Computer ? for The Skull or others.

[ozarkjim]

TS, I am planning on taking IANTD Adv. Nitrox this fall or next spring. I noticed on SB that you have a Suunto VYTEC computer. Do you have friends that dive with a VR2 or VR3 so you can make a comparison? I like the AI feature of the Suunto and am not planning on ever doing trimix (then again, I never was going past DM either) so I am leaning toward it right now. Thanks for any insight you or anyone else has.

[DeepDiverBob]

I briefly had a VR3, until someone else decided they needed it more than I did. What I liked about it was the fact that you could buy a basic computer to use just air or Nitrox, and then if you go into more technical diving, all you had to do was buy the upgrade for it, instead of buying a new computer. Another nice feature was you could change your gas mixture in the middle of the dive, and you could program up to 10 different gasses.

Thats just my .02 worth.

[theskull]

Yes, I dive the Vytec and like it alot. It will handle up to 3 gases (Nitrox/Air) which you can switch during the dive. It will be all you need if your plans are to make dives requiring 60 minutes or less of deco (Nitrox, Air, even Trimix). For more serious dives most folks find the Vytec too conservative for their taste. Even so, if you get to this point, you can use the Vytec in gauge mode as a back-up bottom timer (as does my Trimix instructor).

The ScubaPro AI computer falls into the same basic category, but is less conservative on the deco. Example: On some dives my Vytec will call for 6 minutes deco when my buddy's ScubaPro still has a couple minutes NDL left.

Most of the divers I know who do the more serious (greater than 200 feet depth and/or longer bottom times) dives use either the VR3 or the HS Explorer. These 2 computers are excellent for serious dives on Trimix.

And then there are a number who do all their deco diving based on dive tables, and use a computer only as a bottom timer. In this case, you're good with the Vytec again.

theskull

[Mverick]

Don't count out Cochran either. I know they have a few that do multi gas diving. I have the old Cochran Nemesis 2a nitrox. And, they work great. They were reported to have a lot of problems. I haven't had any. And own 4 of them.

I also have a HS Explorer... And, well, Let's just say I got a bad one....

[theskull]

Don't count out Cochran either. I know they have a few that do multi gas diving. I have the old Cochran Nemesis 2a nitrox. And, they work great. They were reported to have a lot of problems. I haven't had any. And own 4 of them.

I also have a HS Explorer... And, well, Let's just say I got a bad one....

Glad to hear from someone who has a Cochran--never met one myself. 2 for sure, but why do you own 4 of them?

And, getting a "bad" HS Explorer (or 2) is not an isolated occurrance.

theskull

[Mverick]

Glad to hear from someone who has a Cochran--never met one myself. 2 for sure, but why do you own 4 of them?

And, getting a "bad" HS Explorer (or 2) is not an isolated occurrance.

theskull

I bought one for around $100 with a Blizzard Reg. Supposed to be broke. It wasn't. Bought another that was supposed to be broke. Wasn't. Bought one old stock. Brand New for around $300. First one was around $400. I did forget. One of them has something wrong with it. It rattled on the Wrist unit. Still fine underwater though. When I took it apart. What looks like it's antenna had come loose. Need a new one. But, it still dives fine.. Complicated though....

I used to have 2 hooked to duals. Redundancy. But now. More for parts. I heard they aren't servicing them anymore. That's what they told me at DEMA. Then, I heard they are. So????

Don't want to talk about HS. Don't even want to think about it really....

Oh, and about 4. It's just me too... I think I have 9 DS4's with TX50's. 3 MK20's. 52 tanks. This stuff just kinda accumulates... LOL... 4 drysuits... Yea, I ain't right.... 2 for rescue stuff. 2 for me stuff...

Rick

[theskull]

....

Oh, and about 4. It's just me too... I think I have 9 DS4's with TX50's. 3 MK20's. 52 tanks. This stuff just kinda accumulates... LOL... 4 drysuits... Yea, I ain't right.... 2 for rescue stuff. 2 for me stuff...

Rick


PLEASE email me when you have a garage sale! :)

theskull

[Mverick]

PLEASE email me when you have a garage sale! :)

theskull

LOL,
Everybody I meet say's that.... LOL.... I wonder why?? LOL

It's not quite as bad as it sounds. 2 converted Russian Rebreathers takes 4 of the DS4's.

Regs set up for duals exclusive. 2 more DS4's. Plus Cochran

Regs for single plus a spare set of regs. 2 more DS4's. Plus Cochran

I use the MK20's for Deco tanks or bailout...

Now the tanks, Yea. I have to many... But it's nice to use what ya want....

[StSomewhere]

I also have a Vytec, but skipped the AI hoseless transmitter. Its more conservative than the Oceanics, less conservative than the Niteks. There is an RBGM setting, but that mostly accounts for mistakes like reverse profiles, fast ascents, too-short surface intervals, stuff like that.

Other Vytec owners have told me the transmitter can be finicky, it turns it off after something like 5 mins of inactivity (measured by no changes in pressure). So if you don't have a backup SPG on a hose you need to resync right before you splash in.

The Vytec will do up to three gasses, but only the main gas is AI, since it only "talks" to one transmitter (vs. the Atom). The transmitter is only supposed to be used with 40% nitrox or less. If you turn off the AI, the screen is almost identical to the Vyper/Cobra showing Nitrox % and NDL time where the air remaining and NDL time would otherwise be.

It makes a pretty expensive bottom timer. :) Through the end of July there are instant rebates for trade-ins or training on Vytecs and Cobras at authorized retailers. Check Aqualung.com under the Suunto link for details.

[ozarkjim]

Thanks for all of your input. Mverick, thanks for someone to point to next time my wife says "why do you need another ___________ ".

[Mverick]

Thanks for all of your input. Mverick, thanks for someone to point to next time my wife says "why do you need another ___________ ".

LOL, Glad I could help..... LOL.....