Northwest Dive Club

My trusty old UWATEC is finally crapping out on me and I have decided to bite the bullet and buy one of three possibilities for my next computer.

1. Shearwater Predator
2. Liquivision X1
3. VT Tech NHeO3

I have only seen these units pretty much from afar and never worn one. I have certainly read enough about each computer to know the LAST thing I want to do is start a debate about which one is better.

However, I would like any advice from owners about the size of each computer and how it sits on your arm. Are any of them too big/bulky for warm water 3 mil wetsuit diving? I am going to take advanced Nitrox and Deco diving sometime here in the near future and figured since I needed a new computer anyways, might as well spend about the same amount as a decent recreational computer but get one that offers a whole lot more.

Again, I am only looking for advice on fit and feel on the wrist.

Can't comment on the other 2, but I'm a huge Predator fan. Plenty of folks using them in warm water. It IS "pack of cigarrettes" sized, but that doesn't bother me at all.

Joshua Smith wrote:Can't comment on the other 2, but I'm a huge Predator fan. Plenty of folks using them in warm water. It IS "pack of cigarrettes" sized, but that doesn't bother me at all.

Thanks. Thats what I am looking for. My UWATEC is the Air Nitrox Z or something like that and it is what I would call "pack of cigarrette" sized also.

I haven't actually dived a Predator but I know at least a half a dozen people that do. They seem a lot bigger than a pack of cigarettes to me. Bigger in all 3 of the dimensions by a 1/2 inch? The X1s are definitely 1/2 pack of cigarettes and the Xeo (not quite out yet) a little bit bigger but still in the 1/2 pack range. Personally, I'm probably going to hold out for the Xeo as I'm happy with my Xen.

The X1 is a very small computer. It's smaller than Peter's Vytec. I can use it with a three mil suit, and my wrists are so small that I have to have watchbands cut down to fit me.

But even though it's small, you can make the numbers of interest quite large (although they're even bigger on the Xen).

Get another el cheapo gauge, skip the $1,400 OLED computer and get a scooter. Just sayin'...

CaptnJack wrote:Get another el cheapo gauge, skip the $1,400 OLED computer and get a scooter. Just sayin'...

Good to hear from you, you crotchety old fart...

I'll have you know, I have a Sierra with 2 batteries, thank you very much. I am also fighting with myself every day as to whether I want to shell out the cash for either a Cudy Fury or a Magnus. AND that fight has nothing to deal with my decision to buy a new computer. I'm getting a computer regardless. Scooter on the other hand, only time will tell.

pensacoladiver wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Get another el cheapo gauge, skip the $1,400 OLED computer and get a scooter. Just sayin'...

Good to hear from you, you crotchety old fart...

I'll have you know, I have a Sierra with 2 batteries, thank you very much. I am also fighting with myself every day as to whether I want to shell out the cash for either a Cudy Fury or a Magnus. AND that fight has nothing to deal with my decision to buy a new computer. I'm getting a computer regardless. Scooter on the other hand, only time will tell.

Joshua Smith likes this

Joshua Smith wrote:

pensacoladiver wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Get another el cheapo gauge, skip the $1,400 OLED computer and get a scooter. Just sayin'...

Good to hear from you, you crotchety old fart...

I'll have you know, I have a Sierra with 2 batteries, thank you very much. I am also fighting with myself every day as to whether I want to shell out the cash for either a Cudy Fury or a Magnus. AND that fight has nothing to deal with my decision to buy a new computer. I'm getting a computer regardless. Scooter on the other hand, only time will tell.

Joshua Smith likes this

I sure as hell dont get to spend as much time on here as I want/used to.

pensacoladiver wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Get another el cheapo gauge, skip the $1,400 OLED computer and get a scooter. Just sayin'...

Good to hear from you, you crotchety old fart...

I'll have you know, I have a Sierra with 2 batteries, thank you very much. I am also fighting with myself every day as to whether I want to shell out the cash for either a Cudy Fury or a Magnus. AND that fight has nothing to deal with my decision to buy a new computer. I'm getting a computer regardless. Scooter on the other hand, only time will tell.

See, gettin' old and you need a faster scooter already!

You should come back and whoop it up in WA buddy, summer has finally arrived!

CaptnJack wrote:You should come back and whoop it up in WA buddy, summer has finally arrived!

Uh, what part of WA are you at today?

CaptnJack wrote:

pensacoladiver wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:Get another el cheapo gauge, skip the $1,400 OLED computer and get a scooter. Just sayin'...

Good to hear from you, you crotchety old fart...

I'll have you know, I have a Sierra with 2 batteries, thank you very much. I am also fighting with myself every day as to whether I want to shell out the cash for either a Cudy Fury or a Magnus. AND that fight has nothing to deal with my decision to buy a new computer. I'm getting a computer regardless. Scooter on the other hand, only time will tell.

See, gettin' old and you need a faster scooter already!

You should come back and whoop it up in WA buddy, summer has finally arrived!

Man I wish I could. I see some posts about Neah Bay and I AM JEALOUS!!!

Some day Amigo, some day.

BDub wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:You should come back and whoop it up in WA buddy, summer has finally arrived!

Uh, what part of WA are you at today?

Seattle, WA
53.0 °F Light Rain

Apparently this is the new summer ;-)

I love the Seattle summer, the entire week is awesome...

trevorrowe wrote:I love the Seattle summer, the entire week is awesome...

Thank you for the sig line.

pensacoladiver wrote:My trusty old UWATEC is finally crapping out on me and I have decided to bite the bullet and buy one of three possibilities for my next computer.

1. Shearwater Predator
2. Liquivision X1
3. VT Tech NHeO3

I have an X1, a Xen, a test Xeo unit and a Gallileo SOL..

I really like the X1 for its size,function, features and choice of VPM or Bühlmann algorithms and super solid "all aluminum" design.. dual depth sensors (redundancy), super bright very high viewing angle OLED and no buttons to fudge with and I actually like the rechargeable battery idea.

You are VERY welcome to dive them all.. Where do you typically dive? I can meet you some place and give you an X1, Xen and Galileo to try out..

Koos

kdupreez wrote:Where do you typically dive? I can meet you some place and give you an X1, Xen and Galileo to try out..

I'm sure PENSACOLAdiver would love a personal demo opportunity.

CaptnJack wrote:

kdupreez wrote:Where do you typically dive? I can meet you some place and give you an X1, Xen and Galileo to try out..

I'm sure PENSACOLAdiver would love a personal demo opportunity.

Location: Oak Harbor ?

But, hey, any excuse for me to make a Florida trip

kdupreez wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:

kdupreez wrote:Where do you typically dive? I can meet you some place and give you an X1, Xen and Galileo to try out..

I'm sure PENSACOLAdiver would love a personal demo opportunity.

Location: Oak Harbor ?

But, hey, any excuse for me to make a Florida trip

Yah Chad wishes he was still in Oak Harbor near all of us.

kdupreez wrote:

CaptnJack wrote:

kdupreez wrote:Where do you typically dive? I can meet you some place and give you an X1, Xen and Galileo to try out..

I'm sure PENSACOLAdiver would love a personal demo opportunity.

Location: Oak Harbor ?

But, hey, any excuse for me to make a Florida trip

Thanks for the offer. Yeah I suppose I have been too lazy to change my location on the board. I am in ft lauderdale now. If you wanna let me demo, come on down. I got plenty of room in the house. Free room and board, I have a 25 foot boat that goes out every weekend for all the diving you can handle.

Richard is right. I do wish I was up there with my buddies. The offer above stands for all y'all on NWDC. I just need a few weeks notice so I can arrange my work schedule.

You use a dive computer ? Slacker

H20doctor wrote:You use a dive computer ? Slacker

Well, I almost didn't use one recently with mine acting up and going back to UWATEC for repairs. Then I remembered Karl left a FULL set of dive gear at my house for his trips to Florida, to INCLUDE an el cheapo dive computer that just happened to work fine for my recent explorations from shore.
It only does air and I pretty much dive nothing but 32 EAN here, but, what the hell, better safe than sorry.

His gear also included a piar of Hollis F-1 Fins that just happen to fit my perfectly. Imagine that. They are getting as good workout.

It is good to have friends in low places.

Thanks Karl!!!

When are you coming back down Chris? I got my eyes set on a couple of supposedly AWESOME wrecks in the 160-180 FSW range. And since I know it will take an act of Congress to get you certified to do ANYTHING below 80 FSW, I could use a good boat tender. HAHAHA

I Dive a Predator on my rEvo. It seems big but the way it wraps around your wrist it really isn't. The screen is large, well laid out and easy to read.

4ster wrote:I Dive a Predator on my rEvo. It seems big but the way it wraps around your wrist it really isn't. The screen is large, well laid out and easy to read.

Thanks

Unless you need it right away, have you considered waiting for the Xeo to come out later this summer (replacement for the X1)?