Scuba Dive Computer information

I am looking to purchase my first dive computer and I am having a little trouble sorting through the seemingly endless assortment that is available. I am looking for one that has the ability to be hooked up to my computer (mac compatible) and upload all the information about depth, air consumption, time, etc to something like an electronic log book so I can save all the information from my dives. If possible I would like it to have a program with it for me to enter in information about the dives it uploads information about like location, what I saw, etc. Thanks for any info!

There are a few options. The first thing that you will find is computers are priced all over the place. For ones that have the features you are looking for, you will be paying a bit more. The main reason is you will need one with "Air Intergration" in order to do anything with air consumtion. ---- But these can sometimes be very handy underwater as well. Most can on the fly calculate how many minutes of gas / safe time is left in your tank. There are 2 types of air intergrated computers. Wireless and regular. The regular will have a hose and will replace your spg. The wireless kind will have a knob sized transmitter that screws into a high pressure port. (where your spg is now) and transmit to a wrist mounted computer. This kind is more expensive than the regular. The other thing is whether or not you are nitrox certified today, i'd recommend getting a nitrox computer. They can do air or nitrox / so if you decide to go nitrox later you will have the right equip. If you are looking for a good AI (air intergrated) computer, the Sherwood Wisdom II is a very good computer. Aris and Scuba Pro make decent wireless computers. Look online as well as your LDS for computers because the prices on the same model could be very different. Good luck...

The new Puck series computer from Mares is perfect for those in need of pure ease. A full function RGBM dive computer with larger digits for easy reading and backlight on demand. The Mares Puck Dive Computer has a single button with easy access to smoothly scroll through the menu options. Also available in 2 gauge (style 414420) and 3 gauge (style 414421) consoles. Features: RGBM (Reduced Gradient Bubble Model)-algorithm Full Function Air/Nitrox Dive Computer Precautionary Program Settings Nitrox Programmable (21-50%) Ascent rate indicator Diver-replaceable batteries Fresh and salt water Powerful backlight Air/Nitrox/Bottom timer modes Nitrogen bar graph Audible alarms Temperature Display Automatic Altitude Adjustable DEPTH: 492 feet Computer user changeable Imperial/Metric Dive Log: 38 hours/50 dives View our full selection of Dive Computers

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I am looking at these watches below. http://www.mydivewatch.com/cit-jv0030-01e.html http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-17/009220/Aeris-Manta-Air-Nitrox-Computer-Watch.html#Reviews http://www.divers-supply.com/Oceanic-Geo-20-Computer-PDC-P6570.aspx http://www.scuba.com/scuba-gear-17/009241/TUSA-IQ-900-Zen-Air-Nitrox-Computer.html http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/citizen-aqualand-20th-anniversary-dive-watch/ http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/JDA/PROD/watch/EDY

OK, so you've got two different technologies together here: dive watches and dive computers. You've listed the Citizen Aqualand 20th anniversary watch twice. This appears to be a fairly high function dive watch/bottom timer which includes a digital depth display, a logbook function, a thermometer, and water activation. However, it still remains only a dive watch, so basically all it does is help you accurately record time & depth. It does nothing to help you with dive planning or calculate remaining bottom time during the dive. Given its price and that you are considering full function dive computers as well, this seems far outclassed by the other choices. I'm not sure why you are even considering it with the others. Both Aeris and Oceanic brands are produced by the same company, Pelagic Pressure Systems, and some of their computers are simply the same product in a different package. For example, the Oceanic Atom 2.0 and the Aeris Epic computers are essentially the same computer, as are the Oceanic VT3 and Aeris elite T3.. Our shop carries Aeris computers and I own a couple of them myself so I have experience with Aeris, but not with Oceanic. However, I would expect other elements such as ease-of-use, quality, and service to be very similar between the two brands. I had expected the Geo 2.0 and the Manta to be the same computer but they are not; the specs on each brand's website show that the base Geo is the analog of the Manta while the Geo 2.0 offers additional features that would be attractive to someone who intends to move from recreational diving into tech diving. For example, the Geo 2.0 supports switching between two different gas mixtures and allows the user to choose between two different decompression models (DSAT or Buhlmann ZHL-16). Especially given that you show them listed for the same price, the Geo 2.0 seems a better choice - even if you don't care about the additional features right now, you might find them useful in the future. The only concern I have with Aeris, and so by extension probably with Oceanic, is that they don't have the best quality track record in my experience. I know of several instances personally where a computer has malfunctioned (including my own) and had to be sent in for repair/replacement. On the other side of the coin, I find Aeris computers generally easy to use and have the right features for the diving that I do so as a whole I still recommend them. I don't have any personal experience with Cressi or Tusa computers so I can only go by the manufacturer's spec sheets and the prices on your links. From that comparison, it looks like the Tusa IQ-900 Zen offers function that compares to the Oceanic Geo 2.0 while the Cressie EDY is more closely related to the Aeris Manta. The main difference that I see between the Geo 2.0 and the IQ-900 Zen is that the Geo allows the user a choice of two decompression models while the Tusa uses ZHL-16 only. With no other experience with Tusa and so only using price as a comparison, the Tusa seems to offer similar function at a cheaper price and so MAYBE is a slightly better choice. Much depends on unknowns in areas like ease of use, quality, and service. Have you tried looking for any similar products available through local dive shops? Much can be said for having someone "in your corner" if you have issues with the whichever product you choose. The only site that you listed here that includes a manufacturer's warranty is scuba.com because they are an authorized dealer for what they sell, but even so you're kind of on your own to get it sent in. Having someone local you can turn to for assistance can be valuable. That's all I can offer for advice, hope it is useful. Good luck on your choice.

He lives in Maine. Likes his alone time. Likes to play on his computer. Likes to Scuba Dive. Is single. Has 2 dogs. Every year I ask him what he wants and he says nothing (and no amount of prodding will get information). Then he complains about the gift even if it's a gift card....I am at total loss and want to get him a great gift 'cause I love my big brother.

Here's something creative that will be appreciated and you will have fun doing: Make up a crossword puzzle and have all the hints be personal inside moments and jokes that only you two and family would know, about especially childhood memories. Put it on a poster board and add some clipart and some pictures to it! The crossword puzzle could be time consuming and a bit frustrating ... you could do the same idea with a WORDSEARCH or WORDFIND puzzle. Put your computer skills to work! Use Excel, get clipart from Yahoo Images Search, copy them, and reformat them, use a gluestick to put on posterboard. Use graph paper, and pictures from magazines if you are not as good on the computer, and it will give it a homemade feeling.

I am buying equipment for the first time and I am not sure which items are better to buy compared to others. For BC vests I am pretty sure I would like to buy the pearl model by aqualung but I don't know what the pros and cons for the i3 would be, I have never used that system before. For regulators I am looking at the Mikron and the titan LX supreme. For dive computers I am looking at Gekko and Vyper, also I do not know whats better a 2 gauge unit or a wrist mounted one. Any input or information about personal experience with one of these products would be a great help since I am new at this. Thanks!!!

A Mikron like this one works great for me http://bit.ly/7aaL9 . Oceanic makes a good dive computer and has big readouts.Personally i perfer the wrist mounted unit.