Diving
General
I would like to know if I can change the meters and Celsius to feet and Fahrenheit.
This depends on the computer model. All newer models have user changeable units.
Can I use the same diving compass all over the world?
No. Suunto compasses are balanced for five geographical zones. Before you purchase a compass you should define the area it will be used in.
Can I remove any previous dives from my computer?
No, but you can reset the maximum depth using the Suunto Dive Manager and PC interface.
How can I define the manufacturing date of my computer?
For newer products you can see it from serial number. The first digit represents the year, the second and third digits represent the week. A product with the serial number 91200000 was manufactured in week 12 of 2009.
How can I protect my dive computer's display from getting scratched?
During diving the display of the dive computer is somewhat vulnerable for getting scratched. But there are accessories available for protecting the display.
There is a specific scratch guard for Suunto D4, D6 and D9 that is designed to help their displays from getting scratched. This scratch guard comes in the package or it can be purchased separately from your nearest retailer. The scratch guard is easy to attach and also to replace if needed. (See the instructions below.)
There are also plastic display shields available for Suunto Stinger, D3 and Mosquito that help to protect the display of the dive computer. These shields can be purchased separately and they are also easy to use.
How to set up Nitrox mode in the Suunto dive computer?
When set to the NITROX mode, the correct oxygen percentage of the gas in your cylinder must always be entered into the dive computer to ensure correct nitrogen and oxygen calculations. The dive computer adjusts its mathematical nitrogen and oxygen calculation models accordingly. The dive computer will not accept fractional percentage values of oxygen concentration. Do not round up fractional percentages. For example, 31.8% oxygen should be entered as 31%. Rounding up will cause nitrogen percentages to be understated and will affect decompression calculations.
As a safety precaution, the oxygen calculations in the computer are made with an oxygen percentage of 1% + set O2%.
Can you explain the difference between the simulator and the plan function in the dive computer?
The simulator allows you to do a "dive" (or several "dives") on dry land. You can simulate your dive profile minute by minute and see what the actual display would be like if you did a real dive. The plan function will show you the No Dec times for different depths before a dive. The plan function will also take into account your previously made dives and therefore the no dec times for different depths may be shorter if you have recently been diving with the computer.
Why does the display get slow in cold temperature?
The liquid crystal material of the LCD solidifies in cold temperature. This is typical for all LCD displays.
Sometimes a warning triangle appears in my dive computer. Does it appear because the medium tissues are still saturated?
The warning triangle indicates that you should extend the surface interval. This is prompted when you are subject to an excessive amount of micro bubbles and does not necessarily relate to tissue saturation levels.
Do you have a product that would enlarge the display of the dive computer?
Unfortunately there is no accessory that would make the digits essentially bigger. The only existing product is the normal display shield available for the computers.
I have a Suunto dive computer. During a recent dive it was consistently showing depths that were 2 meters too shallow. This was first noticed during a safety stop in which I was deeper than I should have been. On the following dive the depths were accurate again. What could have happened?
It sounds like the water contact was not activated immediately but at 2 meters depth. In this case the depth sensor would read the pressure at 2 meters as zero depth and that's why the computer may have shown 2 meters too shallow all through the dive. When the dive computer is being activated it measures the surrounding pressure as reference pressure. For example air pressure changes can sometimes cause that the unit shows 0.1 meters as depth a few seconds before it goes to 0 meters, when it is being activated. It is recommended to activate the unit manually before a dive, even though there is an automatic water contact on the computer. The water contact may not always activate immediately after inserting the computer into the water and in this case the computer would read the wrong surrounding pressure as zero depth.
What are the differences between the RGB50 and the RGB100?
The RGB50 option is a little less conservative and strict than the RGB100 and therefore also less safe. The RGB50 is especially intended for trained divers with a lot of experience. The "50" stands for 50% as opposed to "100" 100% RGBM reduction. So if the RGBM100 gives a 20% reduction in the m-values (maximum surface gradient) the RGBM50 would only use half, i.e. a 10% reduction.
The hose that I got with the computer (with quick release) is marked with 5000 PSIG pressure tested. Is the hose tested to only 5000PSI (345 BAR)? The next time I will dive I will use a pressure of around 350 bar in a 300 bar cylinder, so my question is: can the dive-computer (with the quick release) handle a working pressure of 350 bar from the cylinder?
The maximum allowed pressure for the dive computer’s pressure sensor and the QR is 360bars. The standard hose has a max pressure of 360bars/5000psi. There are other HP hoses on the market (made of Kevlar that is much stiffer) that have burst pressures of about 1400 bar. The tread is standard so it is no problem changing hose.
Is there an option to turn off the cylinder pressure alarm in the dive-computer?
The cylinder pressure alarm cannot be turned off by the user. When the cylinder pressure reaches 50 bar (725 psi) there will be three double beeps and the cylinder pressure will also start blinking.
Can I switch modes between dives i.e. make two dives using air, third dive using EAN (Nitrox) , can the computer deal with this?
It is possible to switch from Air to Nitrox mode but not the other way around until the no-fly time has counted down. The reason you cannot switch back and forth is that there is no CNS/OTU display in Air mode, although there is CNS/OTU uptake. If you could switch back and forth freely it would be possible to go near the limits in Nitrox mode, and exceed them in Air mode withouth getting a warning.
How long will the battery in my dive-computer last?
Battery replacement should be performed every two years or more often depending on the dive activity. Some lithium batteries may exhaust unexpectedly, which cannot be tested in advance. The life expectancy at 20 C (68 F) is the following: 100 dives/year -> 2 years 400 dives/year -> 1 year
Why does my Suunto dive computer appear to show 0.1-5m (1-15ft) less than actual depth?
Always pre-check the dive computer before diving and activate the DIVE mode before entering water. Pre-check before diving is recommended in order to ensure that all Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) segments are completely displayed, the device has not run out of battery power, and that the oxygen, altitude, personal, and Safety/Deep Stop settings are correct. Failing to activate the DIVE mode before entering water may cause a delay in pressure sensor activation, which may further lead to erroneous depth reading during the dive.
Why does my Suunto dive computer display “Er” text in the center window, and I cannot access all DIVE modes and the PLAN mode?
Omitted decompression may result to dive computer Error mode. In permanent Error mode, planning mode is disabled, and other dive modes than GAUGE are not accessible for 48 hours (i.e., during this time the dive computer can only be used as a depth gauge and timer). The dive computer automatically reverts from Error mode back to normal operation after 48 hours. The Error mode is a safety precaution designed to protect divers from increased risk of DCI caused by omitted decompression.
Why can I no longer access AIR or Nitrox modes?
If you perform a dive in GAUGE mode there is an automatic 48 hour no-fly period during which AIR and NITROX modes are unavailable. This is a necessary safety precaution due to the fact that tissue saturation levels are not calculated or stored when diving in GAUGE mode.