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I have more than 500 dives under my weight belt, and I have a (regular) Apple watch, but I'm skeptical. First, there's no mention of Nitrox anywhere (except in

by maratc 4y ago

I have more than 500 dives under my weight belt, and I have a (regular) Apple watch, but I'm skeptical. First, there's no mention of Nitrox anywhere (except in a screenshot). Most of the serious folks use this mix (basically, air enriched with some more oxygen) for their dives, it's unclear if — or to what extent — this supports Nitrox. Second, there's no mention of the decompression algorithm they use. Buhlmann, Suunto RGBM, VPM are examples of algorithms where the assumptions about human physiology are backed by hundreds of thousands of dives, but what is driving this specific piece is kind of a mystery. As this device comes under "life support equipment" category, I would love to see more information about that. Third, battery life is a concern here, while it almost never is with dedicated dive computers. My main device requires a trip to Switzerland every 10-15 years, and my backup device is serviced locally every 3 years or so; having a "two full days battery life" somewhat pales in comparison. Finally, $10 a month is pretty expensive, especially when it comes on top of $700 down payment. Unclear what happens when you stop paying. I don't doubt that there are people who don't worry about that kind of money: the watch blogs are full with people discussing diving with their Rolexes and Omegas, but I have never seen anyone doing that in real world. 90% of the people use dive computers (owned or rented), and 90% of the rest use basic G-Shocks; you are lucky to see anyone with a mechanical timepiece (which almost always happens to be made by Seiko).

izacus 4y ago
I'm pretty sure this will be used by people who go on a week of dives every half a year or so (those are most people I meet in touristy dive places these days) and not by tech or nitrox divers. For those people it makes more sense - no need to carry another dive computer, no need to buy another device and the battery will be just fine for two/three dives in a day. More serious people will still get their Shearwaters/Garmins and other devices. Although, Apple might cause those companies to go out of business eventually and you'll have to buy their subscription for your sport in a few years anyway :)
- maratc 4y ago
  > For those people it makes more sense $80 a year can get you a rental computer for 8 days, and you don't have to worry about its battery — or you get another piece. > you'll have to buy their subscription for your sport in a few years anyway My Spyder (from 2001) will be working just fine long after my Apple Watch will become a deadweight. As there is no subscription, no online service, and no monthly payment, it could also survive the bankruptcy of its manufacturer.
- belorn 4y ago
  Practically all "touristy dive places" use nitrox today. It lower the risk for the dive center that a accident occur on their boats/shores/guided tours, so they have a huge incentive to offer divers to use it. Nitrox is also fairly easy to mark up since divers tend to be willing to pay extra for the reduced risk. The only places that don't have any benefit of offering nitrox is if the maximum depth of the place is 9 meters, or if people will remain at the surface.
  - izacus 4y ago
    That really depends where you're going I guess - I've seen most places offer nitrox as option, but most divers (especially recreational and occasional ones) didn't actually pay for it. Less than a third people on most boats I've been to opted for nitrox.
    - belorn 4y ago
      It could be a cultural thing. On red sea trips I have always paid 0% for it as it been free. It makes the live of the guides easier since everyone will be basically on the same mix and having an accident while out on the sea is bad publicity, bad economically, and bad for the tourist. Dive centers on land tend to ask money for nitrox, but I don't even remember when I last saw someone choosing air unless we knew that the maximum depth will be around 5-15 meters where it becomes almost impossible to reach ndl on a single tank.
maerten 4y ago
i just downloaded the app on iPhone and the dive planner allows you to change the gas mix (oxygen percentage) so it looks like it supports nitrox.
dag11 4y ago
Oceanic+ uses Bühlmann[0], and even lets you adjust your gradient factors! That last bit surprised me. [0] https://www.oceanicworldwide.com/oceanic-plus-in-depth/#:~:text=also%20utilizes%20the-,B%C3%BChlmann,-decompression%20algorithm%20with https://www.oceanicworldwide.com/oceanic-plus-in-depth/#:~:t...

by maratc 4y ago

izacus 4y ago

I'm pretty sure this will be used by people who go on a week of dives every half a year or so (those are most people I meet in touristy dive places these days) and not by tech or nitrox divers. For those people it makes more sense - no need to carry another dive computer, no need to buy another device and the battery will be just fine for two/three dives in a day. More serious people will still get their Shearwaters/Garmins and other devices. Although, Apple might cause those companies to go out of business eventually and you'll have to buy their subscription for your sport in a few years anyway :)

maratc 4y ago
> For those people it makes more sense $80 a year can get you a rental computer for 8 days, and you don't have to worry about its battery — or you get another piece. > you'll have to buy their subscription for your sport in a few years anyway My Spyder (from 2001) will be working just fine long after my Apple Watch will become a deadweight. As there is no subscription, no online service, and no monthly payment, it could also survive the bankruptcy of its manufacturer.
belorn 4y ago
Practically all "touristy dive places" use nitrox today. It lower the risk for the dive center that a accident occur on their boats/shores/guided tours, so they have a huge incentive to offer divers to use it. Nitrox is also fairly easy to mark up since divers tend to be willing to pay extra for the reduced risk. The only places that don't have any benefit of offering nitrox is if the maximum depth of the place is 9 meters, or if people will remain at the surface.
- izacus 4y ago
  That really depends where you're going I guess - I've seen most places offer nitrox as option, but most divers (especially recreational and occasional ones) didn't actually pay for it. Less than a third people on most boats I've been to opted for nitrox.
  - belorn 4y ago
    It could be a cultural thing. On red sea trips I have always paid 0% for it as it been free. It makes the live of the guides easier since everyone will be basically on the same mix and having an accident while out on the sea is bad publicity, bad economically, and bad for the tourist. Dive centers on land tend to ask money for nitrox, but I don't even remember when I last saw someone choosing air unless we knew that the maximum depth will be around 5-15 meters where it becomes almost impossible to reach ndl on a single tank.

maerten 4y ago

i just downloaded the app on iPhone and the dive planner allows you to change the gas mix (oxygen percentage) so it looks like it supports nitrox.

dag11 4y ago

Oceanic+ uses Bühlmann[0], and even lets you adjust your gradient factors! That last bit surprised me. [0] https://www.oceanicworldwide.com/oceanic-plus-in-depth/#:~:text=also%20utilizes%20the-,B%C3%BChlmann,-decompression%20algorithm%20with https://www.oceanicworldwide.com/oceanic-plus-in-depth/#:~:t...