I know Suunto is conservative... but...

[swinchen]

Are there computers out there that come to close to the features and specs of the Suunto D9? It seems so sexy, and it is just a bit (few hundred) more than a good console w/ AI w/ Compass w/ Quick disconnect.


Also I was noticing that there is a way to reduce how conservative the D9 is. Like all other things, I would hate to buy something so expensive and then regret it.

Thanks,
Sam

[jtkkym]

I don't have D9 but I use Cobra (Same algorithm). I've never had an issue with Suunto being conservative. I have not compared with other manufacture myself but I heard Suunto may cut a few minuets of your dive time.

[Osprey]

Personally, I'd rather be conservative than push any limits

But I also REALLY REALLY enjoy spending time topside as well, so maybe it's just me making excuses to go hiking

[FyVe]

from my research, both on and off these boards, people seem extremely happy with the Oceanic Atom 2.0. it give you AI and all the other good features, minus the compass that the D9 has.

[terrillja]

I'd rather have a more liberal computer and then decide where to call it using the computer.

I can't comment on suunto, but if you have a computer with is very conservative, and you decide to push it, the computer can lock up. Oceanic's (liberal) computers do, at which point you either dive on a locked up computer, and are not safe, or you leave it topside, where it does not account for the dives you do while it's topside.

I'd much rather have a liberal computer that allows me to see where I am than a conservative one which locks up, not allowing me to see where the loading is.

[terrillja]

FWIW, I've never known anyone who locked up an Oceanic computer, since they are rather liberal.

[CompuDude]

Suunto's have an option to make them MORE conservative, but not less.

Yikes.

[fireflock]

Some Suunto's, like the Vytec, have an option to make them less conservative. Suunto calls it going from RGBM 100 to RGBM 50. If you do that, you get a little ! inside of a triangle on your screen to let you know that you're living on the edge.

I know the Vytec has this option, and I think some of the other top end Suunto's do too.

I keep my Vytec on RGBM 50, and it's still more conservative than a Pelagic (aeris/oceanic).

If you think you might regret buying an expensive Suunto, one strategy is to beg/borrow/buy used a Gecko or Vyper and dive with that for a while. It won't have all the wiz bang features of the top end models, but it will help you to know more about the algorithm.

Rich

[BouzoukiJoe]

The Cobra 2 at least has the 50% RGBM option to make it less conservative. It also has personal and altitude adjustments to make it more conservative. I pretty sure all of Suunto's newer computers are this way.

If you exceed its limits it will go into gauge mode for awhile. I've never even come close to doing that. I did accidentally dive in a pool with it set to gauge mode and it would not let me take it out of gauge mode for 48 hrs. I had to do a 'manual reset' by removing the battery so I could dive with the computer feature.

[CompuDude]

I'm not sure I'd fully agree with calling 50% RGBM "less conservative", but ok.

I think you'll find their "50% RGBM" mode is still going to be noticeably more conservative than ScubaPro or Oceanic, if you bring one of each onto a liveaboard.