Opinion on Mares M2 Nitrox

[Creed]

Has anyone had direct experience with the Mares M2 Nitrox? I've heard a couple of comments that worry me, such as that the data download doesn't work or that it is hard to read and operate. Is this in line with most peoples' experiences? Thanks.

[Ryanh1801]

I have it, but have only had a chance to use it a few times. My main complaints about it, are the manual is very hard to read through and not very informative. The buttons are very hard to press, you have to hit them just right. Besides that im happy with it. The display is easy to read, and does everything it is suppose to do.

[SarahBella]

So far I have only pool dives with mine-works well. I found the buttons hard to push while dry...once under water they seemed easier. The reasons I wanted the M2 are it was a wrist computer, did NitrOx, and was under $200. It has just as many functions as the other comps but costs a lot less. Sorry I have no experience with the downloading to a pc.

[rfreddo]

There is a good discussion of the M2 on one of the other threads. Here's what I posted, and with a bunch more dives on the M2 it's still accurate from my perspective:



As far as function, the console mount and wrist mount computers are identical to the best of my knowledge. I've used mine on about 15 dives. Here's my list of pros and cons:

Pros:

- Very simple display; uncluttered and limited to critical info
- Always-on backlighting, if desired
- User changeable batteries

Cons:

- Always the most conservative computer in the group
- Calls for safety stops at 15' with little margin for wiggle room (if there is a variance of even a foot or 2 between my computer and my buddies, which is not uncommon, my computer doesn't like us to hang at the same depth. It wants me at 15'. Period)
- Buttons a bit tough to press, especially with gloves
- Not the most intuitive page scrolling, but after a few dives, it becomes second nature.
- If you ascend to within 3 feet of the surface, you only have 3 minutes to head back down or it calls the dive and starts logging a new dive.
- No clock feature on main display screen.
- User's manual needs to be re-translated from the original Italian text.

SO . . . more negatives than positives from a pure objective view. But, substantively, the pros outweigh the negatives for my style of diving. I like the M2 and I'm glad I purchased it as a first, non-budget-breaking computer.

Hope this helps.

[MLenyo]

is the display large and easy to read? also, does it log water temp?

[rawalker]

Yes the display is easy to read! And if my memory is correct it does log temperature. The download adapter uses an USB infrared LED/optical sensor for data transfer to a PC. It does require lining up the adapter over the back of the dive computer properly and may require a couple of tries to get it right. It does however work and has no terminals to corrode or leak. I really liked it but have since upgraded to a Oceanic VT3 hoseless air integrated.

[rfreddo]

I will second that the display is easy to read, and confirm that the M2 does log temperature.

[CODMAN]

And to add to this, apparently setting up the software for the IR interface can be a bit tricky. But once set up properly, works very well.

I'm very satisfied with my M2. Does everything it's supposed to do for a great price.

[diver-wife]

Originally Posted by rfreddo

- Always the most conservative computer in the group
- Calls for safety stops at 15' with little margin for wiggle room (if there is a variance of even a foot or 2 between my computer and my buddies, which is not uncommon, my computer doesn't like us to hang at the same depth. It wants me at 15'. Period)
.

Hope this helps.

I have not noticed the conservative factor

the 15 ft thing is kinda annoying, my safety stop lasted 5 minutes the first time, and my dive buddy kept looking at me weird when I told him I had 1 more minute remaining.

[rawalker]

It uses the RGBM model and that is known as a conservative model.