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Dive Computer Expert Reviews
Saving Your Precious Time And Finding The Best Dive Computer For You
Dive computer reviews are perfectly organized and consist of fully researched information and ratings of Aeris, Cressi, Mares, Oceanic, Sherwood, Suunto, Tusa, and UWATEC/ScubaPro brands. In Catalogue Section you may compare any models side-by-side and select dive computer according to your needs! Join thousands of happy customers!
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Specifications
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Pre-Diving
Diving
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Summary
Your Review
By introducing Oceanic OCS, this leader of design and manufacturing of scuba gear proved its top position in delivering dive computers for people who are looking for the happy medium price range. This Oceanic computer inherited best features from its fellows - OC1, VT4, Atom 3.0: Dual Algorithm, 4 dive modes, 3 gas mixes, integrated digital compass, convenient user interface. It may be recommended dive computer for advanced recreational and technical divers. The new dive computer Oceanic OCS is made as a wrist watch. OCS is a combination of high technologies in engineering and excellent style. The body of this computer was made of strong and easy composit materials. Computer is equipped with integrated digital compass and support up to three gas mixes.
Popularity of Oceanic OCS can be explained by its excellent design and compactness, excellent computation power and high reliability. OCS is based on exclusive Dual algorithm with possibility of setting up Deep Stop function, and specially designed menu is clear and intuitive with the possibility to use «Step Back» feature. This Oceanic dive computer allows the user to update the firmware by using optional PC interface cable. Battery replacement is made by the diver, and during this procedure all data and set points are retained in memory for repetitive dives.
Copy this Oceanic OCS Features & Alarms Card for your Reference and Share with your friends and buddies!
As Oceanic OCS was made as a digital wrist watch - it had all I need, including chronograph, dual time and countdown timer. It uses four buttons to navigate through menus, sub-menus and settings. The user interface was an easy study, in spite of rather thorough user manual.
Dive computer has dot-matrix display that makes digits sharply visible under any angles. Size of display is as big as many usual wrist watches around and it still produces lots of information on the well structured layout. OCS has two bar graphs - one shared between nitrogen loading and oxygen accumulation - from the left, and another bar graph is for representation of our ascent speed. According to the priority - either Ni or O2 icons are displayed near the left bar. Display has main and alternative screens to provide the user with information available in certain moment.
All adjustable parameters of Oceanic OCS are devided into few groups, and I didn't find any troubles setting dive computer - everything flows logically. Copy this Oceanic OCS Settings Card for your Reference and Share with your friends and buddies!
I could plan dives from NORM Menu by accessing Dive Planner, which works for depths 9 - 57 meters and calculates No-Deco times and depths according to FO2 set point for 1st mix, nitrogen loading from previous dives, Personal conservative factor and algorithm selected.
I devoted my weekend diving with this Oceanic dive computer. I set Wet Activation to ON. The NORM Menu page was very easy to navigate and I made adjustments quick and simple. I scrolled through the menu options and selected desired set points by pressing button combos. Computer has 'Step Back' and 'Forward' functions, that is very convenient.
Oceanic OCS: Diving With Air & NitroxThe display underwater is bold and easy to read. Sharp digits and strong backlight added to its simplisity of understanding. Copy this Oceanic OCS NO-DECO Card for your Reference and Share with your friends and buddies!
During my ascent the speed was displayed on the right bar and was quite sensitive to changes. I got a speed warning when I exceeded 9 m/min at one stage. An alarm went off and the message “Too Fast” got displayed until the ascent slowed. Switching gases was an easy procedure - I used combination of buttons to access Selection display and choose the mix I wanted, according to the allowable depth and current PO2. As I enabled Safety Stop feature - it came on at 20-feet to remind me to take a few minutes before the final ascent. That weekend I didn't dive below 20 meters, so I didn't enable Deep Stop function.
Upon entering into Decompression mode, Oceanic OCS audio alarmed me and displayed DECO ENTRY message, full TLBG bar and UP-ARROW.
Copy this Oceanic OCS DECO Card for your Reference and Share with your friends and buddies!
Oceanic OCS manages Decompression process with ease. And I just had to follow computer's recommendations to avoid getting into the bends. I didn't test Deco violations, so I take their functionalities at Oceanic's words.
OCS can manage 5 types of violations in NORMAL dive mode (Air, Nitrox):
Oceanic OCS: Diving In GAUGE ModeNext dive mode of Oceanic OCS is Gauge mode. In this mode OCS doesn't calculate No-Decompression Limits and works as a depth gauge and timer. It monitors conditions of the dive and diver can get into Delayed Violation 3 (DV3) upon descending deeper than 200 meters.
Oceanic OCS: FREEdivingFREEdiving mode uses specific set of alarms, like 3 Depth alarms, EDT alarm, and High Nitrogen alarm. I didn't test FREEdiving mode, so everything is taken from Oceanic's words.
After transition period of 10 minutes on surface by pressing M-button I could access NORM Menu with following essentials of Oceanic OCS:
Oceanic OCS: What Divers Say
Diving with Oceanic OCS was very comfortable. Even with its display's size of about the same as every-day wrist watch, OCS showed plenty of dive data, and it was easy to interpret, thanks to dot-matrix display, sharp digits and strong backlight. Current depth was seen at the top while NDC time remaining was displayed in the center with dive time, and switching to alternative screens I could check all other applicable dive data. Bar graph on the left is shared between nitrogen loading and oxygen accumulation, and dive computer displayed appropriate number of bars and corresponding icon that were easy understood at a glance.
Ascent speed bar graph is very convenient visual feature - much better than just have text messages about my ascent speed displayed! Switching between gases is easy procedure - just 2-3 buttons combinations. Digital compass is handy function as well, but it is a bit small the size, as I think. Would it be nicer to have it look like regular compass of Mares Matrix, for example!?
Oceanlog PC interface allows us to set and upload to OCS time settings, utilities, and alarms; and download logs and dive profile, and it is easy to use.
I couldn't find any downsides of Oceanic OCS. And from my personal experience I want to tell that OCS is advanced dive computer that is suitable as for technical diving and for kicking off anyone's diving career. It is very reliable, manages no-deco, deco and violations conditions perfectly.
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
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I logged more than 200 dives on Oceanic OCS. Love it more and more! It has all functions I ever wanted - Dual Algorithm, 4 dive modes, 3 gas mixes, fully user customizable menu.
I constantly use 3 mixes for smoother decompression and love freediving mode with all necessary alarms. I love its large display area that is easy to read and all dive data located in a perfect layout.
I recommend Oceanic OCS for every recreational diver who want to wear multifunctional and reliable dive watch computer!
Great dive computer with lots of features and very reliable. It has many modes that make it great for the beginner and advanced diver.
Display is very easy to read and understand. The computer works in both Air and Nitrox modes up to 100%, has Gauge and Freedive modes.
Love the possibility setting liberal and conservative diving, as dive computer has Dual Algorithm feature.
I wear Oceanic OCS as a wrist watch every day and dive with it also. The manual is a bit confusing at the very beginning.
There is no air integration with this computer but adding transmitter would make this dive computer more expensive for 300$ at least.
Highly recommended dive computer for recreational and advanced divers.