Bottom Timers

Rob Dobson · September 4th, 2006, 03:12 PM

I currently dive with 2 BT's - a Uwatec timer and a Suunto (something or other) in gauge mode.

These don't give time in seconds and waiting for the whole minute to roll over can lead to stops being padded by anything up to 59 secs and a 3m per min ascent rate can be difficult to gauge.

I don't really want to use a watch (cheap as that would be) as the display is small and unlit and suddenly you've got 3 gauges on your wrist. A watch with built in dive computer is more expensive than most gauges but still with the downsides.

At the moment I am still planning my dives and planning for the variations (lost deco etc) and sticking rigidly to those plans, but I can see the advantages of ratio deco (even if only to use as a get your ass out of jail skill).

But again these BT's don't give you average depth (or if they do it's not until until *after* you get out of the water).

The Aladin TEC gives average depth and seconds - but it's 300 quid and I can't work out if you can trigger the point at which it starts to calculate the average depth (i.e at the bottom of the shot) otherwise this data will be based on the descent as well.

The Suunto D3 is half the price but doesn't seem to give average depth and is limited to 99m (not a problem for me right now

).

I have looked at the other main vendors offerings and haven't really seen anything else that might fot the bill. Has anyone got any thoughts on this? Any free diving specialist makes that might have slipped under the Dobbo radar?

Jonathan · September 4th, 2006, 03:16 PM

uwatec BT and "vintage" Timex Ironman with sausage-finger buttons on the front is popular. Still on the lookout for the latter myself - they come up on ebay from time to time.

GLOC · September 4th, 2006, 03:30 PM

Rob,

It is £200 if you follow Clare's link on YD. Average depth, as I can see, is worked out on the fly (excellent post by Peter Steinhoff about this about 3 months ago). For Tech 1 limits 30 mins deco equates to 30mins on a 45m dive. It shouldn't be too hard to do that for square UK wreck dives; reef diving would be much harder I agree.

I have found this to be true but the way you can also think of it, is that it takes 1 min to travel 3m, be that 30 secs at the stop, 30 secs travelling, or 59 secs stopped and 1 sec travelling

Once the first stop has been 'locked in' then things can get easier.

The TEC includes the descent but Clare, in the other post, has said that they are looking at having a 'start' button.

You just want some more shiny stuff...

Rob Dobson · September 4th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jonathan)

uwatec BT and "vintage" Timex Ironman with sausage-finger buttons on the front is popular. Still on the lookout for the latter myself - they come up on ebay from time to time.

The "Vintage" appears to be discontinued and am I right in thinking that it doesn't give depth?

Having just gone through the current Ironman range nothing seems to give depth and time is of little use without it....

**neilh** · September 4th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson)

These don't give time in seconds and waiting for the whole minute to roll over can lead to stops being padded by anything up to 59 secs and a 3m per min ascent rate can be difficult to gauge.

...

But again these BT's don't give you average depth (or if they do it's not until until *after* you get out of the water).

I know what you mean - hence my uwatec BT being up for sale

The Suunto Vytec I have does show the seconds in gauge mode which I really like - but this doesn't have average depth. (It also has a stopwatch mode where the main display can be reset and the minutes/seconds starts from zero whilst the dive time in minutes is still displayed)

Personally average depth isn't something I'm working with in my dives at the moment so I don't find myself wishing it was there. I'm also trying to practice a running average as suggested by Peter elsewhere on here.

I'd be interested to see how this thread progresses, I thought it was just me who wanted a seconds display

Gary K · September 4th, 2006, 03:32 PM

Rob, I'm presuming you know that the Aladin TEC is £199 from http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=11071

MarkT · September 4th, 2006, 03:36 PM

Still not everything you are after, and an expensive solution, but the Vytec, in gauge mode, does I believe give you a stopwatch function showing mins and seconds which you can reset during the dive.

I've not yet dived mine set that way, but I'm sure someone around here can confirm?

Rob Dobson · September 4th, 2006, 03:36 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC)

You just want some more shiny stuff...

Sir, that is a vicious and unforgivable slur on my character

Rob Dobson · September 4th, 2006, 03:39 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by warmwaterdiver)

Rob, I'm presuming you know that the Aladin TEC is £199 from http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=11071

Cheers Gary - oh.... Now that's tempting isn't???

GLOC · September 4th, 2006, 03:39 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson)

Sir, that is a vicious and unforgivable slur on my character

Didn't deny it then

September 4th, 2006, 03:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Bottom Timers I currently dive with 2 BT's - a Uwatec timer and a Suunto (something or other) in gauge mode. These don't give time in seconds and waiting for the whole minute to roll over can lead to stops being padded by anything up to 59 secs and a 3m per min ascent rate can be difficult to gauge. I don't really want to use a watch (cheap as that would be) as the display is small and unlit and suddenly you've got 3 gauges on your wrist. A watch with built in dive computer is more expensive than most gauges but still with the downsides. At the moment I am still planning my dives and planning for the variations (lost deco etc) and sticking rigidly to those plans, but I can see the advantages of ratio deco (even if only to use as a get your ass out of jail skill). But again these BT's don't give you average depth (or if they do it's not until until after you get out of the water). The Aladin TEC gives average depth and seconds - but it's 300 quid and I can't work out if you can trigger the point at which it starts to calculate the average depth (i.e at the bottom of the shot) otherwise this data will be based on the descent as well. The Suunto D3 is half the price but doesn't seem to give average depth and is limited to 99m (not a problem for me right now). I have looked at the other main vendors offerings and haven't really seen anything else that might fot the bill. Has anyone got any thoughts on this? Any free diving specialist makes that might have slipped under the Dobbo radar?

September 4th, 2006, 03:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 2,000	Rob, It is £200 if you follow Clare's link on YD. Average depth, as I can see, is worked out on the fly (excellent post by Peter Steinhoff about this about 3 months ago). For Tech 1 limits 30 mins deco equates to 30mins on a 45m dive. It shouldn't be too hard to do that for square UK wreck dives; reef diving would be much harder I agree. I have found this to be true but the way you can also think of it, is that it takes 1 min to travel 3m, be that 30 secs at the stop, 30 secs travelling, or 59 secs stopped and 1 sec travelling Once the first stop has been 'locked in' then things can get easier. The TEC includes the descent but Clare, in the other post, has said that they are looking at having a 'start' button. You just want some more shiny stuff... __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

September 4th, 2006, 03:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson) These don't give time in seconds and waiting for the whole minute to roll over can lead to stops being padded by anything up to 59 secs and a 3m per min ascent rate can be difficult to gauge. ... But again these BT's don't give you average depth (or if they do it's not until until after you get out of the water). I know what you mean - hence my uwatec BT being up for sale The Suunto Vytec I have does show the seconds in gauge mode which I really like - but this doesn't have average depth. (It also has a stopwatch mode where the main display can be reset and the minutes/seconds starts from zero whilst the dive time in minutes is still displayed) Personally average depth isn't something I'm working with in my dives at the moment so I don't find myself wishing it was there. I'm also trying to practice a running average as suggested by Peter elsewhere on here. I'd be interested to see how this thread progresses, I thought it was just me who wanted a seconds display Last edited by neilh; September 4th, 2006 at 03:46 PM.

September 4th, 2006, 03:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
MarkT(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Aylesbury Posts: 233	Still not everything you are after, and an expensive solution, but the Vytec, in gauge mode, does I believe give you a stopwatch function showing mins and seconds which you can reset during the dive. I've not yet dived mine set that way, but I'm sure someone around here can confirm? Last edited by MarkT; September 4th, 2006 at 03:39 PM.

September 4th, 2006, 03:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
GLOC (Online) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 2,000	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson) Sir, that is a vicious and unforgivable slur on my character Didn't deny it then __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

September 4th, 2006, 03:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jonathan(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 215	uwatec BT and "vintage" Timex Ironman with sausage-finger buttons on the front is popular. Still on the lookout for the latter myself - they come up on ebay from time to time.

September 4th, 2006, 03:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Quote: (Originally Posted by Jonathan) uwatec BT and "vintage" Timex Ironman with sausage-finger buttons on the front is popular. Still on the lookout for the latter myself - they come up on ebay from time to time. The "Vintage" appears to be discontinued and am I right in thinking that it doesn't give depth? Having just gone through the current Ironman range nothing seems to give depth and time is of little use without it....

September 4th, 2006, 03:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gary K(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: . Posts: 72	Rob, I'm presuming you know that the Aladin TEC is £199 from http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=11071

September 4th, 2006, 03:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC) You just want some more shiny stuff... Sir, that is a vicious and unforgivable slur on my character

September 4th, 2006, 03:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 537	Quote: (Originally Posted by warmwaterdiver) Rob, I'm presuming you know that the Aladin TEC is £199 from http://www.deepbluedive.com/product.aspx?id=11071 Cheers Gary - oh.... Now that's tempting isn't???