Heads-Up Mask from Oceanic
Posted on Sep 28, 06 11:37 PM PDT
Wearing one of these will most probably make you feel as if you're flying an aircraft. The HUD mask from Oceanic was developed along with the U.S. Navy’s Coastal Systems Station, and it comes with a miniature LCD panel which shows the diver essential information such as depth, bottom time, and cylinder pressure. This HUD ensures you get all the necessary information no matter how murky the water gets - and we know how having a clear head when diving is extremely important, more so when one gets into difficult situations. The HUD mask also features wireless connectivity that enables information to be sent via a transmitter module which is attached to the regulator. Pricing details are currently unavailable.
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By David Scubadiver , 24/11/07 7:33 AM (CommentID #374633)
One downside I have not seen mentioned is the inability for another diver to read your gauge or computer. Sure, you can communicate how much air you have left to your buddy, but if you are incommunicado (unconscious or trapped with your head stuck in a giant clam), its difficult for another person to assess the situation. These things seem rather rare occurrences, so I just say, do not use if a newbie diver since your dive buddy is going to want to be able to check your gauges. (Or have a pressure gauge backup).
By JL Gonzaga , 07/06/07 1:09 AM (CommentID #198434)
Does this thing fly? Can you connect a DVD player on it? It looks like a flat screen TV.
By Chris , 22/01/07 10:20 AM (CommentID #088162)
I actually just tried out that sweet piece of equipment on the annual BOOT (annual nautical exhibition in Düsseldorf/Germany open until january 28, 2007).
Here's my subjective review of the "OCEANIC Datamax HUD Mask", as it is now called.
Shape/Size:
General shape of the mask is that of a regular two glass diving mask and I would not say that it is significantly larger than my SEACSUB Italica, although I had no other mask at hand to compare it to. The above picture makes it look bulkier than I actually remember it.
The first difference you'll notice from your habitual snotbucket is the protruding computer compartment that wraps around and under the right glass. The right glass does also not reach as far below as the left glass, as the lower 1/4th is taken by the computer display. Vertical vision scope is indeed restricted on the right eye. Looking down on you right shoulder is pretty much impossible.
In terms of weight, the mask weighs is of course a little more than a regular mask, but not as much that I’d call it hindering. When underwater, I bet you’d barely notice the difference due to the eventually added buancy.
Computer:
Think of it as a Suunto D9, or rather an Oceanic Atom that was wedged inside a mask. Given the already small size of today’s top of the line dive-computers such as the Suunto D9, it should not have been that hard.
The actual surprise is rather that they found a way, through the use of adequate optical lenses, to render the tiny screen’s content located in the lower right visible at that short of a distance. Just try and read a newspaper article you place within one inch of your eye. You’ll find it impossible. The distance is insufficient for your eye to focus. But in the mask it works great. Just like looking the other way through a telescope. Instead of decreasing distance, it virtually increases distance so you can just look down and in a blink of the second, you clearly see that little blue-backllighted display giving you all the information you need. It doesn’t event take time for your eye to focus. Look down and presto, there it is. Clear, sharp, cool!
As for the information calculated by the computer, it’s comparable to that of a top-buck Oceanic Atom:
Full deco calculation, Nitrox too, ascent rate monitoring, gas integrated (calculates air consumption), time, bottom timer, temperature, divelog, etc.. Press the button on the mask's right side and cycle through all the available data.
It also features an USB connection to download your dives’ data to your PC. The mask’s display is a three line digital display, so don’t expect it to show you a fancy graphic presentation on the mask’s computer display. The HUD mask however will give you everything (and probably more than) you’ll need when actually diving.
Pros:
If you’re not deaf and blind, you’ll never miss any important warning from your computer again. Ascent rate, max depth, deco-stops, tank pressure. It’s all there, “in-your-face”, flashing and beeping if necessary.
You can keep your hands in your pockets (if your suit has any) or on your assault rifle, explosives, scooter, camera, buddy, girlfriend, whatever. Nothing left to do than lower your gaze.
In muddy waters with zero-visibility, you can still read your computer data and no light whatsoever will give away your position when sneaking into that enemy seaport.
You might realize you were born to be a bad-ass combat diver.
You’ll be the center of interest and envy the second you pull that thing out your bag.
Cons:
You’ll have to whip out EUR 1300 to get it.
You’d have to listen to owners of Suunto D9’s telling you that it may be great, but that it does not have the oh-so-indispensable integrated electronic compass or a full multipixel display.
Unless you don’t bother being labeled a perv, you can’t wear it at work, casually stating your diver-status and bragging about your last dive’s maxdepth.
The second you lose your mask, you lose your diving computer and EUR 1300.
You might realize you were born to be a bad-ass combat diver.
Seasoned divers might call you a PADI OWD (Overequipped Wannabee Diver).
Summary: If you don’t already have a bad-ass Suunto D9, I would suggest getting a bad-ass OCEANIC Datamax HUD.
Note: this mask was developed by OCEANIC with US Coastguards for navy combat-divers and the like, hence certain of it specs. When diving with that mask you are not necessarily required to lug around a waterproof M16, torpedo or 18"-diving knife.
By pdajunkee , 29/09/06 12:12 PM (CommentID #051143)
Cool idea, but it's freekin huge! Does it also contain an air tank?
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