TESTCENTRE
Easy reading inbetweener
Tablet Bluetooth Computer
COMPANY: SEAC PRICE: £ 379 WEB: SEACSUB. COM
Despite its name, SEAC’ s Tablet isn’ t an iPad-sized dive computer, but is actually a slightly-larger-than-awristwatch device. Rectangular in shape with a large, easy-to-read display, its actual dimensions( 65mm x 60mm x 20mm), weight( 13g including strap) and screen size( 50mm x 40mm), make the Tablet a nice option for those who find a watch display too small and a chunkier, wristmounted computer too cumbersome.
Thanks to its soft rubber strap, this‘ Inbetweener’ will sit just as comfortably on a bare wrist as over a wetsuit cuff. It also comes with a bungee strap, which would be my preferred choice for use with a drysuit. Powered by a user-changeable CR2450 cell, the Tablet features a monochrome LCD screen and a menu accessed by two push-buttons. A combination of short or long presses are used scroll through its settings.
Configuring the computer to my needs was intuitive; the buttons required little in the way of pressure from thumb or finger to operate. There are three gas mixes available( 21-99 % O2) and selectable PpO from 21.2 to 1.6 bar. While I didn’ t get the opportunity to use the Tablet’ s air integration, it’ s possible to connect up to three SEAC transmitters(£ 249 each).
Depth-rated to 100 metres,
the computer has three dive modes: Scuba, Gauge and Free. The original, unmodified Buhlmann ZHL-16C Algorithm is used to calculate decompression obligations and includes a user-selectable deep stop option. In-water, the computer’ s display made for very easy reading, the screen divided into three distinct sections. The upper level showed dive time and current depth, the middle its NDL( No Decompression Limit) time and the lower level, gas mix percentage and maximum depth.
Consecutive pushes on the right button allowed me to scroll through further displays showing: tank pressure( if a transmitter is connected), PpO2, current temperature / average depth or CNS( Central Nervous System) O2 level and current time. During a decompression dive the central line of data provides a TTS( Total Time to Surface) figure along with the stop depth and decompression time required.
If you’ re using more than one mix, the Tablet’ s percentage of oxygen digit will flash to indicate the proposed change. Simply confirm or reject as indicated. Audible alarms( which may be enabled or disabled) are available for decompression violation, maximum operating depth for the chosen gas mix and ascent rate. The display has an effective backlight( operated by the left button), which can be adjusted for brightness and contrast, be configured to stay on for a set amount of time, or stay lit throughout the dive.
If you’ re the sort whose diving comes first and the tech is secondary then take a look at the Tablet. Despite its compact form, the computer still provides great readability and with its three gas mixes and air integration, great flexibility too. It doesn’ t have a compass or a colour screen, but that hardly diminishes what is a really nice unit that provides more than enough features for most divers. The in-built logbook will record up to 65 hours of diving and if you like to download your history then this can be done using an optional USB cable or via the computer’ s integrated Bluetooth
SCUBA SAYS
SEAC’ s Tablet dive computer hits the spot with a large display, air integration and 3-gas mix option in an‘ inbetweener’-sized package.
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