freediving watches

[Dave Ness]

Question:

I'm thinking of getting a watch to wear while freediving, what should I be looking for (other than the actual time piece, obviously)? Any suggestions would be great

thanks

[promethean_spar]

aquatech watches at walmart are something like $6 and are very waterproof. Some divers have taken them past 120ft with no problems.

[Peter R.]

Suunto D3. End of story (if your current budget allows it). Best $200 you'll ever spend for your freediving.

[czspearfisher]

just a question. but why do you need a watch to freedive. even if it does tell you your deoth, water temp, and how much time you should spend on the surface. i mean it may be a luxury but not the best $200 you ever spend of freediving equipment. am i missing something?if i am would somebody please explain. i would have to say that your fin are he most important part of your gear.

[apexpredator]

The watch will help you mark your progress as you push yourself to new depths. It can help you realize if you are spending not enough time on your surface intervals. It can tell you your maximum depth, duration of dives and you can download this info into a journal and keep track of your progress. With all the money you can spend on cheezy gadgets this is one that is worth its salt. So pass up the shark pod and get the watch.

BTW if a person doesn't have fins then they are in no need of the watch but otherwise it is a great tool to refine your techniques, mark your accomplishments and realize the weak links in your freediving technique.

[Stodelle]

Not to be morbid, but it can also help if there is a problem, or death. Remember that freedivers can be injured to the point of needing to be chambered and the watch data can be retrieved to help with the neccessary treatment.

Like Apex said, i use mine to track my progress. I actually log my dive days (ie. 11/16/04, 58 dives, avg depth, evg time, deepest depth, longest time, surface intervals, etc).

Sure it may be overkill, but it helps me train better and smarter in my opinion.

[LASeaCat]

Where can you get a Sunto D3 for $200?

[Tvillarino]

EBAY

[Spearo_Fla]

I could not find it on ebay for you. I have a Mosquito and paid close to $300. The cheapest I found on the internet for the D3 is $249.

[Bill McIntyre]

The D3 has improved my diving. It showed me that my surface intervals were too short. Knowing the time of each dive lets me know when my dive times are dropping so that I can pay more attention to preparing for my dives. And while any old brand of dive watch will do it, knowing my depth in murky water lets me know to allow more time for the ascent if I'm deep.

There is more discussion of this subject on the safety forum.

[Dave Ness]

www.leisurepro.com has them for $249 (cheapest I could find)

thanks for all the input

[ceriksen]

just bought two yesterday frm west marine through ebay auctions for 197 dollars each. call west marine 800-262-8464 ext2 and ask for ebay auction person

[clavinr]

I have the D3 and love it...it's just a tool.

It comes with software you install on your computer, which I use for all of my diving. It's nice to go back and look at profiles and make notes in, who I dove with, what I took for food, weather...

By looking at the profile I was able figure that a 30 second surface interval was just not enough for my old ass...Now I wait about 1:45 and the D3 helps mark that time for me.

I'm just a poor beach diver who likes to splash around in 15-30 ft of water, and the D3 was worth every penny to me.

[snooker]

I got my D3 off Ebay for right over $200 shipping included.

[LASeaCat]

Tanks. I've seen the ones from West Marine.

Please Santa, bring me one!

[panamakid]

I got a timex that tells depth, dive time, temp, last 20 dive are saved with surface interveals ( i think). Any way its 1/4th the price if anyone wanted something cheaper that did some of the functions of the suunto. Im sure the suunto is way better but this works good for me

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=310&item=7120189966&rd=1http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=310&item=7120189966&rd=1http://i24.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/01/39/7c_1.JPG