Suunto have long provided divers too with accurate and reliable instrumentation. Suunto compasses have been a standard for underwater navigation for more than forty years. In the 1980's they enhanced their reputation with a line of pressure and depth gauges that took the UK market by storm. And in 1987 they introduced the ultra-compact feature-packed Suunto SME dive computer. The SME took the early electronic dive computer concept and revolutionised it. Almost all of the features we expect on a top-of-the-line personal diving computer today were present on the SME. These included dive planning, dive history recall and multi-dive log. Suunto continued development of the diving computer and the Solution of 1991 introduced the world to pre-dive simulations, allowing the diver to run and rehearse any combination of dive times, depths and surface intervals. Suunto were also the first company to offer an interface to allow divers to log their dive profiles onto their personal computers.
Suunto computers were also chosen by DAN to assist them with collecting decompression data on divers in the field. This important scientific research is used to find ways to make diving safer for all. Suunto have also presented papers on decompression research to organisations such as the American Academy of Underwater Sciences.
Many of Mavericks Diving crew are Suunto users themselves---having made their choices long before we opened the showroom. They are computers we have great confidence in, and back up is second to none. Look through the Suunto range and there's a model to suit every level of recreational diver. Call in and we'll be happy to take the time to discuss with you the Suunto that's best for your needs.
Buying your first computer? Confused? - Click here to read Matt Crowther and Steve Warren's guide to choosing a computer from "Dive International Magazine".
The Gekko uses Bruce Weinke's highly regarded RGBM algorithm to calculate and control your dive profiles.
The Gekko can calculate your dive profiles using normal air. You can also operate with enriched air or Nitrox by programming your Gekko for oxygen levels between 22% and 50%. You can set oxygen partial pressure limits of 1.2 Bar to 1.6 Bar.
The Suunto Gekko is equipped with important safety warnings. There are both visual prompts and audible alarms to bring these to your attention. These include ascent rate indicators, warnings that you are entering decompression or crashing your stop ceiling or exceeding oxygen limits. The Gekko is water activated, so you can't make a dive with it turned off by accident. You can also set your Gekko to bleep when you hit a certain depth or reach a user-chosen dive time limit.
The Gekko has three user-chosen levels for modifying the algorithm to suit you. These let you make the computer progressively more conservative. These can be reassuring if you are expecting to get cold or are older or less fit than you used to be. On most no-stop dives the Gekko will advise that you make a three minute safety stop as an additional safety measure.
The Gekko easily handles stage decompression dives. Total ascent time is displayed, enabling you to see how long it will take you to surface if you follow the recommendations. You are also shown your stop depth. This has a floor and ceiling---it's possible to decompress anywhere within this range. This can let you decompress a little deeper in a swell for comfort or at the shallowest possible depth to minimise your deco time.
Being a Suunto, the Gekko has superb dive planning and dive recall functions. You can simply scroll through your no decompression limits before or between dives or you can run a full simulation. A full simulation lets you drop to any depth, stay as long as you like and ascend directly or make a multi-level ascent. You can clearly see how changing any parameter of your dive plan will change your decompression status. Its also a great way to learn about how your Gekko calculates your dive from moment to moment.
The Gekko logs up to 50 hours of dive time. You can recall your dives as simple maximum depth and bottom time for your logbook or examine each dive profile in detail, seeing your exact depth throughout your time underwater. The Gekko also records the number of dives you have made and the deepest depth ever reached.
The Gekko has a battery which can easily be changed by the owner in the field. This is a feature it's hard to overestimate---ask anyone whose had a computer crash on a liveaboard that needs to be returned to an official service centre or owns a computer they've had to bin as service (i.e. battery changes) is no longer available. To take full advantage of this benefit we'd suggest you carry a spare battery!
The Gekko has easily understood displays to make it easy to quickly and unambiguously know your dive status. A combination of graphics and numerals are combined on the large face. You can customise your displays for imperial or metric. A shield is included to protect the screen from scratches.
And your Gekko even tells the time...
The heart of the Suunto Vyper is its decompression algorithm. This has been developed by Bruce Weinke and uses his highly regarded RGBM.
The Suunto Vyper offers three operational modes. Air is the standard mode. You can also dive Nitrox or enriched air. Finally, there's a gauge mode, which lets you use the Vyper's depth and timing functions to monitor dives made according to tables. This is commonly used for technical diving involving several changes of breathing gases.
Nitrox divers can set oxygen levels between 22% and 50% and oxygen partial pressures of 1.2 to 1.6 bar to suit their own requirements.
The Vyper includes many key safety features. Both visual and audible warning alarms are incorporated. These prompt you if you exceed the Vyper's ascent rate, enter decompression or push acceptable oxygen levels. Because the Vyper is water activated, it automatically turns on as you enter the water, so you cannot accidentally dive with your computer turned off. You can enter your own audible alerts to tell you when you reach a certain depth or time limit and choose from three personal caution levels. These let you dive the computer as standard or set two progressively more conservative modifications to the algorithm. If you aren't as fit as you used to be, carry a little extra body weight, expect to get cold or are making a strenuous dive, then you can opt to back off a little using these settings. The Vyper will also advise you to make a three minute safety stop on most no-decompression dives and will guide you through it automatically.
The Vyper is a full decompression computer. Once you exceed your no-decompression time, the Vyper will calculate your total ascent time and show you how long it will take you to reach the surface including your stops. The first stop depth is shown. On reaching your decompression zone, the Vyper will indicate the floor---the point at which dropping deeper will mean you are no longer decompressing. It will also warn you if you rise above the ceiling, which is a violation. It adds penalty time for this particular sin as a safety measure. You can safely decompress anywhere within the decompression zone. The Vyper assumes for its total ascent time calculation that you will decompress near the ceiling. You can decompress near the zone floor, perhaps because there's a swell and its more comfortable deeper down, or to give yourself a little extra margin for rising a little by accident, but it'll take a little longer. As an added precaution, always a good idea, the Vyper will ask you to make an additional three minute safety stop. Its not compulsory, just a suggestion from the black (or green) box.
Suunto pioneered computer dive planning. The Vyper lets you do basic pre-dive planning by simply scrolling through your no-deco times. For more extensive planning and to help you learn about your Suunto, you can run advanced simulations using the Vyper's push button accessed menus. You can simulate any dive series within the Vyper's limits by choosing depth, times, surface intervals and air or Nitrox mix. This lets you see how tweaking your dive parameters can change things and also lets you examine your contingency options.
The Vyper offers extensive dive recall facilities. Along with basic information such as time and maximum depth of your last dive, you can also examine your exact dive profile in detail. You can see your depth range displayed every few seconds. A neat feature is the option to bookmark points of interest. Simply pressing a button tells the Vyper you want to log a moment in the dive for future reference, such as an archway or propeller for example. Over 30 hours of diving can be memorised by the Vyper. The Vyper also remembers how many dives you have made and the deepest point you've reached.
You can also log your dives onto your PC using an optional kit. Downloading is simple and the software displays your dive profile and lets you comment on your dive. It is also an interesting way to get to understand decompression theory as your nitrogen uptake and outgassing are shown as bar graphs for the different decompression compartments.
The Suunto Vyper has a user changeable battery. You can put in a new battery in the field if needed (provided you have a spare!). This is a really worthwhile feature as so often batteries fail just before a trip (at least thats when you discover the problem) when theres no time to return your computer to an authorized service centre.
The Vyper has a very user friendly screen. Graphics and digital readouts are neatly combined to make clear your exact dive status without ambiguity. The Vyper incorporates a backlight, which is a superb addition for diving at night or in low light levels like overhead environments. You even get to program in how long it stays on for. A protective shield is provided to keep your Vyper's screen from getting scratched.
The Suunto Vyper also has time and date displays.
The Suunto Mosquito can handle normal air diving, nitrox or enriched air mixes and also offers breath hold divers a freediving mode. In nitrox mode you can select oxygen percentages from 22% to 50%. You can choose oxygen partial pressure points of 1.2 to 1.6 bar.
In freediving mode the Mosquito times your breathold dives and surface intervals and logs number of dives per day along with maximum time achieved and greatest depth reached.
The latest decompression research has gone into the Mosquito and Suunto have chosen to use Bruce Weinke's RGBM algorithm for controlling dive profiles.
Safety is always paramount with Suunto equipment and the Mosquito provides many important safety features and user-selected risk management options. Audible prompts and visual alarms are used to warn the diver that he is exceeding the Mosquito's ascent rate, has entered decompression, is broaching safe oxygen levels and to inform of decompression violations. You can also pre-set alarms to tell you when you reach a specific depth or reach a certain dive time. Personal adjustment choices enable the user to choose either a standard dive algorithm or select from two progressively more conservative options. These can help allow for strenuous diving, getting chilled or being a little less fit than you'd like to be, all thought to be factors that can provoke decompression illness. On most no deco dives, the Suunto will also advise that you make a three minute safety stop as a precaution and guide you through completing it.
The Suunto Mosquito easily handles stage decompression dives. On going over the no deco limit, the Mosquito will calculate your total ascent time---the time needed to surface including all stops. It will show you the depth of your first stop. When you reach your decompression zone, the Mosquito will indicate that you have begun decompressing. It will tell you if you inadvertently leave this zone. The zone has a floor---the deepest point at which you are actually off gassing. It also has a ceiling. This is the point you should avoid ascending above, as it means you have violated the decompression rules! Some divers like to decompress nearer the floor if there's a swell as it can be more comfortable. The penalty is you'll need to spend more time there, as you are not off gassing as fast as the Suunto calculates you would nearer the ceiling. Others like to stay near the ceiling, optimising decompression and completing their stops as quickly as the Mosquito will permit. After your final stop is finished, the Mosquito will advise you to make a three minute safety stop it's a recommendation for your increased safety, but not a requirement.
Suunto's reputation as dive computer innovators has in no small part been won by their superb dive planning and dive recall features. Extremely informative, these functions are naturally present on the Mosquito.