Dive Watches... Advice?

[Johnnboyblue]

I'm looking to get a dive computer and was looking for some advice. I'm hoping to find one that I could use for both freediving and scuba diving (and training). Does anyone have any advice or recommendations?

 

[deepergreen]

not to mooch of your thread... but I was going to ask somthing similar (I will check the archieves as well but there has got to be new stuff coming out) I am looking for a free dive only basic depth meter.... under 200$ would be nice? Thats the nice thing about freediving right? should always be cheap(er)

I found this one watch for free diving... cheapest so far

Beuchat Mundial Depth Gauge- Spearfishing & Apnea NEW | eBay

 

[deepergreen]

sorry..... i was wrong that wasnt the cheapest.... actually more exspensive , i converted wrong

 

[Shark2307]

I own the Suuntoo D4 and i am happy with it.

It covers SCUBA+Nitrox as well as it has got a very good freediving mode.

As the price isn't anymore as high as it was when it came out i would really recommend it. but there is a good site where you can compare almost all computers. (check the prices again, some of them changend)

APNEA.cz - Freediving Computers

 

[Fondueset]

Aeris F10v2 here. This one shines in part because it works very well for pool training - with a settable activation depth. It also has 3 alarms plus an interval alarm. (Aeris F11 will be out soon - larger face and may have settable sampling interval - also will go to 150m)

 

[trux]

It all depends not only on your budget, but also whether you need an universal comp for scuba and freediving, whether you do just recreational diving or spearfishing, or whether you are a competitive freediver. The options vary greatly depending on your needs. Aeris F.10/F.11 (freediving only) and Uwatec Aladin 2g and Meridian (incl. scuba and nitrox) are the most feature-rich computers, but many of the others on the list at apnea.cz are excellent options too.

Especially the Meridian with a built-in heart-rate monitor interface is very interesting and useful for training, and there is no other comparable computer on the market. It is not available yet, but you can already pre-order it at some resellers (for example at Leisure PRO for $399.95)

 

[azapa]

I would stand by the Aeris F10 too. It is unbeatable for pool work. I dive in a regular 25m pool, 90cm shallow end, 130cm deep end, and if set right it automatically times perfectly all my dives and surface times. Great for reps. with fixed surface time.

To be fair and transparent I did receive this watch free as a sponsor deal/beta tester, but I have used other watches and came from Suunto, and the F10 is genuinely the best.

 

[Fondueset]

Simon - you bought your first one didn't you?

This is a video of Martin Stepanek doing an extremely casual 70m dive which features the new F.11 at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s5lGgu00Qmk

 

[azapa]

Simon - you bought your first one didn't you?

This is a video of Martin Stepanek doing an extremely casual 70m dive which features the new F.11 at the end.

Bottom of the Ocean - Martin Stepanek - YouTube

Yes Fondi, I paid cash dollar for the first one and cable too. The later F10V2 was given to me by Aeris on the condition that I set some national records at Vertical Blue this year

 

[deepergreen]

ya, I cant find one that would be worth it for my price... might just have to save for a few years.... or maybe ill just use this:

Diving Depth Gauge

not such a bad idea... acurate enough :O

 

[Fondueset]

check for oceanic geo and Aeris manta (same thing- different branding) on leisure pro, three of my dive buddies use these and are very happy with them- also keep an eye on f.10s when the F.11 comes out.

As a matter of fact - check this out - both my free diving buddies here have this very gauge and are very happy with it.

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/CategoryID_1985/Context_954/Sort_Relevance/DescSort_0/Filter_brand%3dAeris/Page_1/AERMD.html

 

[Fondueset]

Heres the Geo for a little more - but they are pretty much the same thing.

Oceanic GEO Wrist Computer "Old Style"

Out of stock anyway

Heres the current one - also a good price

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/AERMN.html?&&

Both my friends got theres from leisure pro as well.

 

[Andrew the fish]

I am looking for a free dive only basic depth meter.... under 200$ would be nice?

I bought Casio SPF 60 brand new for 160$ delievered to my door from someone on "ioffer". Battery was dead though, so I paid another 25$ to replace battery by watch repairer. Not much to Casio SPF 60, a little bulky for wristwatch but still bearable and I wear it everyday. Alarm clock, timer, stopwatch, depth, bottom timer, memory for one dive, altimeter, water temperature gauge. Good enough, under 200$, nice screen. Will fully test it in Thailand in about two weeks.

 

[azapa]

On a budget? From what I can see used suunto mosquitos are around US$150. suunto mosquito | eBay

make sure it works well and it would be an excellent freediving watch (even does scuba too). I used one for three years when I started.

Most important thing IMHO is automatic surface interval timer, it will help to keep you safe

 

[Fondueset]

What he said. Surface timer is probably the most important feature.

 

[Fondueset]

If you go to Trux's amazing site you can compare the features of various dive computers.

APNEA.cz - Freediving Computers

The Geo/Manta actually offers much of the functionality of the Freedivng specialized F.10 - a few less alarms - but they do surface intervals.