Oceanic Dive Computers Now And The Future February 6, 2012 by lukesheppard

 Oceanic  also now known as American Underwater Products (AUP) covers a range of brands including Aeris, Hollis & Oceanic. Every year Oceanic UK hosts a seminar to showcase the new and up coming products that will be available to the UK Market. The seminar covers all products lines and categories from masks to rebreathers. This first blog concentrates on what we have and can expect for 2012 and some concept computers for the future. NOW So what is available now? From Oceanic we have: Veo 1.0 – An entry level computer that is also intended as a school or rental unit.

Veo 2.0 – A mid range dive computer with improved menu navigation and features for everyday recreational diving.  Veo 3.0 – The top of the range Oceanic computer that heads into gas switching.  All of the Veo range are also available in twin and triple console configurations. Geo 2.0 – A watch sized recreational dive computer. VT4 – A full decompression dive computer capable of supporting up to four wireless transmitters  Atom 3.0 – A watch sized full decompression dive computer with gas switching and capable of supporting three wireless transmitters. OC1 – The Flagship watch sized dive computer with dot matrix display, compass, up to three transmitters  Data Mask – A no frills decompression dive computer that is incorporated into a mask BUD Back Up Computer – A set and forget full decompression dive computer that can be set to behave similarly to other brand computers. Aeris F10 – A free diving watch  NEW So these are the dive computers that are now becoming or will be available through 2012: OCS – Basically its an OC1 without the wireless transmitter features which considerable lowers the cost. Features include: 

• Powered by Oceanic’s Exclusive Dual Algorithm® with Deep Stop
• Intuitive User Interface with “Step Back” – allows forward and backward navigation through menus and settings
• Digital Compass with North, Reference, Auto Home, and Declination Adjustment
• Composite Case with Stainless Steel Case Back and Bezel with  500 ft / 150 m depth rating
• Switch between up to 3 Nitrox gas mixes to 100% O2
• Air, Nitrox, Gauge, and Free Modes
• Gauge Mode with option for Run-Timer on main dive display
• Audible Alarms with Flashing LED Light – may be customized or deactivated
• User-Replaceable Battery with Data Retention; maintains settings and calculations if the battery is removed
• Firmware Update Ready with optional PC Interface Kit – install operational improvements or even future new feature

Aeris A300 Range – The range will include the the A300, A300AI & A300XT. General features include:

• Colour coded bar graphs, expanded segments, with yellow “Conservative Factor Zone” identifying 70-95% tissue loading value
• FO2 Gas 2 & 3 can be set OFF, for no switching
• PO2 alarm for each Gas, set with FO2
• GAUGE Mode Run Timer
• Set Water Type (Sea/Fresh)

The A300 is the wrist unit  The A300AI is the hose mounted unit The A300XT is a triple console mounted unit in an unusual but appealing triangular configuration  Aeris F11 – An improvement on the still available F10which benefits from some stainless steel styling and housing components, increased battery performance, 200m depth rating and customisable back-light. THE FUTURE This is the really exciting section where AUP tease us with some near production and some pure concept ideas: Hollis DG-04HE – An advanced Trimix dive computer with specification to include:

• Up to 12 Gas Memory
• Add NEW Gas Mix on-the-fly
• 3- Axis Digital Compas
• Menu Based User Interface
• Wireless capable with up to 4 transmitters
• Built in Simulator
• Dual Algorithm for Air / Nitrox Dives
• Gradiant Factor Bar Graph
• Dynamic Dive Planning Software simplifies the planning of  dive profiles, gases and back up plans
• Ultimate planning tool for Android phone, Iphone, Windows  and Apple OS
• Plan your dive on your desktop computer then download it to  your dive computer
• Sometime, in the very near future: Plan your dive from your  phone; use Bluetooth to transfer it to your dive computer.

Pro Plus 3.0 – Think large hose air integrated Veo 3.0 with some other technological advancements. Specifications COULD include:

• Dual Algorithm™
• Deep Stop
• Improved user-interface with “step back”
• New LCD display
• Full Colour Display for superior readability and ease-of-use
• Modern PDA like User-Interface
• 3-Axis Digital Compass
• Next Generation Air Integrated Model
• Wireless transmission for wrist and/or retractor mounting
• Vertical hose mounted design

The OCX – The Oceanic OCX is considered to be a next generation dive computer with advanced features which will be achievable using emerging technologies. Here you will find a number of the current concept visuals of different screens and uses but this is by no means the limits of its capabilities. Its only limits are its hardware and the imagination of the programmers. As an example of the expected programming requirements for this computer the VT4 which was launched in 2012 has about 73500 lines of code. The OCX is expected to have over 250000 lines of code! The OCX is purely conceptual at this time and by the time it launches it could be a hundred times better but it shows the depth (excuse the pun) that Oceanic are going to with regards to their research and development even in these difficult times. The principle aims of this computer are:

• Full Colour Display for superior readability and ease-of-us
• Modern PDA-like User-Interface
• 3-Axis Digital Compass
• Integrate the device with a sophisticated desktop and Internet  application
• Provide unprecedented user-customization
• Include industry-first, patented innovations and technologies

  All images have been removed at request of OCEANIC A pretty comprehensive list of screen shots from Oceanic so far but is there something that should be included? Leave us a comment and we’ll be sure to pass on your suggests to Oceanic. More is always in development at Oceanic, Aeris & Hollis that we don’t know about yet so keep a watch on our blog for the latest news.