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> Sorry to burden the list with another 'what about this piece of gear' > querry but I need to know if anyone has any experience with the Seaquest > Solution computer. I need a computer to support multi-stage decompression > (air only) diving in the 160-200 fsw range. The Solution appears to be > very good, but I am concerned about the readability of the max depth and > ceiling depth displays. Any opinions or suggestions are appreciated. As you can probably tell, the max depth display is useless for deep dives; it only reads to about 140FT. The ceiling display is reasonably clear. Its far from wonderful, but its adequate. Sensibly, the computer has a couple arrows that tell you to go up, go down, or stay at the same depth to get optimum deco. For the most part, I agree with the algorithm in the computer. It seems fairly consistent with my understand of decompression, and has proven safe in our use. We have been making 2-3 decompression dives/week for the last two years and have had no DCS problems whatsoever, despite pushing the computers very hard (with the exception noted below). My only reservation is that I believe the computer does not call for sufficiently deep initial stops. It was programmed with fairly agressive delta-M values, making its stops significantly shallower than on Orca or Uwatec (Aladin Pro/Monitor II) computers. We ALWAYS make our first few minutes of deco substantially below the ceiling on the computer; following either an Orca or Uwatec computer, or failing that maybe ten or fifteen feet below the ceiling. I also find the ascent time to be most inaccurate. I know that there are several other Solution owners out there who dispute me on this, but even if I hold the computer very carefully at the max ascent rate and stay right on the ceilings, I find the the decompression times always come out at least 20% longer than the computer says on the bottom. The longer the deco, the more in error the numbers are. For example, last weekend, 170FT for 20Min. Leaving the bottom, both Suunto and Monitor II indicated 30mins of deco. The monitor was clear in about 34, the Solution in 41. I was a BIT below the suunto ceilings at times, but not substantially. My buddy's Phoenix (rare to see on working ;)) cleared in very nearly the 18Min's it indicated, despite being quite substantially below his ceilings for much of the deco. In summary, I think it is a very good computer. I prefer the Aladin Pro/Monitor II, because I prefer the deeper stops, the clearer screens, and the more accurate ascent time indication, but I feel good enough about the Monitor that I dive it very often (we have nearly every dive computer made here at MiG). One footnote, I have never heard of a Solution failure, but a few weeks ago we had an Eon inexplicably go into the dive simulator in the middle of 200+FT air dive. It showed NO information, no PSI, no Depth, NOTHING! Diver was not thrilled; he did not have a backup presure guage, despite his once running out of air due to an inaccurate pressure reading on a Delphi (1000PSI when he had zero). I hope this is helpful. Jody Svendsen MiG Technologies
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