newbie looking for an entry level dive computer

Hello,

I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
get some suggestions and inputs?

Thanks a bunch!

Jorielle

Jorielle wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
> probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
> would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
> myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
> the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
> get some suggestions and inputs?

I'm with your instructor. Oceanic computers are fine. The same company
makes Oceanic, Genesis and Aeris computers. They all have user replacable
batteries. I chose the "hockey puck" models, so named because they are
about the size and shape of a hockey puck. The nice thing is, they fit most
consoles made for analog depth guage. I recommend a nitrox model if you
think there's even a slight chance of wanting to use the stuff, and I think
the chance is more than slight. The price difference is small, but it will
keep you from having to buy another computer in just a few years. The two
button models are handier to use than the one buttom ones, but both work
well.

Lee

"Jorielle" <jorielle7@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fb131bee.0403161709.5b1048a2@posting.google.c om...
> Hello,
>
> I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
> probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
> would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
> myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
> the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
> get some suggestions and inputs?
>
> Thanks a bunch!
>
> Jorielle

You can find good articles on computers on www.scubadiving.com

Jorielle wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
> probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
> would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
> myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
> the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
> get some suggestions and inputs?

I agree with Lee. I have had the Aeris Atmos Pro for about 4 years as a
backup. Works fine. Easy to program, BIG numbers for my failing eyes,
and the batteries are easy to replace. It will give you NDL for whatever
O2 percentage (up to 50%) you plug in. And, it fit right into my old
Dacor Omni console with the Dacor pressure gauge.

Jorielle left this mess on 16 Mar 2004 17:09:02 -0800 for The Way to clean up:
>
>Hello,
>
>I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
>probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
>would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
>myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
>the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
>get some suggestions and inputs?
>

Why waste your money on an entry level computer?

Either commit now to the sport and buy one that you will grow into or just use
an SPG, timer and tables until you are sure you need a computer.

Either way, you save a few hundred bucks, either now or in a year or so.

Welcome to scuba, the money pit for those if us who think golf is for faggots.

Tao te Carl
"It takes a village to have an idiot." - Carl (c) 2003

(Kudos to Cap'n Jim Wyatt for this link) BEFORE you ask a dumb-ass question
here...http://www.speakeasy.org/~neilco/bart.gif

In article <fb131bee.0403161709.5b1048a2@posting.google.com >, jorielle7@yahoo.com (Jorielle) writes:
>Hello,
>
>I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
>probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
>would be fine...

I agree with several posts and your instructtor that one of the
Oceanic, "hocky puck" size/style computers will do just fine.
I have two further suggestions:

(1) Is eBay a good choice for buying a dive computer?
In my opinion, only if it is new computer.
If a used computer is being sold, there is a reason it is being
sold, and that computer is suspect. Might be a poor way to save $$

(2) Get one (new or used) that handles Nitrox.
The added cost is minimal -- much less than needing to "trade up"
when you want Nitrox capability. You may think not, but if you
are serious about SCUBA diving, you probably will want to at least
try nitrox and get nitrox certified. (And if you are not serious,
save your $$ and stick to tables!)

--
Charlie Hammond -- Hewlett-Packard Company -- Ft Lauderdale FL USA
(hammond@not@peek.ssr.hp.com -- remove "@not" when replying)
All opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily my employer's.

"de Valois" <devalois@nailedandused.com> wrote in message
news:c39m790bs0@drn.newsguy.com...
> Jorielle left this mess on 16 Mar 2004 17:09:02 -0800 for The Way to clean up:
> >
> >Hello,
> >
> >I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
> >probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
> >would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
> >myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
> >the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
> >get some suggestions and inputs?
> >
>
> Why waste your money on an entry level computer?
>
> Either commit now to the sport and buy one that you will grow into or just use
> an SPG, timer and tables until you are sure you need a computer.
>
> Either way, you save a few hundred bucks, either now or in a year or so.
>
> Welcome to scuba, the money pit for those if us who think golf is for faggots.
>

I have to disagree with this advice. An inexpensive computer will give you all the
information to dive safely vis-a-vis DCS for recreational diving and is much superior to
the most expensive tables. It will simplify your diving and allow prolonged multilevel
dives. I have only used the inexpensive Oceanic Prodigy and it has served me quite well.

An argument can be made for getting Nitrox capability because the price difference is
small, but if you are tight on budget I doubt you will want to do Nitrox diving.

Adam

I got a DataPlus in a console mount from Oceanic a few years back. Its
a good, reliable little computer. Problem with it is that if my regs
are in for service (or broken), I have no computer.

Therefore, get a wrist mount. The puck style computers can be used
with a wrist mount boot.

Matt

jorielle7@yahoo.com (Jorielle) wrote in message news:<fb131bee.0403161709.5b1048a2@posting.google. com>...
> Hello,
>
> I am a new diver and I'm looking for an inexpensive dive computer,
> probably an used on eBay. My last instructor told me that an Oceanic
> would be fine (but I need to make sure that I can change the battery
> myself). I have looked at their websites but I think they only list
> the new (current) products? For me, any brand is fine. I'd like to
> get some suggestions and inputs?
>
> Thanks a bunch!
>
> Jorielle

"Matt" wrote

> I got a DataPlus in a console mount from Oceanic a few years back. Its
> a good, reliable little computer. Problem with it is that if my regs
> are in for service (or broken), I have no computer.
>
> Therefore, get a wrist mount. The puck style computers can be used
> with a wrist mount boot.

I use a Data Plus and the Genesis equivalent. One's in a console, the other
is in a wrist mount. Personally, I don't send my console in when my
regulators go for service. To the best of my knowledge, there's nothing in
that console that a technician will service that I can't do for myself. The
pressure gauge and compass either work or they don't. When they don't, they
get replaced. The computer is a sealed unit. That leaves inspection of the
hoses, which is something we all should do pretty routinely.

I use the computer in my console as the primary. The wrist mount unit
serves as a backup when protecting against failure of a single computer is
important enough to warrant using two computers, when I want to lend one of
my other regulators to a visiting nitrox diver (none of my other regulators
are equipped with nitrox capable computers), or, somewhat more frequent,
when I chose to use one of the regulators that fits my A clamp tanks.
Personally, I'd purchase the computer in a console, but think that buying a
wrist console, even if you don't get a second computer, is worth the
investment.

I haven't mentioned this in a while, but Oceanic offered, and probably still
offers, a free simulator for their Data Plus computer. I recommend
downloading it to anybody that is considering one of these computers or, for
that matter, for anybody that likes the idea of simulating a dive at home
before doing it in the water.

Lee

I find it interesting that you don't send your console in with your
regs for service. I like to leave it on for two reasons. First, I
don't have a quick release on it so it is a pain in the butt to take
off. Secondly, I have them change the batteries. Yeah, I know they say
they last for between 50 and 150 dives. I don't need them to die when
I'm down south, or if my computer were to go into deco. I feel alot
better at 100' with fresh batteries.

Just my 2 cents.

Matt

"Lee Bell" <leebell@ix.remove.netcom.com> wrote in message news:<7DC7c.2768$V66.102@newsread3.news.atl.earthl ink.net>...
> "Matt" wrote
>
> > I got a DataPlus in a console mount from Oceanic a few years back. Its
> > a good, reliable little computer. Problem with it is that if my regs
> > are in for service (or broken), I have no computer.
> >
> > Therefore, get a wrist mount. The puck style computers can be used
> > with a wrist mount boot.
>
> I use a Data Plus and the Genesis equivalent. One's in a console, the other
> is in a wrist mount. Personally, I don't send my console in when my
> regulators go for service. To the best of my knowledge, there's nothing in
> that console that a technician will service that I can't do for myself. The
> pressure gauge and compass either work or they don't. When they don't, they
> get replaced. The computer is a sealed unit. That leaves inspection of the
> hoses, which is something we all should do pretty routinely.
>
> I use the computer in my console as the primary. The wrist mount unit
> serves as a backup when protecting against failure of a single computer is
> important enough to warrant using two computers, when I want to lend one of
> my other regulators to a visiting nitrox diver (none of my other regulators
> are equipped with nitrox capable computers), or, somewhat more frequent,
> when I chose to use one of the regulators that fits my A clamp tanks.
> Personally, I'd purchase the computer in a console, but think that buying a
> wrist console, even if you don't get a second computer, is worth the
> investment.
>
> I haven't mentioned this in a while, but Oceanic offered, and probably still
> offers, a free simulator for their Data Plus computer. I recommend
> downloading it to anybody that is considering one of these computers or, for
> that matter, for anybody that likes the idea of simulating a dive at home
> before doing it in the water.
>
> Lee