Posted by Marc Hall on January 04, 2002 at 14:46:03:
In Reply to: Re: Bottom Timer posted by Astro The Dude on January 02, 2002 at 05:12:17:
Bottom Timers
The most common one in use is probably the
Uwatec Digital Bottom Timer which has a retail
of around $150. Mine displays in feet and minutes
but I assume there is metric version available.
It functions well but display runtime in minutes only and their is no way to download its memory into a computer.
The latest Suunto computers/watches have a
gauge mode in which they function as Bottom Timers.
I am currently using a Suunto Stinger which is
a dive computer in a watch which I am quite happy
with. Its small, its low profile and the display
is great. In its Gauge Mode (actually Free Mode)
it displays the dives runtime in minutes and seconds in the center of display in the largest
numerals. At the top it displays depth and at the
bottom it displays water temperature. A download
hardware and software kit is available so you
check the profile of the dive after the dive.
It has some advanced funtions which some of my
buddies use like the ability to toggle to a
seperate stopwatch display which can triggered
at the start of the ascent or at the start of
each deco stop.
The Stinger sells for around $400 to over
$1000 depending on the model (Stainless Steel
or Titanium), strap(rubber, SS, titanium) and
if the download kit is included.
The Suunto Vyper is a larger computer device
that uses the same computer algorithm and a
very similiar user interface but only display
runtimes in minutes.
The Suunto Mosquito is a watch very similiar
to the Stinger but made out of some sortof
carbon-fiber plastic and the Free mode is disabled
for Scuba use (locks up after 5 minutes) but is
significantly less expensive then the Stinger.
Marc Hall
svcfish@yahoo.com