Hi, Varolv here, beginner viking freediver. First post. Have been searching for days.
I'm in the process of buying a dive computer/watch for freediving. I do hold a scuba divers license but I've got no intentions of using it, nor buying the equipment for it. (Might go on vecation dives)
So I don't really care if it does or does not have anything else than a free/apnea mode.
I've found 3 watches with a HR monitor. Scubapro Meridian, Omer UP-X1, and Sporasub SP2.
The 2 last mentioned seems to be the exact same watch, I know the inside hardware is the same, and the brands are more or less the same from what I can understand.
The Meridian seems to have a lot of issues, reviews on Amazon is shit. People trying 6 of them and still has problems after a few dives. It just seems its full of minor faults due to poor quality controll or something. Error messages, battery problems etc.
Besides that it seems like a good watch, it even looks quite good. But like I said, it gets minus for problems and for battery replacing. (you loose the warranty if you do it yourself, and its quite expensive to do it the proper way, 55 USD +)
X1 ond SP2.. Ive almost decided already to go for the X1. But since its so new I cant seem to find anything else than a dry review and 2 unboxing videos on youtube.
But I know for sure the sound alarms are too weak. Most people claims its useless and you cant even hear it. Another one said if its quiet and your wearing only a 2.5mm hood its possible to hear it. Anything thicker and you would have to keep an eye on it. And what good is that?
The Suunto D4i Nuvo seems to be the best overall watch for freediving, but it doesn't have the HR monitor.. Which is just too bad since Suunto are already making top quality HR monitors for swimming (I believe, never tested it myself tho). I already wrote to them asking for a HR monitor for the D4i..
And by the way the D4i Seems to have really good audible alarms, you can hear its much louder than the F10 and F11 if you watch the comparison video on youtube.
Anything else I'd like from a watch? Freedive modes seems to be quite good overall with the most necessary information, but good sound alarms, vibration alarms maybe? HR logging? Computer transfer.
All of the mentioned computers offers computer transfer by the way. The X1 seems to also track your HR, but I'm not sure to what degree..
Right now I feel like I will get the best quality watch if I go for the D4i. But I'd really like a HR monitor simply because I will know if my training is helping at lowering resting heart rate. And if my MDR is kicking in and just how much it lowers my heart rate.
Also like someone mentioned before you will have a good indication of when something is wrong. If it drops or peaks.. Or if your breakfast might have been to much to handle? Are you having a bad day?
For now it seems the only possible solution would be to buy both. Im leaning towards the X1.. I think.. bah.
Any suggestions/news/reviews or opinions would be much appreciated!
Best regards
Varolv
I'm in the process of buying a dive computer/watch for freediving. I do hold a scuba divers license but I've got no intentions of using it, nor buying the equipment for it. (Might go on vecation dives)
So I don't really care if it does or does not have anything else than a free/apnea mode.
I've found 3 watches with a HR monitor. Scubapro Meridian, Omer UP-X1, and Sporasub SP2.
The 2 last mentioned seems to be the exact same watch, I know the inside hardware is the same, and the brands are more or less the same from what I can understand.
The Meridian seems to have a lot of issues, reviews on Amazon is shit. People trying 6 of them and still has problems after a few dives. It just seems its full of minor faults due to poor quality controll or something. Error messages, battery problems etc.
Besides that it seems like a good watch, it even looks quite good. But like I said, it gets minus for problems and for battery replacing. (you loose the warranty if you do it yourself, and its quite expensive to do it the proper way, 55 USD +)
X1 ond SP2.. Ive almost decided already to go for the X1. But since its so new I cant seem to find anything else than a dry review and 2 unboxing videos on youtube.
But I know for sure the sound alarms are too weak. Most people claims its useless and you cant even hear it. Another one said if its quiet and your wearing only a 2.5mm hood its possible to hear it. Anything thicker and you would have to keep an eye on it. And what good is that?
The Suunto D4i Nuvo seems to be the best overall watch for freediving, but it doesn't have the HR monitor.. Which is just too bad since Suunto are already making top quality HR monitors for swimming (I believe, never tested it myself tho). I already wrote to them asking for a HR monitor for the D4i..
And by the way the D4i Seems to have really good audible alarms, you can hear its much louder than the F10 and F11 if you watch the comparison video on youtube.
Anything else I'd like from a watch? Freedive modes seems to be quite good overall with the most necessary information, but good sound alarms, vibration alarms maybe? HR logging? Computer transfer.
All of the mentioned computers offers computer transfer by the way. The X1 seems to also track your HR, but I'm not sure to what degree..
Right now I feel like I will get the best quality watch if I go for the D4i. But I'd really like a HR monitor simply because I will know if my training is helping at lowering resting heart rate. And if my MDR is kicking in and just how much it lowers my heart rate.
Also like someone mentioned before you will have a good indication of when something is wrong. If it drops or peaks.. Or if your breakfast might have been to much to handle? Are you having a bad day?
For now it seems the only possible solution would be to buy both. Im leaning towards the X1.. I think.. bah.
Any suggestions/news/reviews or opinions would be much appreciated!
Best regards
Varolv