Oceanic Geo vs. Suunto D3

[demasoni]

Has anyone tried the new Oceanic Geo freedive/gauge computer? Has anyone compared it specifically to the D3?

Some things I noticed about the Geo:

-- 3 max depth alarms (not sure if they can be set sequentially)
-- 10 sec long alarm beep (which can be turned off early)
-- alarm can be set with flashing LED (what if you have your eyes closed?)
-- 1 sec depth sampling rate
-- nitrox mode with nitrogen tissue loading indicator
-- comes in a non-diving stylish titanium color

I'm sure I missed some other features that would be of use for freedivers, so please share if you have a GEO.

The price for the GEO on leisurepro.com is $399 vs. $269 for the D3, so yes, its more expensive too.

[Waterenthusiast]

Hi demasoni,
I think one of my dive buddys has the Oceanic GEO, it defenitly looks like it. I have the D3 so i will try to compare them maybe next tuesday if he has time for training . So far he was very satisfied with it, but did not test it on deep dives i think.
Christophe

[Sergiu]

i checked the specs of the Oceanic Geo and, at first glance, i'm impressed! It would be the first REAL Scuba and Freediving Computer in-one-instrument with proper dive analysis for both modes. Yes, i know about Stinger or Mosquito but those seem to be designed by a scuba diver with a touch of curiousity for freediving but never got to or didnt have time to fully integrate into them a proper freediving mode.

Any reviews both from scuba and freedivers alike will be much appreciated!

Serge

[fogish]

Wasn't Eric Fattah's Liquivision X1 (maybe the F1?) the first freedive and scuba computer in one? Granted I can't afford one but I would really like to test one out.

[Scorp]

i checked the specs of the Oceanic Geo and, at first glance, i'm impressed! It would be the first REAL Scuba and Freediving Computer in-one-instrument with proper dive analysis for both modes.

Hi Serge,
don't forget the cressi EDY, it has all these features too. I recently had to decide wether to buy the EDY or the D3 for myself and eventually went for the D3, the only reason beeing the styling of the display, which I like more in the D3. Nevertheless, I think the EDY should be a very good instrument, and if I had to find a computer which can do scuba AND freediving, I would definitely take it into account.

Cheers,
Ivo

[Sergiu]

Originally Posted by fogish

Wasn't Eric Fattah's Liquivision X1 (maybe the F1?) the first freedive and scuba computer in one? Granted I can't afford one but I would really like to test one out.

You are refering to F1, the first real deal freediving computer - i am lucky to have one! But it does not have scuba diving specs, no algoritm but it can be used as secondary gauge... that's my problemos now as I scuba diving Vyper Suunto went to sleep and I have a top of the range freediving computer (which i use rarely) and no scuba diving computer, looks like i will trade or sell my F1 to get something that can be used for both.

Serge

[Sergiu]

Originally Posted by Scorp

Hi Serge,
don't forget the cressi EDY, it has all these features too. I recently had to decide wether to buy the EDY or the D3 for myself and eventually went for the D3, the only reason beeing the styling of the display, which I like more in the D3. Nevertheless, I think the EDY should be a very good instrument, and if I had to find a computer which can do scuba AND freediving, I would definitely take it into account.

Cheers,
Ivo

Thanks Ivo, i admit no knowing about EDY, it's a new addon to their line up of instruments and from what i read on its specs, it's a really nice piece of device. worth hearing from anybody in the freediving "guild" how it performs in freediving mode.

So now we have two new entries, Oceanic GEO and Cressi EDY! anybody, a review?

serge
Serge

[DeepRN]

Hey guys. I have an Oceanic Geo. Alas, I'm at work & cannot give any feedback right now. I will write again in the morning (tuesday).

[Sergiu]

Originally Posted by DeepRN

Hey guys. I have an Oceanic Geo. Alas, I'm at work & cannot give any feedback right now. I will write again in the morning (tuesday).

Hey Man,

was the last message just a teaser? bring it up, let the crowd know how's Mr. Geo doing down there

Thanks

serge

[DeepRN]

Alright, I'm back with some additional input:

First off let me say that the Oceanic Geo is also being sold as the Aeris Manta. It's the Manta that I've purchased; but they are the same computer.

We bought a couple Mantas/Geo's from DiveTank here on the west coast of Canada. Dennis at Divetank gave us a price of $359USD. They provide 5yr service/replacement and will ship batteries for free, when requested.

The computer looks/wears well. I wear it as my daily watch. The display is easy to read and uncluttered. There are many options available in this computer, but a little tinkering and I've come to the conclusion that the four buttons are used in a relatively easy predictable pattern for accessing modes/menus. Actually it's primarily three buttons used. The fourth being the backlight. Options from most watches are present as well (countdown timers, cronograph, alarm etc)

Some notes on it: 10m/30ft is the shallowest selection for the user-defined depth alarms in FREE mode. The wet-activation is nice, but only available for NORM/GUAGE modes, not FREE mode. In addition to alarming, the display will show a word describing the event that is happening (ie. SLOW when ascending too fast in NORM mode) The red LED light (see link to video at bottom) which flashes with any alarm is a nice attempt at making alarms more noticeable. However, like many other dive computers, the Geo's alarm could be louder. There have been a few times that I didn't notice the depth alarm sounding. The one-second sampling is nice. Once back on the surface, surface interval now counting, info from the dive just completed is reviewable with the press of one button. There is also an alarm in FREE mode which will alarm at a predetermined TIME interval, both surface and during a dive. Could be good for training. Automatic/manually adjusted elevations is nice. Although I've not needed to attempt it yet, the user-replaceable battery (available at most retailers and good for a couple years of normal usage) is a nice addition (see pic). The PC cable is needed to download info from dives made in FREE mode, for displaying/graphing. All settings on the computer can be adjusted via computer this way as well.

After diving a few times with it, I became concerned that the computer was not storing info from dives made in FREE mode! The service at DiveTank could be better. I had a difficult time getting any additional information on the computer through them regarding this concern. They did however, provide me with a toll-free number for Oceanic. Rick, at Oceanic, was kind enough to review the detailed email I had sent displaying pics of the watch, with descriptions, and replied very promptly. I learned that the Manta/Geo store information from dives made in FREE mode to 512kb of downloadable memory! I was happy to hear this. Rick was also kinda enough to ship me a (free) PC cable! <---- great service! All details from the most immediate 24 dives made in NORM/GUAGE modes are stored in the computers LOG, and transfer into the history (9999 dives).

Thoughts: A nice loud alarm is a good thing. I'd trust Eric when he says that some computers are better than others. This is about the only downside thus far for this computer. The red LED light is a nice effort at a secondary method of notification. As an all-in-one it will definately do the job, so final choices may come down to accessability to various products, final prices etc.

Lastly, this computer continues to track tissue loading/unloading even while in FREE mode, ***BUT, the manual DOES state that even though this function is occurring in both modes, it will not account for competitive freedive depths***

Here are a few pics, and one little video of the LED light.

hmm... i'm not sure why, but i cannot upload a pic of the watch in FREE mode.

just a quick note: the last pic is of the present day/time (in 24 hr clock) with the month/day on the bottom.


http://www.mediamax.com/deeprn/Hosted/manta%20alarm.wmv

[demasoni]

Thanks for the great review DeepRN.

I've read it has 3 depth alarms. Can they be sent sequentially to 3 different depths like 10, 20, and 30 meters and go off on the same dive?

Also, can the number of beeps on the alarm be adjusted?

Mahalo.

[Sergiu]

Thanks a lot for the review!

One clarification about wet activation, it starts only when in scuba, gauge modes but not in freedive mode? what do you do when you start a freedive session? also what is the delay time (in freedive mode) when the data starts recording, when starting a dive? starts right away from surface or it has some 1-3 sec delays?

thanks a lot

serge

[DeepRN]

Demasoni: Yep, the three alarms are independently set. Once you set alarm one, alarm 2 must be setter deeper than 1 etc. The alarms is three short beeps (not adjustable), as opposed to what you saw in the video. They will all activate on a single dive. If you want fewer alarms, you turn off the prior 1 or 2 (for example, if you want only one depth alarm at 30m, you set alarm three for 30m and deactivate the previous two alarms.

Sergiu: To use FREE mode, you simply hold down the upper left button, and at two second intervals, the watch cycles through it's modes, NORM, GUAGE, FREE. Let go at FREE and you're there. The watch will stay in FREE SURF (surface) mode for something like 30 minutes, waiting for diving; at which point if no dives are being recorded, it will swith back to TIME. The watch begins to monitor/display your freedive (or any dive) once you reach 5 ft. So putsing around on the surface will only read as your surface interval.

[DeepRN]

Wanted to jump in one last time. I recieved the PC cable for the Manta today. The info from dives in FREE mode downloads beautifully to the PC. Each second of sampled info is viewable and each dive is graphed. Info from dives in all modes is similarly stored, downloaded, displayed etc. Add a little more info and you've got a nicely kept dive log. I'm very pleased overall.

[Sergiu]

sounds like a great buy! i will definitely look into it and try to be Suunto UNbiassed!

serge