93 20:13:15 PDT
From: "Michael C. Read" <mread@pt*.in*.co*>
Date: 18 Oct 1993 15:33:55 CDT
From: Roger Hoestenbach <Z306FM@ta*.ta*.ed*>
Name/Model: Omni Pro
Manufacturer: Dacor
Year of Model: 1993
Max Depth: 250 FSW/76 MSW
Units: Imperial
Algorithm: Lewis modified, Spencer, Powell - Rogers Model
12 Tissues, 5-480 minute half-times.
Air
Integrated: Yes w/ remaining time at depth based on air consumption
New-diver maximum no-decompression times:
Depth Time
(FSW) (minutes)
30 99+
40 99+
50 78
60 55
70 40
80 31
90 25
100 20
110 17
120 13
130 11
140 9
150 8
160 7
Recommended
Ascent Rates: Depth Maximum Ascent Rate
FSW (MSW) feet/minute (meters/minute)
0-20 (0-6) 30 (9)
20-60 (6-18) 45 (14)
below 60 (18) 60 (18)
Air Pressure: Yes - shows tank pressure & remaining air time at depth -
personal consumption rate is updated every second. Rate
remains in memory until next dive, unless battery is
removed. Default rate is 33 psi/minute, updated to personal
rate after first 1 minute of dive time following battery
replacement.
User programmed reserve alarm, can be set from 300-950 psi
(21.0-66.5 bar). Alarm sounds when ascent should begin; if
a proper ascent profile is followed, including deco stops,
you will arrive at the surface with the programmed reserve.
Rated to 4000 psi (276 bar).
Temp Gauge: Yes
Log Features: Logs up to 9 dives, more than 9 dives roll-over on a first-
in, first-out basis. The first dive after 12 hours of surface
time clears the log. Any dive started within 10 minutes of
surfacing becomes a continuation of the previous dive.
Records: Dive number
Bottom time
Max depth
Preceding surface interval
Deco/non-deco dive
Ascent rate violations
Deco stop violations
Air remaining at end of dive (psi or bar)
Permanent Log - Max depth ever reached (0-250 FSW, 0-76 MSW)
Number of non-deco dives (0-9999, rolls over)
Number of deco dives (0-9999, rolls over)
Hours of bottom time (0-9999, rolls over)
No interface to PC, profile not available (There is a
factory calibration mode, but I have no idea what
information is available from it.)
Locations: Console - uses Dacor's 'Reef-Saver' console, mounts with a
lanyard across the chest. I don't know if it will save the
reefs, but with the available swivel-mount integrated compass,
it is easy to find & convenient to use.
Activation: Manual (Push-button)
Safe to fly
indicator: 12 hour count-down timer, also calculates & displays
saturation time remaining for up to 48 hours.
Error
Conditions: Omitted deco stop greater than 2 minutes 30 seconds -
switches to gauge mode, displays depth, bottom time,
air pressure, & temperature until reaching the
surface - at the surface, computer shuts down for 24
hours, displaying warning.
Depth exceeding 250 FSW - switches to gauge mode until
surface is reached, then shuts down for 24 hours,
with max depth display.
Deco stop required below 40 FSW (12 MSW) - (As bottom time
in excess of no-decompression limits increases, the
computer requires additional deco stops at greater
depths. If you stay down too long, it will eventually
calculate that a stop is required at deeper than 40
feet. This is considered an out-of-range violation.)
The computer goes to gauge mode until the surface is
reached, then shuts down for 24 hours.
Computer comes with a waterproof, slate-type card with
quick-reference operating instructions, & a 'bail-out'
procedure for these shut-down conditions.
Altitude
Compensation: Auto, starts at 3000 feet, goes to 10,000 feet, with
freshwater corrections. Altitude compensation takes place
during self-test at power-on.
Approx Cost: Manufacturer's suggested price approx. $725, you should be
able to find it at $550-$600, possibly as low as $470 :-)
User Replaceable
Batteries: User-replaceable 6V alkaline J-cell. Relatively common
battery, especially in camera shops. Dive log and all
saturation data are lost when battery is changed, permanent
record is not affected. Battery life approx 1,200 hours (100
dives). Low power indicator - computer will not shut down
during a dive. At power-up, battery level is checked - if
voltage is between 3.5-4V, the low-battery indicator will
flash, but there will be enough power to complete a diving
day. If voltage is below 3.5, the low power warning flashes
for 8 seconds, then the computer shuts off.
Advantages: Air-integrated, so it calculates air time remaining at your
current consumption rate - rate is updated once per second,
& is depth compensated.
Battery replacement at any drug store, maximized bottom time
The console design mounts the compass at the end of the
console farthest from the tank. This gives you a few extra
inches so that you can actually hold the compass out where
you can read it, and still see where you're going. This is a
surprisingly big advantage (at least compared to
hose-mounted compasses).
All relevant information is clearly displayed at all times
during the dive, with the exception of depth (The depth
display is fine, but every 12 seconds it is replaced by max
depth for 3 seconds. This is guaranteed to be the time that
you will glance at your console to check your depth.) Display
is easy to read & well-organized in dive mode.
Pre-dive planning mode scrolls through depths from 30-160
FSW (9-48 MSW), showing maximum no-decompression times
available at each depth. For repetitive dives, residual
nitrogen values are included in the computation, & depths
which cannot be reached without a deco stop are no longer
displayed.
Displays all necessary deco stop information, including stop
depth, required stop time, & total ascent time. In deco
mode, the calculated air time remaining accounts for the air
required during the deco stops & during the ascent.
Can be activated without an air tank attached. This is
useful if you want to look at the log after you've already
dropped off your tanks to get them filled, etc.
Disadvantages: Current depth displays for 12 seconds, then is replaced for
3 seconds by max depth. I have been in shallow water (~15
feet) & thought the computer was trying to tell me I was at
104 feet. Duh. The indication that this is the MAX depth
could be clearer.
No display of ascent speed - only tells you if you exceed
the recommended rate. With no indication of ascent rate, it
is almost impossible not to exceed 30 fpm at least once
during the ascent, so virtually every dive you log will
include an ascent rate violation. YMMV.
Display of the log, permanent record, wait-to-fly time, and
saturation time remaining (surface mode) is by scrolling, &
is not easily controlled. You can stop the scroll, but if you
scroll past the info you need, you have to wait for the cycle
to finish & restart. The display of the permanent info, wait-
to-fly time, and saturation time is not very well organized,
but it is certainly functional.
Activation is not automatic - there is the potential here to
feel like a real idiot. Of course, you would have to start
your dive without checking your air pressure, so you would
deserve to feel that way. :-)
========
Subject: 18.6) Dive-Rite Bridge
From: devon@ol*.ch*
Date: Thu, 19 May 1994 11:44:53 +0200
This is a technical diving computer that has only been recently
released. It allows diving with different nitrox mixes, allows you to
switch the mixture in the middle of a dive, and monitors things like
oxygen toxicity as well as all the "standard" computer features. I
don't have specifics on it.
========
Subject: 18.7) Ocean Edge Computek II
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1993 23:46:48 EDT
From: Allen H Miller <SVDD25A@pr*.co*>
submitted by:
Allen Miller
PADI Rescue Diver
Cincinnati, Ohio
svdd25a@pr*.co*
Name/Model: Computek II
Manufacturer: Ocean Edge
Year of Model: 1992 purchase
Max Depth: 220 feet
Units: feet salt water
Algorithm: Haldane's theories, Dr. Max H. Hahn, eight tissue
compartments
Air Pressure: integrated
Temp Gauge: included
Log Features: 9 dives (max depth, time, surface interval)
Locations: Hose (another model w/o air wrist mounts)
Activation: pressure activated, fully automated
Safe to fly
indicator: Yes
Decompression: Yes; 10, 20 and 30 ft stops. Display flashes one minute
before no decompression limit is reached
Error
Conditions: 1) more than 1 minute at 220 fsw computer function stops
2) ascending above indicated deco stop before waiting
the required time
3) delaying at depth so you accumulate a decompression
total ascent time of 45 minutes or more
4) above 100 fsw display flashes if ascent rate more than
30 ft/min
Altitude
Compensation: automatic compensation up to 10,000 feet above sea level
Approx Cost: $700.00 US Dollars (approx)
User Replaceable
Batteries: yes, 3 volt 2/3A lithium
Data:
Ascent Rates
depth flashes if ascent rate greater than 30 ft/min
Initial Max Dive times
Depth (ft) Time (min)
Advantages:
- numeric display and graphic (Tank, Man) display for tank air and tissue
nitrogen. Display includes remaining TIME at current depth based on air
remaining and consumption rate. Automatic backlight activates in low
light situations. Easy to read. Good plan mode.
Disadvantages:
- a little bulky
Further comments
-
========
Subject: 18.8) Oceanic DataMax Pro
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 93 05:55:01 PDT
From: Chuck Tribolet <triblet@vn*.IB*.CO*>
Name/Model: Oceanic DataMax Pro
Manufacturer: Oceanic
Year of Model: 1991 (purchased, and copyright on manual)
Max Depth: 249 feet (though below 160', it overflows the fast tissue
compartment quickly).
Units: Imperial (there's also a metric model)
Algorithm: Modified Haldanean
Air Pressure: PSI (Metric model uses bar)
Temp Gauge: NONE
Log Features: 9 Dives. Max depth, bottom time, surface interval,
Tissue loading, max ascent rate)
Locations: Hose
Activation: Button
Safe to fly
indicator: 12 hours after dive, shows time remaining till 24 hours
after dive.
Decompression: Yes. Stops at 10, 20, 30 feet.
Error
Conditions: If you exceed 249 ft, or omit a deco stop it stops
acting as a dive computer. If you exceed the ascent
rates, the ascent rate bar blinks and it beeps.
Altitude
Compensation: Yes, based on NOAA tables
MSRP: $699 (I think)
Approx Price: $500
Best Price: $400
User Replaceable
Batteries: Yes, 1 J cell. A strange size, but available in my
corner hardware store and in the photo department of
any large drug store (Payless, etc.)
Data:
Ascent Rates Yes, varies based on depth.
Time remaining: Air, or ND, whichever is less.
Further comments
- Mine eats batteries (five in two years) and is about to go off to Oceanic
for repair. My buddie's doesn't.
- It (and the Sport) were the only ones I could understand in the diveshop
without a manual. This, and that fact that Oceanic has been building
UW electronics for years are why I bought it.
- The trick for getting the battery cover off is to use a bottle cap remover
(looks like huge, flimsy, nutcracker covered with yellow plastic).
========
Subject: 18.9) Oceanic DataMax Sport
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1993 10:03:38 PDT
From: Kevin Grover <grover@by*.IS*.UN*.ED*>
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1993 23:08:51 PDT
From: Doug_Bentley@mi*.bc*.ca* (Doug Bentley)
Name/Model: DataMax Sport
Manufacturer: Oceanic
Year of Model: 1992 (purchased, & copyright on user's manual)
1993+ (new models)
Max Depth: 249 ft
Units: Imperial ( Feet )
Algorithm: (Modified) Haldane's 12 tissue compartments, Spencer's
M-values, NOAA Altitude Tables
Air Pressure: NONE
Temp Gauge: Yes (new models)
Log Features: 9 dives (7 on older models) (max depth, time, nitrogen
bars, if you exceeded the ascent rate). No permanent log.
Locations: Console, Hose, or Wrist Strap
Activation: Button to turn on. Automatic calculations at 7 feet.
Automatically enters surface mode at 3ft.
Automatically turns off after all nitrogen
compartments are discharged, or after 24 hours.
Safe to fly
indicator: YES: 4 hours after a dive, the computer enters "Time
to Fly" mode which is a 24 hour count down.
Decompression: YES, Stops at 10, 20, 30, & 40 ft (3, 6, 9, & 12 meters)
Error
Conditions: If you exceed 249 ft, or omit a deco stop it stops
acting as a dive computer. If you exceed the ascent
rates, the depth blinks (newer models have an ascent
rate bar to give you a better idea if the ascent rate).
Altitude
Compensation: Yes: Automatic from 0 - 14000 feet. (All functions present)
After 4000 ft depths are shown for fresh water
Approx Cost: $300.00 US Dollars (approx)
User Replaceable
Batteries: No - 1/2 AA Lithium. Expected life: 2.5 yrs. (50 dives/yr)
Yes, new versions
Data:
Ascent Rate Indicator
Green: 0-20, 21-30, 31-40 ft/min
Yellow: 41-50, 51-60 ft/min
Red: 61-90, 91+ ft/min
Each range represents 1 bar in the ascent rate graph
in the respective color zone
Initial Max Dive times
Depth (ft) Time (min)
30 260
40 136
50 78
60 55
70 40
80 31
90 25
100 20
110 17
120 13
130 11
140 9
150 8
160 7
Advantages:
- Easy to read display
- Small
- Nice plan mode
- Graphs proved quick info for tracking ascent and nitrogen
loading levels
Disadvantages:
- Info not always visible when you want to see it: the
primary display mode shows current depth, and time remaining
until decompression mode is entered. Every 12 seconds, the
time remaining until deco mode is replaced with the bottom
time, for 3 seconds, then display reverts to normal.
Further comments
- I have been told that the Sherwood Source and Oceanic
DataMax Sport are the same computer --- manufactured by the
same company with different names on the front.
- This info is from the user's manual of a friend of mine, and
is accurate as far as I know
- Never models have better/enhanced features that I may not
yet know about.
========
Subject: 18.10) ORCA Phoenix
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 93 17:34:53 PDT
From: Dave Byrd 8-582-0673 <byrd@ba*.ns*.co*>
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1993 14:05:54 EDT
From: Jack Eddington <jacke@me*.co*>
Name/Model: Phoenix
Manufacturer: ORCA, a division of EIT
Year of Model: Purchased 8/93
Max Depth: 299 ft
Units: Feet or metric
Algorithm: Modified Haldanean. 12 half times from 5 to 480 minutes.
Dive times for
a first dive: Depth(feet) Time(minutes)
30 180
40 122
50 69
60 49
70 36
80 28
90 22
100 16
110 12
120 10
130 8
Location: Console only.
Activation: Unit initialized when connected to tank pressure. Turns
off if not in water within 30 minutes. Will turn on again
when submerged. All you really need to do is make sure
you air is on. Starts dive at 6 feet on descent, starts
surface interval at 5 feet on ascent. Dive mode display
starts as depth exceeds 12 feet. Above 12 feet, dive
time is unlimited and therefore NDC time is not shown and
tissue loadings are scrolled. Any dive started during
the first 10 minutes after surfacing becomes a
continuation of the previous dive. Shut off is automatic
when all nitrogen has outgassed.
Log Features: Yes
Last three dives shown in dive planning scroll mode--
max depth and dive time.
Interface to PC available ($$) or can be read at
dealer. Stores last 35 hours of dive time,
max depth during each 2.5 minute interval and
Surface intervals.
Altitude
Compensation: Auto. Senses ambient pressure when tank pressure is
applied to compensate for altitude up to 10,000 ft.
User Replaceable
Batteries: Yes. 9 Volt lithium. Alkaline may be used, but battery
life will be less than half. Rechargeables not
recommended. Battery may be replaced without losing
tissue status if new battery is connected within 15
seconds. Operation will continue where it left off.
Battery life rated at 300 hrs, but I read a report
which said it was less. Battery voltage is displayed
in surface mode so you know when it is getting low.
During a dive, "lo" will appear as the battery drops
to 75 hrs left. "lo lo" will appear as it drops to 15
hrs left. "lo lo lo" means 3 hrs left. "lo lo lo lo"
means the battery has dropped below 7.1V and the unit
has shut down.
Approx Cost: $500-$700 depending on how much you like to dicker.
Display modes:
Dive mode:
Controlling tissue number (1-12)
Tissue loading bar graph (0-100%)
Nondecompression time remaining
Current depth (0-299ft)
Dive time (time below 6feet)
Tank pressure (0-5000psi)
Tank pressure bar graph (0-2000psi)
Air time remaining at current depth until 500psi remaining.
Temperature
Action/arrow bar may appear under certain circumstances--
see below.
Decompression mode:
Tissue which is 100% loaded
Tissue loading bar graph (now at 100%)
Ceiling indicator light and "CEILING" on display.
Ceiling depth which should not be exceeded--replaces
ND time
Current depth
Dive time
Tank pressure
Tank pressure bar graph
Air time remaining at current depth until 500psi
Ascent time required including decompression stops and ascent
at recommended ascent rate. Replaces temperature.
Action/arrow bar indicates whether you should ascend,
descend, or remain at current depth--see below.
Surface mode scrolls through dive planning/dive log screens.
Surface mode, dive planning:
Scrolling tissue loading bar graph (0-100%) for each
of 12 tissues (5min-480min half times)
Scrolling ND time for depths of 30--130 feet.
Surface time
Tank pressure
Tank pressure bar graph
Scrolling Air time remaining at depths of 30--130ft. Based
on tank pressure and consumption rate during previous
dive. Will not show if Phoenix has been shut off
(completely outgassed) since last dive.
Temperature
Surface mode, dive log:
Wait to fly time (0 min to 99 hours)
Scrolling log of last three dives--max depth, dive time
Battery voltage
Battery voltage bar graph
Temperature
Other features: Action/arrow bar may appear during a dive if you need to
be especially aware of your depth as during a decompression
dive, or when ascending. An up arrow will appear when
any tissue has reached 100% loading and you are entering
into a decompression dive. At this point, you are advised
to ascend to stop further ingassing of nitrogen. A vertical
bar signals you that you are at the optimum depth for
this decompression stop, or that you are at the correct
depth at the correct time during an ascent. A down arrow
indicates that you are either above the decompression
ceiling or that you have gone up too fast and should
wait until the arrow turns into a bar before you ascend
further. This provides a limited indication of ascent
rate.
Recommended
ascent rates: Depth Max rate
0-60ft 20ft/min
61-120 40ft/min
121-300 60ft/min
Error
Conditions: Displays "or" for out of range when taken below 299 ft.
Under this condition, the calculations are not accurate.
"or" will flash every three seconds during the remainder
of the dive and on the surface until it has turned off.
The calculations are not correct during this dive.
The ascent rate warning and ceiling limit lights will
not operate when the battery has dropped below 7.2V--
see battery section below.
Advantages: I really like the air integration feature, but that is
personal preference. Display is large and easy to read.
All required information during a dive is displayed
continuously, with the possible exception of max
depth, but that is not absolutely necessary when using
a computer. Tissue loading bar graph is a convenient way
to make judgments on how close you want to come to doing
a decompression dive. Activation is fully automatic--all
you do is make sure the battery is in and the air is on.
Shuts itself off when all nitrogen is outgassed.
Shows nitrogen loading percentage of tissue which is
controlling the dive as well as ND time remaining. On the
surface it scrolls through each tissue and shows the loading.
This may or may not be useful, but it is interesting to
watch.
- Shows which tissue is controlling and its saturation level
- In decompression mode, shows total time to reach surface if you
begin ascent now taking into account recommended ascent rates and
decompression stops
- Very good display ergonomics
- No buttons/switches to accidently hit
- Easy to replace batteries and you don't loose the data so you can
change batteries during a week-long live-aboard and keep diving
that day
- A 'bar' that you can ride to minimize ascent time while still
staying within the built-in ascent rate limits (300-121 ft @ 60
ft/min, 120-60 ft @ 40 ft/min and 60-0 ft @ 20 ft/min)
- I have had excellent support from the company. I had a problem
with mine about 2-3 weeks out of warranty and was going on a
live-aboard in 2 weeks. I sent my broken one in and received a
new one in time for the trip-NO CHARGE.
- The capability to download the 35 hours (or whatever is in the
computer) of dive data at 2.5 minute intervals. However, this does
require buying a hardware/software package which, I understand, is
expensive. I don't know the price.
Disadvantages: Battery life is rather short, but they are user
replaceable and battery voltage is shown on surface
so there is no guessing. Surface intervals are not
displayed in dive log mode. You may have to wait for
the scrolling to get back around to showing you the
information you are looking for during the surface mode
(i.e. dive time, tank pressure), but this seems to be
common. Must be attached to tank (or still have residual
nitrogen) to review dive log i.e. can't be turned on
without tank pressure.
Followup
comments: Overall, a good unit which shows lots of information
in an intuitive format. Very easy to read at a glance.
I would like to see max depth on the display, but that
is also a personal preference. I have no complaints
about the unit.
========
Subject: 18.11) ORCA SkinnyDipper Mark II
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 93 19:18:24 EDT
From: "David B. Barnes" <digger@it*.la*.na*.go*>
Date: Fri, 01 Oct 1993 14:05:54 EDT
From: Jack Eddington <jacke@me*.co*>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1993 09:44:38 EDT
From: John Geary <geary%cfa3.DECNET@cf*.ha*.ed*>
Name/Model: Skinny Dipper / MARK II
Manufacturer: ORCA (before it was bought out by EIT)
Year of Model: 1990
Max Depth: 199
Units: Feet
Algorithm: Modified Haldanean. 12 half times from 5 to 480 minutes.
Air Pressure: NONE
Temp Gauge: NONE
Log Features: NONE ( Only logs the current dive, next dive resets )
Locations: Console or BCD
Activation: Automatic at 6 feet.
Safe to fly
indicator: YES
Error
Conditions: Non-decompression dives only.
Altitude
Compensation: NONE
Approx Cost: $120.00 US Dollars
User Replaceable
Batteries: YES 3 - 3 Volt lithium cells.
Advantages:
- Low cost
- Batteries are easy to replace, and do not have to purchased
from the manufacturer.
- Large display is easy to read.
- Very sturdy, my unit has been kick around many a boat when the
seas were rough and it still keeps working.
- This manufacturer has many different models with different
features in varied price ranges.
- The manufacturer is very friendly and helpful. I have had no
problem with my current unit, but I have talked to people
who have allowed their batteries to stay to long in the
unit and really trashed it. Orca just replaced the unit for
them no questions asked.
- No buttons to accidentally reset the unit while under water.
Disadvantages:
- Only shows you the current dive does not log them.
- Not recommended as a decompression dive computer by
manufacturer. (The next model up, the Marathon, does
have the decompression feature.)
- Bulky, the unit is big; but it is easy to read underwater.
- Does not compensate for altitude, of course when I can afford
to go diving in Lake Tahoe I'll start worrying about this
feature.
Followup comments:
From: Jack Eddington <jacke@me*.co*>
The Skinny Dipper Mark II was built by ORCA, which has since
been bought out by EIT. It is not covered under warranty
Here is what I have been told by a supposedly "boss" at ORCA,
a division of EIT. First, ORCA (the original company) produced
the Skinny Dipper and Skinny Dipper Mark II (implied in the
comments is that the "new" company produced the Skinny Dipper
Mark II. This is wrong.) I bought a Skinny Dipper Mark II and
within warranty the transducer went out. I called and talked
to the boss (sorry, forgot the name) who said that EIT bought
the ORCA name and assets but didn't build the Skinny Dipper
Mark II. It was under ORCA's (as a company) warranty but not
EIT's, which owned the name ORCA. The company ORCA doesn't
exist anymore. Anyway, I got them to let me use my Skinny
Dipper as an Edge and trade up to the Phoenix for $259. EIT
produces the Marathon as the Skinny Dipper replacement.
Secondly, in that same example section, it is stated that the
computer built by the company ORCA caused some deaths. I am
unaware of this. Also, the exact same algorithm from the
Skinny Dipper models is used in the Marathon and Phoenix. The
problems with the Skinny Dippers that I knew about were that
they ate batteries. This is a far 'simpler' problem than
causing deaths. Do you really want to share without
corraberation that a (even previous) version of a dive
computer caused deaths?
From: John Geary <geary%cfa3.DECNET@cf*.ha*.ed*>
The basic Orca mathematical model has remained unchanged since
the original Edge. The first models of the Skinny Dipper were
rightly faulted for leaking excessively. The Mark II fixed
the battery leakage problem fairly effectively, and the new
Monitor (from EIT) has extended the battery life about 50% but
has not otherwise changed any of the math models or display
functions.
========
Subject: 18.12) ScubaPro DC-11
From: Michael Konrad <mike@ma*.zf*.si*.de*>
Date: Wed, 22 Sep 93 12:57:44 EET
Name/Model: ScubaPro DC-11
Manufacturer: ScubaPro
Year of Model: 1991
Max Depth: - 92 meters
Units: - Metric, English/American
(Meters/Feet and Centigrade/Fahrenheit)
Decompression: - List of stops (3,6,9,12,15,18,21 m) in
minutes and as a bar chart and also the
whole ascent time including deco and the
normal ascent speed
Algorithm: - Based on a new system which takes care about
the 'micro bubbles', developed by Prof. Dr.
Hans Hass
Air Pressure: No
Temperature Gauge: - From -10 to +60 Centigrade
Log Features: - Surface interval time for the last 6 dives
- Last 6 dives with time and max. depth
- Number of dives (Max. 9999)
- Dive time counter (whole time, max 9999 hours)
- Max. Depth ever dived (Dive Record)
Additional Features: - Warning when ascent speed is too fast
depending to the actual depth:
>15m/min. when in 0-30m
>30m/min. when in 31-60m
>45m/min. when >61m
- bottom-time (without deco) in minutes and
as a bar chart
- 'Down'-Arrow flashes when depth for deco is
to low
- After the first dive, the computer shows the
actual bottom-times from 12 to 45m,
regarding your actual saturation and so on
- You can simulate a dive or rep.-dive (with
the actual bottom-times) for making a
dive-plan
- 'Rep.'-Symbol when you do a repetition dive
- All logs and dives especially saturation
time can be erased with a small magnet
(useful for a diving school or for rent)
Location: - Wrist or Console (whichever you like !)
Activation: - Automatic (Starting at a depth of 1-2 ft.)
- Manual (For changing default settings, Log
Book, etc.)
Safe to fly indicator: - Visual Indicator that you're not allowed to
fly
- Time to wait before flying, in hours
Error Condition: - A 'Out of range'-Symbol appears when you
make a drastic omission of a deco stop and
the computer shows the last depths and times
of the deco stops which were omitted !
- The computer also stops the calculations of
saturation time !
- Depth and Dive time are still displayed !
Altitude Compensation: - Yes, but must be changed manually !
(One normal mode for 0-1500 meters, another
'mountain mode' for 1500-3000 meters)
Approx Cost: - About 650.00 DM (retail) in Germany, that's
$ 400.00 due to the actual current
User Replaceable Battery: - Lasts for 10,000 hours of diving
- Rechargable by the dealer
========
Subject: 18.13) ScubaPro NC-11
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 93 12:23:56 MEZ
From: pc@so*.de*
Model: NC-11
Manufacturer: Scubapro
Year: purchased May 1991
Max. depth: 92 m
Units: Metric (meters, celsius) or imperial (feet, fahrenheit)
Decompression: The computer constantly displays the remaining no-stop time,
both digitally and as a shrinking bar-graph.
If the no-stop time is exceeded, the computer displays the
ascent ceiling in 3m/10ft steps.
After a dive, you can call up the remaining desaturation time
and the time until you can fly safely.
The Scubapro NC-11 does everything that the DC-11 does
EXCEPT tell you how long your ascent, including decompression
stops, will take.
Algorithm: As in the Scubapro DC-11. The algorithm is based on work by
Prof. A.A. Buehlmann; it is endorsed by Hans Hass in the
booklet that accompanies the computer, but I don't believe that
Hans Hass was actively involved in its development.
(Reference: Buehlmann, Albert A.: Tauchmedizin,
2nd edition, Springer-Verlag, 1990) (I think this book is
also available in an English translation)
Air pressure: no
Temperature gauge:
-10..+60 degrees Celsius (display in C or F)
The temperature display alternates with the dive-time display,
appearing for 2 seconds every 13 seconds.
Log: As long as the computer is running, i.e. calculating
saturation/desaturation, it can store the details of up to
six dives.
When the computer reckons that your tissues are no longer
supersaturated, it shuts down; just before doing that,
it stores the last three dives (time, max. depth,
surface interval) in non-volatile memory.
Additional features:
as Scubapro DC-11
Location: Wrist or console
Activation: Automatic or manual
Safe-to-fly indication:
A "no-flying" symbol appears in the display. Also,
you can call up the remaining time until you can fly safely.
Altitude compensation:
as Scubapro DC-11
Battery: Quote: "Virtually unlimited battery capacity. One battery
charge is good for more than 2000 diving hours and
desaturation times of any lengths." The battery is
non-replaceable (i.e. neither by the user nor by the dealer),
but it can be recharged without removing it from the computer
using a Scubapro charger.
Price: I paid DM 358 in 1991
My comments: An advantage of the Scubapro DC-11 and NC-11 is that they are
completely sealed, the risk of a leak is therefore almost zero.
(Non-replaceable battery.)
If you exceed the no-stop time slightly, the computer indicates
that you have to make a stop at 3m/10ft. Frequently, during the
ascent up to the stop the computer will indicate that you
no longer need to decompress.
In other words, the computer seems unable to look ahead and
predict that your fast tissues will loose nitrogen during
the ascent.
In my experience, the Scubapro computers are very conservative.
Other divers who use different computers always seem to be
back on the boat whilst I'm still decompressing!
Some people don't like alternating displays. The Scubapro
NC-11 displays present-depth/max-depth alternately in one
field, and dive-time/temperature alternately in another.
After a dive, the computer needs to be rinsed in
fresh water and dried before you can access the log memory.
Using the dive planning (simulation) facility (5x realtime)
and switching modes (metric/imperial, sealevel/mountain)
require some dexterity and the instruction booklet.
The manufacturer claims that the dial is phosphorescent.
Mine isn't.
When I bought my NC-11, I was looking for a digital electronic
depth-gauge/dive-timer. However, the NC-11 was only slightly
more expensive...
General comment:
If the divers in a group are using different brands of
decompression computers, they really should decide before
diving which computer they are going to use to control
their dive: The most pessimistic? The most generous?
Take an average?
This comment is probably not at all original.
I have been told that this computer is no longer
being marketed because it does not sell as well as
the DC-11
In Germany there is only one place that changed
batteries and it costs about DM120, which is a lot of
money, but the battery is supposed to last 2000 hours.
[Ed Note: this comment only affects German owners of
the NC-11]
========
Subject: 18.14) Sherwood Encore
From: Kevin Grover <grover@is*.un*.ed*>
Date: Tue 28 Jun 1994
The Encore is one of the newest additions to the Sherwood line of
computers. It is not a deco computer, but has other features such as
a clock (to record time in and etc and also a thermometer)
I do not have any other information or testimonials for this machine
========
Subject: 18.15) Sherwood Sentry
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1993 07:23:50 PDT
From: jwall@ny*.cs*.du*.ed* (Jeff Wall)
Name/Model: Sentry
Manufacturer: Sherwood
Year of Model: 1993/94
Well, I had the opportunity to play with the new Sherwood Sentry computer
this weekend. The Sentry is an air integrated computer with no HP hose.
A pressure transducer screws into the Hp port and is attached to the
computer via a wire. The computer attaches to one of the low pressure
hoses. The display unit attaches to your wrist the same as any wrist
mounted computer. The display dose no calculation it is all done in the
tank unit. The data is transmitted from the tank unit to the wrist unit.
It has a range of 3.5 feet so if you have long arms you're out of luck ;-).
The Sentry was designed by a gentleman (I forget the name) for NASA. It
was designed to be used by astronauts in training. This gentleman used to
work for Texas Instruments and holds the record for most patents at that
company including a patent on early microprocessor design. The designer
has a good resume and it shows.
Anyway, tank pressure is displayed on the wrist unit to the nearest psi.
Those of you who have regulators with bleed systems such as Sherwoods you
can watch the psi drop as the reg bleeds. The computer can sense the
difference between salt and fresh water and compensate in its nitrogen
loading calculations. It computes and displays the number of psi per
minute that you are breathing *normalized* for the surface. This is nice.
If I do a dive to 99 ft the computer will show me my breathing rate at the
surface not at 4 atm that way you can compare from dive to dive. I liked
this air calculation it made. With students I can usually get two dives
out of a tank. With the Sentry it told me how long I could dive given my
breathing rate on the first dive, and the amount of air currently in the
tank. No more guessing about changing tanks. The absolute nicest feature
had to be the ascent rate graph. When you started your ascent a graph
appeared on the display. Each bar on the graph represented 10 fpm. The
graph went up to 60 fpm, but less than 60 ft used a 45 fpm ascent rate and
less than 30 ft used a 30 fpm ascent rate. You could see that you were
coming up at 10 fpm then 20 fpm, oops, better slow down getting close to
30 fpm. Very nice feature.
The Sentry also logs 144 dives, about one years worth for me. It also
shows you your worst case scenario on a dive. The closest you came to
running out of air, or running out of NDC time. Say you were at 80 feet
and had two minutes of no-deco left, then you went up to 30 feet and spent
a few minutes before surfacing. Your worst case would be 2 minutes left
at 80 feet.
The air calculation were surprisingly accurate. On one dive I had 40
minutes of time left based on air and when I surfaced from a 32 minute
dive I had 12 minutes of air left, 800 and some psi.
Basically the thing does everything but put your tank on your back. Very
good design and extremely easy to use. There is a sonic switch on the
tank unit, you turn it on my flipping it with your finger. The wrist unit
has a push button switch. It has user changeable batteries but the
battery life is 200-300 hours, I forget the exact number. It also shows
you the battery voltage, so you can tell if the batteries are wearing
down. The tool to change the batteries comes with the computer, it's a
quarter :-).
All in all, a nice computer, don't know if it's $600 nice but it's nice.
Actually it's no more expensive than any other air integrated computer.
Cheers,
Jeff
========
Subject: 18.16) Sherwood Source
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1993 09:23:18 -0700
From: Kevin O Grover <grover@by*.IS*.UN*.ED*>
Name/Model: Source
Manufacturer: Sherwood
Year of Model: 1990 (purchased, & copyright on user's manual)
Max Depth: 249 ft
Units: Imperial ( Feet )
Algorithm: Haldane's 12 tissue compartments, Spencer's M-values
Air Pressure: NONE
Temp Gauge: NONE
Log Features: 7 dives (max depth, time, nitrogen bars, if you
exceeded ascent rate). No permanent log.
Locations: Console, Hose, or Wrist Strap
Activation: Button to turn on. Automatic calculations at 7 feet.
Automatically enters surface mode at 3ft.
Automatically turns off after all nitrogen
compartments are discharged, or after 24 hours.
Safe to fly
indicator: NO
Decompression: Yes, Stops at 10, 20, and 30 ft (3, 6, 9 meters)
Error
Conditions: If you exceed 249 ft, or omit a deco stop it stops
acting as a dive computer. If you exceed the ascent
rates, the depth blinks (newer models have an ascent
rate bar to give you a better idea if the ascent rate).
Altitude
Compensation: Yes:
0 - 3000 ft: Full functions, altitude compensation
3000-10000 ft: No time remaining, deco info, or tissue
loading bars
> 10000 ft: will not activate
Approx Cost: $300.00 US Dollars (approx)
User Replaceable
Batteries: NO - Lithium. Expected life: 3 yrs.
Data:
Ascent Rates:
0 - 19 ft --> 30 ft/min
20 - 59 ft --> 45 ft/min
60 - 249 ft --> 60 ft/min
Initial Max Dive times
Depth (ft) Time (min)
30 260
40 136
50 78
60 55
70 40
80 31
90 25
100 20
110 17
120 13
130 11
140 9
150 6
160 3
Advantages:
- Easy to read display
- Nice plan mode
Disadvantages:
- Can't get current dive info until after 10 minutes of
surface interval. (NOTE: This has been fixed in all newer
models)
- Info not always visible when you want to see it: the
primary display mode shows current depth, and time remaining
until decompression mode is entered. Every 12 seconds, the
time remaining until deco mode is replaced with the bottom
time, for 3 seconds, then display reverts to normal.
Further comments
- I have been told that the Sherwood Source and Oceanic
DataMax Sport are the same computer --- manufactured by the
same company with different names on the front.
- This info is from my user's manual, and is accurate as far
as I know
- Never models have better/enhanced features that I may not
yet know about.
========
Subject: 18.17) Suunto Companion
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 93 10:59:51 CDT
From: Mark Pipkorn <pipkorn@nc*.St*.NC*.CO*>
Name/Model: Companion
Manufacturer: Suunto (I believe US Divers now handles it)
Year of Model: (purchase) 1992
Max Depth: 90 m (295 ft)
Units: Feet/Meters
Algorithm: 8 compartments, 2.5 min to 322 min
Air Pressure: NO
Temp Gauge: Yes
Log Features: Yes (# max dives = 5)
Interface to PC? No
Any permanent log info? No
Locations: Wrist, Console and Hose Mount options
Activation: Automatic (As soon as it gets wet.)
Safe to fly
indicator: Yes
Error
Conditions: NDL exceeded - "DEC" and up arrow on
Ascend shallower than ceiling - down arrow on
Omitted decomp stop or 2+ ft above ceiling - "DEC" blinking
Low battery - "BAT" on
Exceed 10 m/min ascent rate - "SLOW" flashes
Altitude
Compensation: Manual - 3 settings for 2300, 5000, and 8000 ft)
Approx Cost: Low:$200; High:$320
User Replaceable
Batteries: No (Lithium)
Advantages: Low cost.
Small size.
Durable.
Easy or read.
Autoactivation (everyone I know with a manually activated
computer has forgotten to turn it on at one time or
another).
Hose mount.
No obnoxious beeping.
Disadvantages:
No time indication for deco stops.
Battery is not user replaceable.
Followup comments:
The hose mount allows me to easily take it off the equipment at the
end of the day to log my dives and soak it in fresh water. Seems the
best compromise since I don't like wrist mounts.
A computer interface would be nice but I'm too cheap to pay much
for it.
I don't really want it on my high pressure hose so I don't consider
the lack of air integration a drawback.
========
Subject: 18.18) Suunto Sea Quest Solution
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1993 09:38:00 +0000
From: "Danny (D.Y.) Ting" <dting@bn*.ca*> (Imperial Version)
Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1993 16:52:51 GMT
From: Ian Crowe <ianc@wh*.de*.co*.uk*> (Metric Version)
Name/Model: SeaQuest Solution
Manufacturer: Sunnto
Date of
purchase: May 1993 Imperial / 17-Nov-90 Metric
Max Depth: 325ft / 99m
Units: Imperial or Metric (must specify on order)
Decompression: Full display of time to ascend and ceiling
A
Algorithm (if known) - ?????
Air Pressure? - Not air integrated
Remaining time at depth?
- Gives remaining no-decomp time at current depth If you enter
decomp mode, it will show time remain at ceiling before you
can surface
Temp. Gauge: Yes
Log Features: # of dives: approx 8 hours of dive time.
information recorded : Dive profile every 3 min, Max
depth, duration and surface interval. Any violation of
ceiling or ascent rate. Also total No. of dives, total
time underwater and greatest depth.
- It will retain logs for 8 hours of dive time, so depends
on how long each dives is, the logs can retain more or
less # of dives
- information recorded: Max depth, Dive time, Surface
Interval and dive no, and all warning and errors if
applicable.
- It also has a profile mode which will display all info for
each 3 minutes interval i.e. it will tell you dive time,
depth at 0, 3 , 6, ... minutes of each of the previous
dives
- It also has a history mode which tells you the deepest dive
ever and accumulated dive time so far in hours
Location: Wrist, Console, or hose mount
Activation: Auto at 5ft (1.5m)
Safe to fly
indicator: Yes (graphic)
Error Conditions:
- It will enter ERR mode if you dive below 325ft (you have
15 sec to ascend before entering ERR mode)
The computer still works when in ERR mode
- It will NOT shut off if you make a boo-boo, you can still use it
as a computer but it will have blinking icon/number (depends on
situation) to let you know you have violated something when in
surface mode, but if you are going to do another dive, it will
still be the good old computer that does everything. The only
thing I have violated so far is the ascent rate, it blink 'SLOW'
when you are in surface mode and when you look at the log or the
profile but during the next dive, it's just like nothing happened
If you entered ERR mode during last dive, you will still get all
decomp info for the current dive, there will be a blinking ERR
symbol intermixed with the current no-decomp remaining time.
Altitude Compensation
- You can adjust the computer in a 700ft interval up to 8200ft
Approx Cost
- I got mine for $580 Canadian (I think its really cheap
considering the MSRP is US$660 (from Rodale's Feb issue)
- UK 320 pounds sterling
- $520 (Mike Nelson <mnelson@vc*.hp*.co*>)
User Replaceable
Battery: No, dealer replaceable, usage time ~2000 (2yrs, 200 dives)
No Decomp. Times for first dive:
3 - 9m Infinity 30m 18 min
12m 127 min 33m 13 min
15m 72 min 36m 11 min
18m 52 min 39m 9 min
21m 37 min 42m 7 min
24m 29 min 45m 6 min
27m 23 min
Additional functions
- It has a simulation mode which allows you to scroll through a
simulated dive plan so you can see how long you can stay
down and what happen if you gets into decomp mode. The
simulation time is 4 times real time (ie 15 sec real time
represents 1 min).
- The owner guide is not too clear in some point, I have
trouble figuring out the simulation mode and how to retrieve
different dives. But after I played with it for about 1/2
hour, I understand how to use it completely.
- This computer has a 3 segment ascent rate indicator - 11, 22
and 33 ft/min. When you exceed 33 ft/min, it will alternate
between current depth and blinking "SLOW"
- Audible alarm - It beeps when entering warning and error
mode
Final comments
- I am really happy with this computer, originally I was going
to buy the Companion which is half the price according to
MSRP, but locally (Ottawa, Canada) the Companion is only
about CAN$100 (US$75) cheaper. I think the simulation mode
and the full decomp info is worth the extra money. Another
thing is the Companion uses alternate screen to display
current depth and max depth whereas the Solution lets you
see the current depth at all time and max depth is a bar
along the side of the computer, you don't get the exact (to
the feet) depth but you will know the approx. max depth by
looking at the bar.
Dislikes:
- 33 ft/min ascent rate is fairly slow
- After your last dive of the day, or when you are in surface
mode, the computer will scroll through the no-decomp table from
30ft to 150ft and then display remaining no-flying time
until it is 0 before it turned itself off, I think its a
waste of battery power. A better way is to turn itself off
completely except for a blinking airplane icon and if I want
to know the no-flying time, I can turn it on or something
like that.
Other information:
There is a cradle to allow interface to a PC serial port for
downloading dive profile information as well as max depth and time.
The PC software includes a logbook, graphs and tissue saturation
model on replay. There is also an ability to plan dives, running the
proposal through the PC to check decompression levels and times as
well as view a graphic representation of both the depth/time and
tissue loading. Cost cica 150 pounds sterling.
Overall impression:
I like using it a lot and have found it easy to use. However
the display is fairly small and a little bit cluttered, fine
if your eyesight is good but could be a problem.
Disadvantage
It is a pity that the only indication of maximum depth during
the dive is on a bar graph; this is fine for depths up to 30
meters but over 40m it just shows an arrow indicating 'more than
40m'. This 'feature' is a pain if you want to validate the
decompression info against a set of tables.
========
Subject: 18.19) Mares Divemate Audio-Visual
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 1994 14:54:12 -0800
From: "Alex L. Bangs" <bangs@ne*.co*>
Name/Model: Divemate Audio-Visual Divecomputer
Manufacturer: Mares
Year of Model: 1994
Max Depth: 216 ft
Units: ft or meters, Fahrenheit or Celsius
Algorithm: Modified Buhlman
Air Pressure: N/A (although does have voice reminder to check air)
Temp Gauge: Yes
Log Features: last 10 dives or 10 hours of diving; displays 3 minute interval
depths when reviewing dive (this does not require PC interface)
Mares plans PC interface but not yet available--will work with
current units when it is available.
Locations:
Activation: Auto, in water
Safe to fly
indicator: Yes, with 12 or 24 hour indicator depending on "desaturation"
time; uses countdown timer.
Decompression: Yes, displays stop depth and ascent time.
Error
Conditions: Logs errors; not sure about lockout.
Altitude
Compensation: Manual adjust, five steps, max altitude of 9840 ft
MSRP: unknown
Approx Price: Retailed at $429.99 [Pacific Coast Divers, San Jose, CA]
Best Price: On sale at $379.99 [same]
User Replaceable
Batteries: Yes, 150 hours dive time, approximately
Data:
Ascent Rates
210 ft to 66 ft: 66 ft per minute
66 ft to surface: 33 ft per minute
Initial Max Dive times
The Divemate features the option of using "hard" tables instead
of "normal" when conditions are bad or the diver is feeling not
up to par.
Depth (ft) Time (min)
Normal Hard
40 124 94
50 81 58
60 51 39
70 37 30
80 29 23
90 23 17
100 18 12
110 12 9
120 10 8
130 8 7
140 7 6
150 6 5
Advantages:
This is a talking computer. It can be worn on the mask strap over the
ear and it keeps you up to date on your status--depth, no-dec time
remaining. The voice even reminds you to "check air" every so often.
Don't have to keep eyes on gauges as much, very handy.
Can be worn as wrist-mount unit. Good displays.
Has full dive logging features, enjoy being able to view profile of
dive right afterward w/o a PC interface. PC interface is supposed to
be available later this year.
Also has dive planning/simulation features.
Disadvantages:
Temperature not logged, and voice does not tell me, so have to depend
on my console thermometer to check at depth.
Voice not easy to hear through hood, though I am getting more used to
this. Should not be an issue for non-hood diving.
Wrist strap is not depth compensating--got very loose at depth.
Voice does not provide deco info. If you get into a deco dive, you have
to remove the computer from your mask strap to see what is going on.
Further comments
I've only used this on a few dives so far, and I've only used a
Skinny Dipper before this one, but I can say that I really enjoy this
computer. I plan to get a rubber strap for my wrist to try out the
visual mode underwater.
Address of Manufacturer (if known):
Mares USA
4801 North 63rd St.
Boulder CO 80301
Tel: 303-530-2000
========
Subject: 18.20) Mares Genisis
Date: Fri, 20 May 1994 09:57:12 GMT
From: Gerrit Conradie <CONRADIE@fi*.su*.ac*.za*>
Name/Model: Genius
Manufacturer: Mares
Year of Model: 1994 (to be released during June)
Max Depth: ?
Units: Both Imperial (psi, feet) and Metric (bar, m)
Algorithm: ?
Air Pressure: Yes, hoseless - transmitter located on 1st stage
transmits information on air consumption, breathing
rate and tank pressure to the computer.
Temp Gauge: ?
Log Features: Yes, no detail
Locations: Wrist mount only
Activation: ?
Safe to fly
indicator: ?
Decompression: Yes
Error
Conditions: Visual and acoustic alarms in case of high breathing
rate, low air, ascent rate violation and infringement
of decompression stops. Mismatched transmitter and
receiver sections triggers alarm.
Altitude
Compensation: ?
MSRP: ?
Approx Price: ?
Best Price: ?
User Replaceable
Batteries: ?
Data:
Ascent Rates
Maximum allowed ascent rate is a function of depth.
Fast ascent indicated by a SLOW - down arrow. Ascent rate
indicated by a number that expresses the percentage of the
allowed ascent rate at current depth.
Initial Max Dive times
Depth (ft) Time (min)
? ?
Advantages:
Transmitter and receiver sections may be purchased independently.
Receiver and transmitter can be security code matched by the user.
Wireless and hoseless air integrated.
Disadvantages:
My opinion: The display looks cluttered with the quantity of
information being displayed. No console mounting.
Further comments:
Unit may be interfaced with a personal computer to obtain graphic
dive profiles. Information from the South African magazine,
DIVESTYLE, May/June 1994. Technical detail on the computer is sparse,
because it isn't released yet.
========
Subject: 18.21) US Divers Monitor I
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 93 15:49:32 EDT
From: Todd Leonard <todd@me*.co*>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1993 09:16:24 EDT
From: "Hugh A. Huntzinger" (CCAC-LAD) <huntzing@PI*.AR*.MI*>
Name/Model: Monitor I ( or Beuchat Aladin Sport )
Manufacturer: U.S. Divers
Year of Model: purchased new 3/92
Max Depth: 330ft
Units: Metric or Imperial (not user-selectable)
Decompression: Computer is "intended for dives without decompression stops",
but does display the "ceiling" when the no-deco time is
exceeded. However, it does not display the amount of time
you must remain at the ceiling.
Algorithm: A "six tissue" model. The manual doesn't say explicitly what
research led to the model, but I've heard it referred to as
the "Buehlmann modified six-tissue" model.
Air Pressure?: Not air integrated
Temp. Gauge?: No
Log Features: Records last 9 dives: maximum depth, total time, altitude
sector, surface interval, and fast ascent or DECO warnings
as appropriate.
Location: Wrist, console, or hose-mount
Activation: Automatic when diving. Manual activation via three contacts
for features used at the surface (described below).
Safe to fly
Indicator: Yes. (but no time indicator)
Error
Conditions: If the diver misses a decompression stop, and does not
descend beneath the ceiling within 5 minutes, the
computer will go into "emergency mode" -- blocking all
computation for 24 hours while displaying maximum depth,
dive time, and the number of the fastest tissue which is
insufficiently decompressed.
Altitude
Compensation: Yes, automatic.
Approx Cost: I paid $300 on sale (in 3/92). Best price I've seen
was $245 in summer of '93.
User Replaceable
Battery?: No
Data:
Ascent rates:
33fpm recommended at all depths. Ascent warning
at 39fpm. Flashing ascent warning at 52fpm. Dive
Log will record warning if it flashes for >15sec.
Initial Max Dive times:
Depth (ft) Time (min)
30 99+
40 99+
50 70
60 49
70 35
80 25
90 20
100 16
110 14
120 12
130 10
140 8
Tissue model:
# Half-time Tissue type
1 6min Blood
2 14min Central Nervous Sys.
3 34min Muscles
4 64min
5 124min Skin
6 320min Joints
Altitude Ranges:
Sector 0 0-3280ft
Sector 1 1970-6320ft
Sector 2 4600-9200ft
Sector 3 7550-13200ft
Temperature range:
Operational from 14F to 122F
Battery Life:
Based on a typical dive duration of 45 minutes,
and desaturation time of 10 hours:
50 dives/yr approx. 6-7 years
100 dives/yr approx. 5 years
200 dives/yr approx. 2-3 years
500 dives/yr approx. 1-2 years
Advantages:
- automatic activation is a big win
- relatively compact. I like the hose-mount approach,
as I can keep it in the same field-of-vision as my
console, and still be "mobile". for instance, I take
it with me during the surface interval when I plan
the next dive. Also useful when renting equipment.
- I like the layout of the display -- the numbers I need
to pay the closest attention to have the biggest digits.
Disadvantages:
- somewhat hard to read at night. there's no backlight,
so you have to use your light. however, if you hit it
with the light at the wrong angle you get a nasty glare
or even a reflection straight back into your eyes. :-(
- deco mode does not display duration of required stops
Further
comments:
10 minutes after a dive the computer automatically enters
"surface mode", displaying the total time necessary to
desaturate all tissues. It will also display the wait to
fly indicator as appropriate. By touching two contacts
you can enter "next dive mode", which will display the
predicted no-decompression time limits for various depths,
taking into account whatever residual nitrogen you have
from the previous dive. Similarly, touching two contacts
enters "memory mode", showing the log info described above.
The display is rather "exposed", and could easily be damaged
if you make the mistake of dragging your console over a rock.
I bought an aftermarket "Gauge-Guard" to protect from this.
I have never regretted buying this computer. I like having
the redundancy with my other gauges, and of course it can
improve bottom times when my buddy has one too. It can also
add to the "quality" of the dive, IMHO, because I'm able to
briefly check out something interesting that's deeper than
the majority of the dive, without totally blowing the tables.
All information presented above is based on the owner's
manual, except the "Max Dive Times" which came from the
computer itself.
if the contacts remain wet, the computer can sometimes
still think that is is on a dive
========
Subject: 18.22) US Divers Monitor II
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 93 13:29:36 -0700
From: Stephen M Dodd <sdodd@oe*.or*.ed*>
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 93 07:37:27 PDT
From: Craig Campbell <craig@ca*.ca*.nc*.co*>
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1993 10:15:41 BST
From: Gordon Henderson <gordon@me*.co*.uk*>
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 09:01:05 PDT
From: Geoff Gosling <gosling@kw*.co*>
Date: Wed, 18 May 1994 00:09:22 GMT
From: Chuck Narad <narad@NU*.AS*.SG*.CO*>
Date: Thu, 19 May 1994 10:01:55 BST
From: Neal Harman <csneal@py*.sw*.ac*.uk*>
[
I have time to take this from the manual.
Steve
]
Name/Model: Monitor II, Imperial Version
Manufacturer: US Divers
Year of Model: 1993
Max Depth: 330 feet (99 meters, 1989 model)
Units: Feet/Meters Mine is in feet but I think metric is available
Algorithm: Buhlman ZHL6
Air Pressure: No
Temp Gauge: Yes (?? Conflicting reports, see bottom of file)
Log Features: 9 dives, max depth, time, SI, fast ascent, missed deco stop
Locations: Wrist or Console
Activation: Auto at 5 feet (1.5m)
Safe to fly
indicator: Yes (# of whole hours before its safe to fly)
Error
Conditions: Locks up on error
Audio beep upon entering decompression mode
Beep and flashing arrow for fast ascent warning
Solid arrow on fast ascent error
Visual and audio indicators for missed deco stops
Altitude
Compensation: Auto (4 ranges, shown on display)
Approx Cost: $700 (300 pounds UK)
User Replaceable
Batteries: No
Advantages:
- Very simple to use and fairly fool proof.
- big, has everything on screen at once
- very simple to operate
- deco mode tells you how long you will need to get to the
surface, all stops included
- glow in the dark backscreen
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes it beeps without cause after a dive. I find this
confusing. Washing in fresh water will stop it. Explained
by Chuck Narad <narad@NU*.AS*.SG*.CO*>: Salt water
dries on the surface, making a contact between the points
that you touch to scroll through the dive tables; a
fresh-water dip and a swipe with a towel will extend battery
life.
Followup comments:
- I know of a diver that replaced his own batteries. He had
quite a bit of experience with equipment repair, but he
still ruined his unit on the next dive.
- Aladin Pro is the same computer, different packaging
- Stephen M Dodd <sdodd@oe*.or*.ed*> had a problem with his
Monitor II, he sent back, and had it fixed and returned
within two weeks. No Charge. He then tested it in on some
dives to the Channel Islands (CA) without problem.
Conflicting Reports
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1993 09:01:05 PDT
From: Geoff Gosling <gosling@kw*.co*>
Replied to a posting of the FAQ with this:
On the US Divers Monitor I and II
There is no thermometer (there *is* one if you buy the full
console rig, but is still not part of the computer)
========
Subject: 18.23) US Divers Scan 4
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1993 23:37:09 -0800
From: Anders Wallgren <anders@as*.co*>
Name/Model: Scan 4
Manufacturer: US Divers
Advantages:
integrated air-pressure, w/air time remaining display
nice display - easy to read, graphs and digital readouts (ascent rate graph
is nice)
heavy-duty feel, but not too large
audible alerts (which can be turned off)
user-replaceable battery
can be activated w/out being connected to air, to look at dive log at the
end of the day, for example
disadvantages:
manual activation - I doubt that I'll ever forget to activate it, since
it's air-integrated, and I can't imagine jumping in the water w/out knowing
how much air I have...
no temp gauge
displays switch between primary/alternate displays for 13/2 seconds. This
isn't onerous, but it's sometimes annoying to look down and have to wait,
even for just two seconds, to see your air pressure.
Air pressure: yes
temp gauge: no
decompression: does 10/20/30/40 foot deco stops for 0 - 9 hrs, 59 minutes.
altitude comp: to 15K feet
activation: big yellow button only
fly: yes
price: not sure - bought mine in a package deal
algorithm: modified Haldanean, 12 tissue compartments
database: Diving Science and Technology - Rogers/Powell
Performance: Tissue compartment half-times Spencer's "M"-values 5, 10,
20, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240, 320, 400, 480. Reciprocal subsurface
elimination, 60 surface credit control for compartments faster than 60
minutes, tissue compartments tracked up to 24 hours after last dive
Altitude algorithm based on NOAA tables
Numeric Display Range Resolution
Dive number 0-9 1 dive
depth 0-249 feet 1 foot
max depth 249 feet 1 foot
no-deco time 0-9:59 1 minute
dive time remaining 0-9:59 1 minute
deco time 0-9:59 1 minute
surface time 0-11:59 1 minute
dive log surface int. 0-11:59 1 minute
wait-to-fly (unit on) 24-12:01 1 minute
wait-to-fly (unit off) 12-0 1 minute
tank pressure 0-4090 psig 10 psig
Battery: One 6 volt "J" cell
Life expectancy 150 1-hr dives w/12-hr surface interval
shelflife 3 years minimum
replacement user-replaceable
Display modes: startup/diagnostic, surface mode (standard, wait-to-fly),
dive mode (standard/alternate). deco mode (standard/alternate), dive log
recall (standard, alternate), secondary wait-to-fly, audible alarm access
mode.
Additional features include:
9 dive memory, which clears after 24 hours
segmented compartment loading graph - green/yellow/red zones - red is deco
zone. Red zone is graduate in 10/20/30/40 segments which indicate
decompression stop depths. You stay at the indicated depth until the graph
recedes into the next one or back into yellow.
8-segment ascent rate indicator - 11-20-30-40-50-60-80-100-120 feet/minute.
Also in three zones, green/yellow/red. Green is up to 40 ft/min, yellow
to 60 ft/min, and red up to 120 ft/min. Beep/second warning when in the
red zone.
cylinder pressure bar graph (as well as digital readout)
dive time remaining, based on no-deco time or air-time, whichever is less.
Indicates which time is being used - only one is ever displayed. Air Time
Remaining has a 300 psi safety buffer, i.e. at 0 ATR there will be 300 psi
left if you start your ascent to the surface at 60 ft/min.
audible warnings - 5 minutes of air time or no-deco time (double-beep,
cylinder pressure display flashes). When air time reaches zero or air time
equals required deco time, continuous beep/second warning. One double-beep
on entering deco mode.
altitude diving - 0-4000 feet it uses sea-level algorithm, 4K-15K uses
adjusted algorithm. Above 15K, unit will not operate.
pre-dive planning mode, displays bottom times for 30-160 feet
========
Subject: 18.24) Uwatec Aladin Air X
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 1994 17:29:40 EST
From: aschmidt@no*.co* (Andy Schmidt)
Name/Model: Aladin Air X
Manufacturer: Uwatec
Year of Model: 1994?
Max Depth: -
Units: -
Algorithm: ZHL-8 ADT using 8 compartments of 5 to 640 minutes
Air Pressure: Yes (with time remaining)
Temp Gauge: Y
Log Features: 19 dives, profiles w/ depth info for 200 min at 20 sec
intervals
Locations: Wrist
Activation: -
Safe to fly
indicator: -
Decompression: -
Error
Conditions: -
Altitude
Compensation: -
MSRP: -
Approx Price: $1000 (in germany)
Best Price:
User Replaceable
Batteries: -
Advantages:
-
Disadvantages:
-
Further comments:
The display area has been increased by 70%. On the lower
portion of the unit, there is a second display attached at an
angle of about 120 degrees. It displays tank pressure and
bottom time left based on air consumption. This data is
transmitted from a unit screwed into the first stage. The
time remaining is calculated so that after the ascent, with
all decompression stops, there are still 400 psi (?) left on
the surface.
The display does not alternate between modes, as in some other
computers. A new ascent indicator displays the percentage of
the recommended ascent rate of 60 feet per minute at depth to
20 feet per minute in shallow water.
The computer will measure temperature, prior ascent rates and
air consumption rate in order to apply extra penalties when
calculating decompression information.
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