Does the Mares Puck wrist log your dives?

Question

I want to get this entry-level dive computer for my dad, but i don't know if it logs out the dive. When i say log i mean like the depth, temperature, time and if it tells you when to go do your safety stops. And if it logs you dives how do you access them if it only has one button, i really need to know this. Please Does it log your dives so you can access them and does it tell you when its time for safety stops????

Answer 1

In diving, the term "log" refers to preserving a summary of the pertinent information about the dive once the dive is over and the diver has been at the surface for some time. However, "safety stops" are pauses during the diver's ascent at the end of a dive and so occur while the diver is still underwater. Lumping these terms together doesn't make sense, so it isn't clear exactly what you are asking. Also the way you are using the term "safety stop" makes me think you are actually referring to mandatory decompression stops, which are not at all the same as safety stops (more formally referred to as "precautionary decompression stops"). I'm guessing that you aren't a diver?



All dive computers provide information about the dive while the diver is underwater. The information provided by the Mares Puck includes the current depth, the maximum depth, the amount of time since the start of the dive, the amount of time the diver can safely remain at the current depth and still ascend directly to the surface, and the current temperature among other things. Like many other computers, not all of this information can fit on the display all at the same time, so the button is used to switch between multiple screens containing selected portions of this information. Most computer designers try to put the most important information on the screen that is displayed by default, and other less important information on alternate screens.



All dive computers also calculate the amount of time that the diver can remain underwater at the current depth. If that time is exceeded, it switches to decompression mode and provides information about what depth the diver should ascend to (but not above) and how long they need to stay there before ascending to a shallower depth. The Mares Puck certainly provides this kind of information, which is what I am assuming your "safety stop" question was about. The Puck, like many other dive computers, also displays a 3 minute safety stop timer once the diver ascends above 20 feet to assist with performing an (optional) precautionary stop.



As far as I know, all dive computers including the Puck have a "log" mode once the dive is over which retains information about the dives completed. The computers I've owned have a fixed number of dives that can be displayed directly on the computer screen while additional dives still in the computer's memory can be retrieved by downloading to a PC. The Puck on-screen logbook doesn't seem to be restricted to a fixed number of dives, only by the memory capacity. It has download capability as well.



Everything you would want to know about using the Puck can be found in the online user manual which can be found at http://www.mares.com/common/__/966.b96531d5.dl



So I believe the Puck has the capabilities that you are asking about, but then again I think virtually all computers have those same capabilities. There are other important things to consider when choosing a computer (like the decompression algorithm), but if your dad has already shown an interest in the Puck then those other aspects may not need to come into the discussion. If he doesn't already have a computer, I'm sure he will be delighted to have one and the Puck should satisfy his needs for some time.



Good luck.

Answer 2

Mares Puck Wrist Dive Computer

Answer 3

Just want to add a few points to MovieBuff's excellent answer:



As far as I can tell from the description on the SimplyScuba website (http://www.simplyscuba.com/products/Mares/PuckWristComputer.aspx ), the basic Puck does not allow PC download, so if this function is important to your dad, you will need to choose a different model of computer.



The next model up in the Mares line is the PuckPro (http://www.simplyscuba.com/products/Mares/PuckProWristComputer.aspx ), which does everything that the Puck does, but it also allows PC-interface, as well as online software updates (you have to buy the interface cable separately), and 2-mix gas-switching (although this is not important for an entry-level diver). It costs about 33% more than the Puck, (or nearly 100% more if you also buy the interface cable and software).



Alternatively, the Suunto Zoop (http://www.simplyscuba.com/products/Suunto/ZoopDiveComputer.aspx ) is a similar price to the Puck, uses a similar RGBM decompression algorithm (i.e. will give similar no-stop times for a given dive profile), has pretty much the same extra functionality (i.e. recreational nitrox, 21-50%), BUT does allow PC-download (if you buy the cable!). The only difference is that its display is phosphorescent (glows after shining a torch on it), rather than having a battery-powered backlight (you need to get the get the basic Vyper for this!).



The SimplyScuba descriptions of the Suunto PC-interface cable and software (http://www.simplyscuba.com/manufacturers/Suunto/DiveComputers/Interfaces.aspx ) are a little confusing -- there are 'Serial' and 'USB' versions, but I cannot say for sure which cable is needed for the Zoop (I'm using a serial cable for my original-model Vytec, but the Zoop is new). Either way, it adds 33% to the price, or more if you will also need a serial-to-USB adapter, since most PCs these days aren't equipped with serial ports.



And if you're wondering about bias, well, yes, Suunto computers have my vote of confidence. After I qualified as an instructor, I upgraded from 'tables+timer' to the original Suunto Vyper, and later to a Vytec (which I am still using). I worked as a full-time resort instructor for 5 years, and despite frequently breaking a lot of the standard 'rules' for dive-planning (e.g. multiple dives per day over multiple days, including reverse profiles, sawtooth dives, and bounce dives), I complied with the computer's demands and never once got bent (although my no-fly times occasionally got quite ridiculous!).