Dive computers - wrist or hose?

[lizhurley]

Hi I've just started diving and would like to get a computer but I'm not sure what the pros and cons between a wrist computer or one on a hose is.
Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks

Liz Hurley

[Woz]

IMHO keep your console down to a pressure gauge and nothing else. Otherwise it gets big, heavy and scrapes on stuff, getting caught. You can't use a console compass properly either.

Stick it on your wrist.

[Chris Cherrington]

IMHO keep your console down to a pressure gauge and nothing else. Otherwise it gets big, heavy and scrapes on stuff, getting caught. You can't use a console compass properly either.

Stick it on your wrist.

I'll 2nd that.

Chris

[Michael Purcell]

Not to mention someone laying a cylinder on your console :)

(Of course they have quick release and of course we always stow our gear, but the one time you let your kit get away from you will be the time someone cracks your computer.):p

Wrist.
(I have the D9. The compass is a nice backup but a primary compass on a console or on a wrist is not as easy to use as a compass on a retractable strap.)

The Gecko is a nice entry-level computer that will serve you well. Others would argue to spring for a high-end high function off the get-go. Comes down to personal choice, finances and the diving you see yourself doing in the future. (a little hard to predict in the beginning) (I give this as an example as I am familiar with it...there are lots of other good compters out there.)

a few of our "faux" DIR crowd have the Cobra (hose mounted) and seem to like it. No broken ones yet though I see them overly concerned about it on dive trips.

[Roz]

IMHO keep your console down to a pressure gauge and nothing else.

I almost go with Woz on this..........I personally advocate on a console a pressure gauge AND a depth gauge (because some day your computer will go kerplueeee, or you will forget to put the bugger on - and you need to know your depth). And then nothing else. It keeps the console clean, easy to ready and simple to bungee away.

I have dived with a Suunto Cobra. (Hose computer). Was it ok? Yes it was, I liked it, it did the job. There is a but coming............I am a graphic girl, rather than a numbers girl, so I prefer glancing down at my gauges and seeing a pattern/shape rather than a bunch of numbers. It's how my brain functions.

I dive with a Suunto Stinger, a Suunto Vyper and a Scubapro/Uwatec AIR Z Nitrox computer. (All of these computers are nitrox compatible) http://uk.uwatec.com/products/air_z_nitrox_wrist/air_z_nitrox_wrist.asp The Scubapro/Uwatec has the option of a little sender unit that can be screwed into your first stage. This sends your current tank pressure to your wrist computer. I've not dived it with the sender unit for a while, and just look at my pressure gauge when I want to know how much gas I have.

Out of the three, if I had to choose only one computer to dive with, it would be the Scubapro/Uwatec, because it is robust, simple to read, uncomplicated, and shows me my ascent rates in an easy to understand manner and is nitrox compatible.

Mind you the Stinger does have a plethora of functions, however being a watch as well, makes it not so simple to use in British waters because the buttons are difficult to operate in gloves. It's just fab in the Red Sea.

I guess, and this comment will go for most diving equipment purchases, go and buy yourself the equivalent of a Ford Sierra, such as the Suunto Gecko. Perhaps even consider buying a second hand computer, such as one of the old grey Aladin Scubapro/Uwatec computers. They are a nice little conservative unit.

You're new to diving. Dive your kit for a couple of years and discover what you like about it and what you don't. Then when you are ready, go and buy what you really want. By then you will have the experience behind you to know what questions to ask so you get what you desire.

[David Walker]

Yeah, what others said - wrist! I had a console for a year or so, but it got bashed around so much that the compass broke. Also consider you'll want to know your depth / time more frequently than you need to know your air, and so its much more convenient to be on your wrist than hanging below you. When you're ascending for example you can check your depth / ascent rate by just rotating your wrist, rather than reaching down to grab your console.

I too have just a single pressure gauge on the hose - compass is clipped to a D-ring when I take it, computer on wrist.

David

[Chris aka divingchef]

When you're ascending for example you can check your depth / ascent rate by just rotating your wrist, rather than reaching down to grab your console.

I too have just a single pressure gauge on the hose - compass is clipped to a D-ring when I take it, computer on wrist.

David

Ill second that, and when your hanging on to the shot line doing a safety stop again just easier to look at your wrist
Chris

[PeteM]

Hi I've just started diving and would like to get a computer but I'm not sure what the pros and cons between a wrist computer or one on a hose is.
Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks

Liz Hurley

I've had both, would never go back to a console. When you are doing other things (Operating a reel, going hand over hand up or down a shot, etc.) on your wrist you can see it easily with no movement, on a console takes an action which gets in the way of what ever else you are doing.

What ever you do make sure you get a nitrox computer as if you dive seriously you will do nitrox within the first 18 months and buying a suitable computer now will save money (cost differential between an air only unit and one that can do nitrox is minimal or nothing so should not cost more now)

I would get a Suunto Gekko, cheap cheerful and does everything you are likely to want it to do for the next few years

[MattS]

Another vote for wrist mount and just a pressure guage.

Picking up on David's point. I originally bought a console with pressure guage and depth guage. The depth guage expired within 2 years. Oddly enough the depth guage to fit the console was a lot more expensive than a wrist mounted one ;) I decided a D-Timer was worth the extra tenner.

[Alison Boler]

Definitely wrist!!!! Those large console things are only good for clobbering something or someone with. Sometimes yourself if you forget to put it in the retainer when you jump in!!! Plus, sometimes you will want to play with your computer in the dry and away from all the rest of the kit and its much easier when its a wrist model.

And when you are ascending if you wear it on your left arm facing inwards it is in just the right position for checking whilst holding your deflation hose or your arm up depending on what sort of kit you have on. The other reason I like wearing it facing inwards ie face on the bottom edge of my arm not the outer edge, is that it doesn't catch in my bc/set as i put it on. Each to his own of course.

So, I have a wrist computer, a manual pressure gauge, a compass clipped in my pocket on a little strap. I don't dive with a manual depth gauge anymore. If I'm on a deco dive I dive with another computer. If I'm not, I don't and if it kicked out I would just abort the dive.

I've got a uwatec air x. Personally I would never buy an air integrated computer again (I think... ) Complete pain in the ass most of the time in all sorts of ways. I breathe really slowly and that makes it bleep sometimes - perhaps it thinks I'm dead. If you breathe fast - it makes it bleep. If you take a big breath for some reason.... yes - it makes it bleep! I have a contents gauge again now because of the numerous times it has kicked out on me while underwater.

On the plus side, very easy to use, very clear to read, nice size, battery seems to hold up well. Uwatec/Aladin or whoever they are now - Scubapro - are incredibly good and very kind at replacing it etc.

I don't like compasses in consoles either. Better on a lanyard or clipped on in some way. I tend to have mine clipped to a ring on my bcd because these days I really only use it to take a bearing to and from rather than anything elaborate involving long swims holding it front of me :)

I have found over the years that I tend to pare down my equipment to what I need for the dive in question rather than take everything all the time. Too aged to carry it all probably so I have to be wily.... The trouble with things like consoles is you can't do that, you're stuck with this wacking great heavy thing on every dive. Bit of a nightmare for travelling too.

[PeteM]

Another vote for wrist mount and just a pressure guage.

Picking up on David's point. I originally bought a console with pressure guage and depth guage. The depth guage expired within 2 years. Oddly enough the depth guage to fit the console was a lot more expensive than a wrist mounted one ;) I decided a D-Timer was worth the extra tenner.

I gave up using a mechanical deoth guage when I looked at mine in the bow of the Rondo and it said 44m, now use just pressure guage and either one or two computers depending what I am doing

[steveh]

For what it's worth I'm just a novice and bought a Gekko. Easy to use and "does what it says on the tin"....nothing fancy but just what I need.
Hope this helps.

[tony J]

Hi I've just started diving and would like to get a computer but I'm not sure what the pros and cons between a wrist computer or one on a hose is.
Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks

Liz Hurley
Performing any rescue is a shed load easier with a wrist mounted device. Angling the console during a AAS or CBL is a pain.

Having done a few rescues, that clinches it for me

Tony

[Woz]

To nail it down a bit further, I wear my computer(s) on my right wrist. Why? Cos I can hold onto the shot line (or reel handle) with my right hand and do all the buoyancy stuff with my left where the dumps and inflates are. Dead easy.

[AndyDavis]

Hi Liz

I would also add my vote towards the wearing your pc on your wrist. It is just far simpler all round...especially if you travel away on holiday and want to keep your pc in your hand luggage.

For diving, a wrist pc should prove far less cumbersome and easier to check. If it is easier to check, it will consequently mean that you are more likely to check it regularly. This is especially true if you are ascending on a DSMB or shotline. It is also much easier if you are using a drysuit and have your arm raised to dump air on the way up.

The only gauge that I have on my octopus is my SPG/pressure gauge. Simple and lightweight is always best for me. Less things to break, less to dangle down and splatter sealife and less confusion.

If I need more redundancy, especially for deco dives, then I will carry a spare pc on my other arm. Alternatively, I can use a wrist mounted depth gauge (used with a clip and stored in drysuit pocket). For non-deco dives, you do not need extraneous redundancy....if your pc fails, you will abort the dive and return immediately to the surface. Your buddy can provide ascent rate and safety stop direction...so follow their lead.

My recommendation for an entry-level dive computer is the Suunto Gekko. If are mostly going to be diving abroad, it may be worth getting a Suunto Stinger.

[lizhurley]

Hello Everyone,

This really is a useful forum. Thanks for all the really quick replies. the overwhelming advice seems to be wrist so I'm glad to listen to experience. Ultimately I want to get into photography so the fewer patrs dangling the better. Of course, first I've got to master nuetral bouancy :D

Thanks again

Liz

[Woz]

Ultimately I want to get into photography so the fewer patrs dangling the better. Of course, first I've got to master nuetral bouancy :D
And spelling... :D

[lizhurley]

I doubt I'll ever master spelling!

[Alan Ewart]

I'll 2nd that.

Chris


I'll 3rd that (or 28th)

[Thalassamania]

If God had intended computers, or depth gauges, or compasses to be in a console they'd not have come equipped with wrist straps in the first place<G>.

Heck ... I don't even like a pressure gauge hanging out there.

But seriously, now that they come consule mounted, here's some great gear that I quite taken with: Wirst Mounts (http://www.deepseasupply.com/page18.html)

http://deepseasupply.com///vypercompsm

[Moya]

I would go for wrist mounted - i was looking at consoles but decided the risk from breaking it with a cylinder with me was too great!

i wear mine on my right wrist - giving me a free hand to operate inflator and dumps - i know the initial thing of when you raise your hand to check above you - its a bit quick for the computer - you just need to do it a bit slower - me and my partner have never had problems and this is the way we have always worn ours.

[wynnf]

Def wrist - can't think of a member in our club who dives with anything other than on your wrist. As stated above, v easy when doing safety stops;ascepding a shot line etc.

I use a vyper as I interested to look at the dive profiles on my pc.

[mark - sandman]

One for the Air integration users!

Had a quick release Suunto Cobra Air Integrated Computer for 5 years. Never any bother. Clipped it to my chest strap on the BC, never in the way, never broke. One battery & service, costing around £30. I just looked after it. Brilliant for working out your SAC rate accurately across a whole dive. It also shows you when your WOB is increased due to stress, reminding you its ok to calm down. It does single mix Nitrox & will work well on a manifolded twin set (So long as the gas is the same in both Cylinders).
Best computer i've used for the job it did.

Having said that, i bought the wrist mount for the attached Compass, as it is a pain to navigate with. The wrist body is only £12 or something which saves on the £30+ for the full Compass as the body is transferable.

I have sold it now, but only because my diving went beyond the capability of the computer.