Catalogue

Suunto D9tx has 4 control buttons as other Suunto dive computers D-series: MODE, SELECT, UP, DOWN.

4 main operating modes are intended to cover all operations of this dive computer. They are:

1. TIME
2. DIVE
3. PLAN
4. MEMORY

D9tx has submodes - COMPASS, which can be called during TIME and DIVE modes, and 3 dive modes that can be selected from DIVE main mode:

1. Air;
2. Mixed;
3. Gauge

Like other Suunto dive computers D-series, all modes, submodes, bookmark, compass, and all operations are done by short and longer pressing on the buttons and their easy to memorize combos.

Display layout is divided into 3 sections and easy to interpret:

• top section is for showing dive and daily alarms, diver attantion symbol, current depth, no-fly icon, etc.
• middle sections shows us current day time, NO-DECO Time, Total Ascent Time (TAT), Air Time Remaining (ATR), ceiling depth, etc.
• bottom section displays wireless transmitter symbol, max depth, tank pressure, values related to Mixed dive mode, Elapsed Dive Time (EDT), etc.

To swap data for additional info - press UP/DOWN buttons.

Suunto D9tx has 2 bar graphs:

1. tank pressure bar graph is located on the left side of the display;
2. ascent rate bar graph is located on the right side of the display

Suunto D9tx has perfectly written user operating manual and user friendly interface - all this is a great help in learning this sophisticated from every point of view dive computer. Who has already had experience in dealing with Suunto dive computers won't find any troubles setting up D9tx.

After setting digital wrist watch functions, we will want to set dive computer's compass. At this point I calibrated, adjust declination, and set compass time out.

It is easy to set up, either for Air, or for Mixed mode. In Mixed mode diver can set up to 8 gas mixes with FO2 8-99% , and 0-92% He. For each gas mix we need to set correct PO2 at the range 0.5-1.6 bar
Also at this stage we set few alarms, do personal adjustments, units, utilities, and turn ON/OFF Deep Stop.

Copy this Suunto D9tx Settings Card for your Reference and Share with your friends and buddies!

Suunto D9tx: Diving In Air & Mixed modes

After doing all the pre-checks on Suunto D9tx I was more than ready to make it wet! On about 1 meter deep, Suunto dive computer started showing data related to Air-diving (as I made first dive with FO2 = 21%).

Basic screen is similar to D9, D6i wireless air-integrated dive computers with display of:

• current depth;
• NO-DECO Time Remaining;
• Elapsed Dive Time (EDT);
• max depth tank pressure and transmitter symbol (of course, if you have this transmitter)

By pressing UP/DOWN buttons I could get extra data, like tank pressure value, time and water temperature. These values got swapped with EDT and max depth.

Copy this Suunto D9tx NO-DECO Card for your Reference and Share with your friends and buddies!

If I wanted to make a bookmark on my dive profile - I pressed SELECT button. This procedure is typical for all Suunto dive computers. This bookmark with depth reached and water temperature can be seen later on my dive profile on logbook and I may use it, of course, for Movescount community.

I had Safety Stops (Recommended and Mandatory) and Deep Stops remainders during my diving. Stop depths and times, and all applicable icons were displayed on the main screen. Recommended Safety Stop can be omitted without getting a penalty, but Mandatory, as the name implies - must be completed.
Mandatory Safety Stop reminder pops up if diver continues ascending faster than allowed at certain depths. If I missed this one - penalties come right away in the extended surface interval or shorter bottom time meanings!

Fast Ascent alarm works as in all other Suunto dive computers D-series - if we exceed allowable maximum at certain depth, we will see blinking Ascent Rate Bar Graph and backlight goes on with the audio alarm.

Deep Stop reminder works only if it was enabled during dive computer set up.

Suunto D9tx allows setting up to 8 gas mixes, I used only 3 with wireless air integration for my primary mix. During gas mixes setting up dive computer calculates permissible maximum operational depth, according of the percentage of oxygen or helium. I didn't use mixes with helium components this time. At certain depths computer beeped on me indicating the right time for swapping appropriate gas mix, and using UP and SELECT buttons I did it successfully. Dive computer calculates correct PO2 and it won't let me changing to a gas which set PO2 level was exceeded.

All my dives wireless worked great, I didn't notice even 1 loss of it. Every time I glanced down on my wrist - I saw steady signal and transmitter symbol on display.

I didn't test Suunto D9tx for DECO mode, so we may take everything from Suunto words as a true.

This dive computer has Continuous Decompression feature that allows us to perform decompression within the certain range of depths, so called Decompression range. It perfectly manages all Deco stops by showing Ceiling depth, range of the ceiling zone, Total Ascent Time (TAT), indicators for correct ceiling zone and related icons and notations.

Decompression must be completed within recommended ceiling zone, but not shallower. If diver in some reason may miss correct ceiling D9tx will give continuous audio signal with DOWN Arrow flashing and message ‘Error’. It means that you have about 3 minutes to return to the exact ceiling depth or slightly below.

If diver still violate decompression stop depth – Suunto dive computer locks to Error mode and works as a depth gauge and timer only. In this case diving is prohibited for the next 48 hours.

Compass is another great function of this instrument. This submode can be accessed during TIME and DIVE modes by longer pressing on SELECT button.

Suunto D9tx: Diving In GAUGE Mode

When I selected Gauge mode – dive computer operated as a depth gauge and timer only. It didn't perform any calculations for No-Decompression depths, bottom time limits, and it didn't monitor my ascent rate. So, it is entirely was my responsibility to make it safe to bottom and all the way up! I used it for freediving this time.

During this session I could make a bookmarks on my diving profile and set/reset Dive Timer by pressing SELECT button.

Display is very easy to interpret:

• current depth;
• max depth reached during a dive;
• bookmark notation (if I created any);
• Timer (SET/RESET);
• Elapsed Dive Time (EDT)

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Right after resurfacing Suunto D9tx is showing info related to the last dive on main and alternative displays:

• Diver Attention symbol (if applicable);
• No-FLY symbol;
• violated ceiling depth symbol (if applicable);
• Elapsed Dive Time (EDT);
• max depth reached;
• temperature;
• time

If you submerge before 5 minutes elapse - dive computer will consider this dive as a continuation of the previous.

On surface we may be interested in following modes and functions:

• PLAN - repetitive dive planning down to 45 m; no-deco dive planner considers only Mix1, nitrogen/oxygen intake from previous dives, and all dive history from the last 4 days;
• MEMORY - I could access dive history and logbook for each dive mode, and it has 3 pages of detailed information including graphics of the dive profile;
• PC interconnection - if you installed Suunto DM4 with Movescount on you computer - you may interconnect Suunto D9tx and your PC to download all your dive data and share dive profiles and logs with your friends and buddies. DM4 - it is dive manager software that make it easy to connect D9tx and organize all the dive data for viewing and printing;
• change and correct settings

Later I turned TIME mode on Suunto D9tx to make it as a wrist watch to walk around and make my friends and people around envy! :)

Suunto D9tx: What Divers Say

Suunto D9tx is made for pure technical diving, so if you are not about becoming a tech-diver, don't invest in this quite expensive dive computer.

For that short period of time, I had an opportunity to set up and test its functionality, and I may say that Tauchen Award 2013 was given deservedly!

When I had Suunto D9tx sitting on my wrist, I felt myself staying on the top of the world, because I was an owner of the best dive computer made as a wrist watch, dedicated to tech-diving.

As for functions - Suunto D9tx dive computer has one of the most comfortable user interface and the most comprehensive number of features to dive with 8 gas mixes with enriched oxygen and helium components.
Integrated standalone digital wrist watch and digital compass are very handy additions that are easy to set up and call out. Personally I like Suunto D9tx compass function more than compass made by Oceanic, because it is easier to use and in some reason faster gets calibrated. Some guys may contradict this my statement however.

D9tx allows us to set up to 8 gas mixes with 8-99% O2, 0-92% He, and for each mix we need to adjust correct PO2 from 0.5 to 1.6 bar. Setting mixes is an easy procedure - use either Suunto Dive Planner or set them directly using dive computer user interface. During a dive, every right time for mix change, dive computer beeps with flashing O2%, O2%|He% values. Audio alarms are loud and I think the user will hear them even with hood (I didn't have the hood while diving this time).

Display is intuitive and informative, main setup shows the most important data, and extra information can be called up and seen on the bottom section of the display. All digits are perfectly seen at any light conditions, thanks to contrast and backlight adjustments.

I have found only 1 discomfort - no user replaceable battery. To change it - you will need to send dive computer to the dealer. But if consider it on the background of all benefits that Suunto D9tx dive computer gives tech-diver - it won't be a big deal, especially if thinking this way - if you are able to buy this computer - you are able to pay fair money to get it serviced properly! It's like a dear car game!

Suunto D9tx	Dive-Computer-Wizard Rating

From my opinion Suunto D9tx can definitely lift you up to the next level of technical diving if you have enough money to pay for it! Even with its high price for whole pack - Suunto D9tx costs each invested cent. You should consider investing in this the most sophisticated diving watch computer only if you see clearly you pathway to advanced diving with technical mixes.