Donnie Ridgeway

I would look for a computer with these features (in order):

1.  Most Important!  It should be easy to use underwater.  It should have only the information you need, nothing distracting or confusing.  It should be intuitive in its use.  You should be able to pick it up and figure out how to use it (at least the functions you will use while underwater) without reading the manual.  (That does not mean you shouldn't read it.)  Remember that we are all stupid under water.

2.  It should turn itself on when you enter the water.  Some of us are forgetful on the surface too.

3.  It should have a display with large, easy to read, numbers.

4.  It should have nitrox capability.  Even if you are not nitrox certified, chances are that you will be one day if you continue to dive.

5.  It should not include an electronic SPG.  Your gas supply is too important a piece of information to trust to an electronic device under sea water.  Analog gauges almost never fail, don't need batteries and will work even when flooded.

6.  It should be wrist mounted.  It is easier to read there, you won't have to buy a whole new console if one of its components fails and it won't dangle and drag on the bottom.

Donnie Ridgeway

Duane A. Johnson

www.chicagoexplorers.com

Duane A. Johnson

www.chicagoexplorers.com

J Couston

Duane A. Johnson

www.chicagoexplorers.com

I use a wrist type BT  & computer,

 That said Sherwood  makes some nice and easy to read units, like React,Wisdom, If you buy and plan some day to upgrade get a Nitrox capable unit, not too much more.

Off Topic

  OBTW Helium will kill you deader faster than old O-2 just ask Hal! both gases have a plus and Minus I just cant see paying the price of a charter to say I dive tri-mix & yes some dudes  minds fog up at a 100FSW or deeper and others not! Our group of deep air divers do it and have safe and fun dives=We must just be pros at task loading under the influence! but we do know medical complication that can arise from multiple deep air dives and do limit this. 

Brad I

Duane A. Johnson

www.chicagoexplorers.com

The original question asked on this thread was "I'm a newbie and thinking about getting a computer. What is a good starter computer?

It is not about trimex, bone necrosis, commercial diving etc.  Granted, different computers handle different mixes....but again...the question was from "a newbie".

There are a lot of good computers that would be a good fit for you that will also handle nitron ("enrich air") in case you decide to go that route.  I would suggest getting one that handles air and enrich air.  You need to decide if you want air intigrated, hose or hoseless.  Go in to your local dive shop and talk to the instructors there.  They can help you.

Thrilled to be diving!!! 

There is nothing wrong with diving with older gear as long as it is in good shape.  I have several Sherwood regulators that are at least6 fifteen years old.  I also have a dive computer, the Skinny Dipper, that was made by Orca.  Orca was the original manufacturer of electronic dive computers.  My Skinny Dipper is probably well over twenty years old and still works fine.  I don't use it anymore because I prefer the smaller configuration of more modern computers.  When doing technical dives I use an electronic bottom timer but for recreational dives I use my ten-year-old Aladin.  The Aladin, incidentally, is programmed for nitrox in 2% increments.  Since I always mix to 2% incements anyway, O2 is only conveniently measureable to a precision of 1% and a 1% difference does not make a real difference to a diver's deco schedule this has never bothered me.

One of the problems with recommending a specific model dive computer is that models change rapidly as manufacturers and distributers try to find their marketing nitch.  Seemingly small changes are being made all the time.  Also, a very small number of OEM's are making computers for many different Brand Names.  Sometimes identical computers are being sold under different names; sometimes there are small differences.  It is very hard to keep up.

Dive safe,

Captain Dale Bennett

Charter Captain & Instructor Trainer

Open Water through Advanced Trimix

if you look at cochrans web sight it is www.divecochran.com/shopping

you can find all levals of dive computers

as they make only dive computers and are made in the usa

hope this helps

Gordon

gordon messinger

Depending on your age and eye sight, I have the Mares Nemo Wide,
the large display is excellent for older divers or if you wear correcting lenses, and it's not over teckie, just a nice recreational dive computer for most divers and affordable. (cost about $500.00)

To Error on the side of Safety,
is to Live and Dive Again.