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Suunto D6 for freediving

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Justin, your comparison between d3 and d6 in freediving modes was very useful for me. Could you or someone else do the same between d3 and the Stinger? Is the Stinger free/gauge mode the same as that of d6. Also, I've came upon the following line in the Stinger description:
"After 5 minutes of continuous diving in the Free mode, it automatically switches to Gauge mode."? What exactly is different after the 5th minute?
 
Sea wolf,

what you want is likely a computer in "free mode" rather then the "gauge mode". D3 and Stinger have the free mode and from what i understand from Justin (bring it to Dahab next week Justin!) D6 is gauge only.

The main difference is, if i take my Suunto Vyper as benchmark - in gauge mode the computer will still "think" as a scuba instrument (aka not a "free" thinking :) ) That is a problem as my suunto gives me warnings every time i ascent too fast and one always does it faster in freediving than the normal rate in scuba diving. The computer does not block but i logg some 48 to 72 hours of "no fly" time after a session of freediving as my computer thinks i went nuts shooting up and down on scuba... In free mode, basically there is no algoritm other than recording the necessary parameters such as depth, time, surface time, temperature.

I assume Stinger is programmed to switch from free to gauge after 5 minutes "assuming" nobody does apnea longer than that and if this time is exceeded the mostl likely case is that the person is in fact scuba diving and forgot to switch it to gauge. So, the computer does it for you!

serge
 
If you stay underwater on a freedive for more than 5 minutes, the Stinger switches into gauge mode while you're still underwater -- it happened to me when I used to have one, very annoying!
 
Ben, that's an interesting dive profile! rofl

So you went to 145m in about 8 seconds, decided to do a bit of static, saw something interesting above you at 110m, went to have a look, then decided to go back to 145m for more static, then a fast and furious trip almost to the surface in 5 seconds, then you stopped at 5m and did a bit of recreational diving, then a slow and leisurely return to the surface! Are you sure you didn't lend your D3 to a whale?

I'd like some hints on equalisation technique and choice of fins, 140m in 5 seconds is not bad!
 
efattah said:
If you stay underwater on a freedive for more than 5 minutes, the Stinger switches into gauge mode while you're still underwater -- it happened to me when I used to have one, very annoying!

I do not know Stinger, but at Mosquito you can avoid the automatic switching by disabling the modes you do not plan to use in the SET menu. I did not try it with the 5 min limit at the free mode and I doubt it will ever concern me (additionally I am not sure if it applies for Mosquito too), but I routinely disable all modes I do not use when freediving (Air, Nitrox), not only to avoid the automatism, but also to make switching faster (I do not need to toggle trough all the modes, when I need to change a mode).

Also, when training just in the pool, I switch off also the "free" mode, to avoid that the Mosquito turns automatically from stopwatch into the free mode when I put my hand below 0.5m - although I can turn it back, it may be very annoying and stressful if you suddenly have to play with the clock to get it show what you need when you are making tables with very short breathup. When you disable all - Air, Nitrox and Free, it won't happen though. I was quite upset with the automatic switching before I realized I can easily avoid it, but since then I am quite happy with.
 
I've had a Mosquito for quite a few years. I bought it because I thought I might occasionally revert to blowing bubbles (which hasn't happened).

I would certainly prefer to buy Eric's beautiful piece, and I hope to do so in the medium term.

However I've found the Mosquito to be fantastic for both spearfishing and freediving. I would have logged over 250 breathold diving sessions with it, maybe 8 scuba dives, plus I've been using it for pool sessions (timing statics in stop watch mode etc) more recently.

Only noticible downside is the 2 sec interval, and like the other Suunto products, an alarm that is basically useless at depth unless you tape it to your head.
 
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This is going to be a bit of a baseless review but I will do it anyways.

At the end of the day, even though I have had no issues with any of my Suunto computers including my D3, I will still be buying myself one of those bad ass F1 dive assistants next time I am in Canada. I tried to buy one in the spring but none were available. I have never seen one in person, but after reading all about them, I can't see them disapointing.

This fall when I will be back in BC, I will definatly be trying to get one again. I will be glad to keep everyone posted about how wonderfull this piece is sure to be, if there are any left!
 
Hey Eric, how is the chance that the F1 software ever comes with a deco algorithm?
 
The newer Stingers don't switch after 5 mins - my old one did but current one does not

At the moment, I dive and freedive with a D9 which is great. It doesn't offer quite the display you need on the surface when freediving (surface interval although you can look back by scrolling, or dive time, ditto) but the 1 second sampling and extreme ease of uploading the dive onto the PC overcomes that for me.

Most interesting thing last week was seeing exactly where all the thermoclines are in the lake - my temperature graph the upload looked like a set of steps!


D6 has same freedive/gauge mode as the D9 as far as I know.

I know a load of people who have had problems with D3s - plus I just don't like the plasticky look of them - nothing plastic lasts 5 minutes in my hands.... the D9 is titanium and fantastically light.
S
 
Funny how you think the D9 is fantastically light and I passed on it and bought the D6 because I thought D9 was almost a brick! Much thicker then the the D6 and heavier as well.

The D3 has the 1 second sampling and the easy upload to the pc as well, not sure about the diference there. It also does the temp graph, it just depends what software your using...

Also did you know there is another recall on the D6 & D9? Software issues...

I think the lesson to be had here is buy a F1, you won't regret it.
 
well if the F1 did scuba I'd think about it..... as it is I need something that does both - and different gas mixes.

yup my D9 has been recalled but all they do is plug in and reboot with some new software... its booked in for treatment : )

D9 is a LOAD lighter than the Stinger!!
 
Hey everyone,

Just a quick question: Anyone know of a simple (minimum functions), depth gauge that can be used purely for freediving. I'm talking just depth gauge, stopwatch and time - that kind of set-up??

Right now, I'm not too keen to cough up a lot of money for a full-blown freedive computer, but I am keen to record my diving depths!
 
Most bottom timers (depth and elapsed time) are not a whole lot less expensive then a Sunnto D3.
 
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