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Suunto Gekko Instruction Manual

Other manuals for Gekko: User Manual
Manual is about: Suunto Gekko Diving Instruments: User Guide

Summary of Gekko

  • Page 1

    Www.Suunto.Com i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l g e k k o g e k k o valimotie 7 fin-01510 vantaa, finland tel. +358 9 875 870 fax +358 9 875 87301 www.Suunto.Com 6huldo qxpehu 'dwh ri sxufkdvh 3odfh ri sxufkdvh6wruh qdph 6wruh &lw\ 6wru h &rxqwu \ 6wruh vwdps zlwk gdwh ri sxufkdvh 1dph $gguhvv &lw\...

  • Page 2

    1 warning is used in connection with a procedure or situation that may result in serious injury or death. Caution is used in connection with a procedure or situation that will result in damage to the product. Note is used to emphasize important information. Definition of warnings, cautions and notes...

  • Page 3

    2 iso 9001 suunto oy’s quality assurance system is certified by det norske veritas to be according to the iso 9001 in all suunto oy’s operations (quality certifi- cate no. 96-hel-aq-220). Suunto oy does not assume any responsibility for losses or claims by third parties, which may arise through the ...

  • Page 4: Warning!

    3 warning! Read this manual! Carefully read this instruction manual in its en- tirety paying close attention to all warnings listed below, including section 1.1. “safety precautions”. Make sure that you fully understand the use, dis- plays and limitations of the dive computer because any confusion r...

  • Page 5: Warning!

    4 warning! Suunto strongly recommends that sport divers limit their maximum depth to 40 m [130 ft] or to the depth cal- culated by the computer based on the selected o 2 % and a maximum po 2 of 1.4 bar! Warning! Dives with required decompression stops are not rec- ommended. You should ascend and beg...

  • Page 6: Warning!

    5 work (dan) in chapter 3.5.3. “flying after diving”. There can never be a flying after diving rule that is guaranteed to completely prevent decompres- sion illness! Warning! The dive computer should never be traded or shared between users while it is in operation! Its information will not apply to ...

  • Page 7: Warning!

    6 warning! Set the correct personal adjustment mode! Whenever it is believed that factors that tend to increase the possibility of dci exist, it is recommended that you use this option to make the calculations more conser- vative. Failure to select the correct personal adjustment setting will result...

  • Page 8: Table of Contents

    7 table of contents warnings .................................................................................. 3 1. Introduction ..................................................................... 9 1.1. Safety precautions .......................................................... 9 1.1.1. Emerge...

  • Page 9

    8 3.7. High altitude dives and personal adjustment ...................................................... 34 3.7.1. Altitude adjustment .............................................................. 34 3.7.2. Personal adjustment .............................................................. 35 3.8. ...

  • Page 10: 1. Introduction

    9 1. Introduction congratulations on your purchase of the suunto gekko dive computer. The gekko builds on the suunto tradition of delivering feature-rich easy-use dive computers. Push button controls access a wide selection of choices and the dis- play is optimized for the dive mode chosen. This div...

  • Page 11: 1.1.1. Emergency Ascents

    10 the use, displays and limitations of the instrument. If you have any questions about the manual or the dive computer, contact your suunto dealer before diving with the dive computer. Always remember that you are responsible for your own safe- ty! When used properly, the dive computer is an outsta...

  • Page 12

    11 however, when the gas mix is altered, the oxygen content of the mix is generally increased. This increase exposes the diver to an oxygen toxicity risk not usually considered in recreational diving. In order to manage this risk, the dive compu- ter tracks the time and intensity of the oxygen expos...

  • Page 13: 2. Getting Acquainted

    12 2. Getting acquainted 2.1. Functions the suunto gekko can be set to function as a regular air dive computer or as a nitrox dive computer. The gekko features two dive computer models (air, nitrox), three main operating modes (time/stand-by, surface, diving), two menu based main modes (memory, set)...

  • Page 14

    13 press the smart (mode) button • to activate the dive computer. • to change from the surface mode to the menu based modes. • to select, confirm or quit a submode (short press). • to immediately exit any submode to the surface mode (long press). Press the arrow up scroll (plan) button • to activate...

  • Page 15: 2.3. Water Contacts

    14 2.3. Water contacts the water contacts control the automatic activation of the dive mode. The water and data transfer contacts are located on bottom of the case (fig 2.3). When submerged the water contacts are connected to the push buttons (which are the other pole of the water contact) by the co...

  • Page 16: 3. Diving With The Gekko

    15 3. Diving with the gekko this section contains instructions on how to oper- ate the dive computer and interpret its displays. You will find that this dive computer is easy to use and read. Each display shows only the data relevant to that specific diving situation. 3.1 before diving 3.1.1. Activa...

  • Page 17

    16 at this time, perform your prechecks making sure that: • the instrument operates in the correct mode and provides a complete display (air/ nitrox modes) • the low battery indicator is not on • the altitude and personal adjustment settings are correct • the instrument displays correct units of mea...

  • Page 18: 3.1.2.  Battery Indication

    17 3.1.2. Battery indication 3.1.2.1. Battery power indicator this dive computer has a unique graphic battery power indicator designed to give you an advance notice of impending need to change the battery. The battery power indicator can always be seen when the dive mode is activat- ed. The followin...

  • Page 19: 3.1.3. Dive Planning [Plan]

    18 3.1.3. Dive planning [plan] to enter planning mode, press the plan button at any time during surface mode. After showing the text “plan” (fig. 3.5.), the display will show the no- decompression limit for the depth of 9 m [30 ft]. By pressing the down arrow ( m ) (time) button, the dive computer w...

  • Page 20: 3.2. Safety Stops

    19 3.1.4. User definable functions and alarms the gekko has several user definable functions and depth and time related alarms that you can set according to your personal preference. The dive computer model (air/nitrox) can be set in the mode- set- model submode. The dive alarms can be set under mod...

  • Page 21: 3.3. Diving With The Gekko

    20 mandatory safety stop will depend on the severity of the ascent rate excess. The stop sign will appear in the display and when you reach the depth zone between 6 m to 3 m [20 ft to 10] also the ceiling label, ceiling depth and the calculated safety stop time appear in the display. You should wait...

  • Page 22: 3.3.2. Bookmark

    21 all information on the display is labeled (fig. 3.6). During a no-decompression stop dive, the follow- ing information will be displayed: - your present depth in meters [ft] - the maximum depth during this dive in meters [ft], indicated as max - the available no-decompression time in minutes in t...

  • Page 23: 3.3.4. Ascent Rate Indicator

    22 3.3.3. Consumed bottom time (cbt) the available no-decompression stop time is also shown visually in the multi- function bar graph on the left side of the display (fig. 3.7. And 3.8.). When your available no-decompression time decreases below 200 minutes, the first (low- est) bar graph segment ap...

  • Page 24: Warning!

    23 when the maximum allowed ascent rate is exceed- ed, the fifth slow warning segment and the stop sign appear and the depth reading starts to blink, indicating that the maximum ascent rate has been exceeded continuously or that the current ascent rate is significantly above the allowed rate. Whenev...

  • Page 25: Warning!

    24 rather than requiring you to make stops at fixed depths, the dive computer lets you to decompress within a range of depths (continuous decompres- sion). The ascent time (asc time) is the minimum amount of time needed to reach the surface in a de- compression dive. It includes: • the time needed t...

  • Page 26: Warning!

    25 when in decompression, it is important that you understand the meaning of ceiling, floor, and decompression range (fig. 3.19.): - the ceiling is the shallowest depth to which you should ascend when in decompression. At this depth, or below, you must perform all stops. - the ceiling zone is the op...

  • Page 27

    26 display above the floor when you ascend above the floor, the asc time display stops blinking and the upward pointing ar- row disappears (fig. 3.16.). Decompression will now begin, but is very slow. You should therefore con- tinue your ascent. Display at the ceiling zone when you reach the ceiling...

  • Page 28: 3.4. Diving In Nitrox Mode

    27 3.4. Diving in nitrox mode 3.4.1. Before diving the gekko can be set for diving with standard air only (air mode) or it can be set for diving with enriched air nitrox (nitrox mode). If you are educated for nitrox diving and you plan to make nitrox dives, it is recommended that you set the dive co...

  • Page 29: 3.4.2. Oxygen Displays

    28 note as a safety precaution the oxygen calculations in the computer are made with an oxygen percentage of 1% + seto 2 % . Default nitrox settings in the nitrox mode, when set to standard air (21% o 2 ), the instrument can be used as an air dive com- puter. It remains in this air mode until the o ...

  • Page 30: 3.4.3. Oxygen Limit Fraction

    29 graph along the left side of the display (instead of the cbt). In dive mode, the oxygen percentage labeled with o 2 % and the current oxygen toxicity exposure shown with an oxygen limit fraction (olf) bar graph are shown (fig. 3.21. And fig. 3.22.). During a dive, the oxygen partial pressure, lab...

  • Page 31: 3.5. At The Surface

    30 icity calculations are based on the factors listed in section 6.3. “oxygen exposure”. 3.5. At the surface 3.5.1. Surface interval an ascent to any depth shallower than 1.2 m [4 ft] will cause the diving display to be replaced by the surface display, giving the following infor- mation (fig. 3.26.)...

  • Page 32: 3.5.2. Dive Numbering

    31 if set to nitrox mode, the following information will also be shown: - the oxygen percentage labeled with o2% is shown on the left side of the center window - the current oxygen toxicity exposure shown with an oxygen limit fraction (olf) bar graph along the left side of the display. 3.5.2. Dive n...

  • Page 33

    32 computer counts down the no-flying time. Note! The airplane symbol is not shown on the stand-by display. You should always activate the dive computer and check that the airplane symbol is not displayed prior to flying. The no-flying time is always at least 12 hours or equivalent to the so-called ...

  • Page 34

    33 3.6. Audible and visual alarms the dive computer features audible alarms to advise when important limits are approached or to acknowledge preset alarms. A short single beep occurs, when: - the dive computer is activated. - when the dive computer automatically returns to the time mode. Three singl...

  • Page 35: Warning!

    34 - the olf bar graph reaches 100%. The blinking of the segments exceeding 80% will stop, when the olf is not loading anymore. At that point the po 2 is less than 0.5 bar. Continuous beeps for 3 minutes occur, when: - the set oxygen partial pressure limit is exceeded. The maximum depth is replaced ...

  • Page 36: 3.7.2. Personal Adjustment

    35 traveling to a higher elevation can temporarily cause a change in the equilibri- um of dissolved nitrogen in the body. It is recommended that you acclimate to the new altitude by waiting at least three hours before making a dive. 3.7.2. Personal adjustment there are adverse personal factors for d...

  • Page 37: 3.8. Error Conditions

    36 3.8. Error conditions the dive computer has warning indicators that alert the user to react to certain situations that would significantly increase the risk of dci. If you do not re- spond to its warnings, the dive computer will enter an error mode, indicating that the risk of dci has greatly inc...

  • Page 38: 4. Menu Based Modes

    37 4. Menu based modes to make yourself familiar with the menu based func- tions, please use your quick reference guide sup- plied with the gekko together with the informa- tion in this chapter. The main menu based functions are grouped under 1) memory and 2) setting modes. The use of the menu based...

  • Page 39: 4.1. Memory Functions

    38 the list of the menu based modes 1. Memory functions [1 memory] 1. Logbook and dive profile memory [1 logbook] 2. Dive history memory [2 history] 3. Pc settings [3 pc set] 2. Set modes [2 set] 1. Air or nitrox oxygen settings [1 model] 2. Set alarms [2 set alms] 1. Maximum depth alarm setting 2. ...

  • Page 40: Memory [1 Logbook]

    39 dive time dive page 4 quit 4.1.1. Logbook and dive profile memory [1 logbook] this instrument has a very sophisticated high ca- pacity logbook and profile memory, with a data recording interval of 30 seconds. Dives shorter than the recording interval are not registered. To enter the logbook memor...

  • Page 41

    40 page ii (fig. 4.7.) • dive number in the dive series • maximum depth (note! Due to lower resolution, the reading may differ from the maximum depth reading of the dive history up to 0.3 m [1 ft].) • total dive time • temperature at the maximum depth • altitude adjustment setting • personal adjustm...

  • Page 42

    41 fig. 4.10. Logbook, page i. Press smart (select) button once to be able to scroll between different dives. Fig. 4.11. Logbook, end of the memory. End text is displayed between oldest and the most recent dive. Press the smart (select) button once to change the scroll buttons to scroll the differen...

  • Page 43: 4.1.2. Dive History Memory

    42 4.1.2. Dive history memory [2 history] the dive history is a summary of all the dives re- corded by the dive computer. To enter the dive his- tory memory mode select mode- memory- his- tory (fig. 4.12.). The following information will be shown on the dis- play (fig. 4.13.): • the maximum depth ev...

  • Page 44: 4.2. Set Modes [2 Set]

    43 4.2. Set modes [2 set] the set mode (fig. 4.15.) is divided into four sub- modes: dive computer model setting, alarm settings, time setting and personal adjustments. 4.2.1. Dive computer model settings[1 set model ] in the model setting mode the gekko can be set to function in air or nitrox model...

  • Page 45: 4.2.2.2. Maximum Depth

    44 4.2.2.1. Dive time alarm setting the instrument has one dive time alarm setting, which can be used for several purposes to add to your diving safety. The alarm can be set, for exam- ple, to your planned bottom time. Set the dive time alarm on or off and the alarm time from 1 to 999 minutes. (fig....

  • Page 46

    45 fig. 4.22. Adjusting time fig. 4.23. Adjusting date. Fig. 4.24. Adjustment setting mode fig. 4.27. Setting metric/ imperial units. Fig. 4.26. Setting personal adjustment. Press scroll buttons to change personal mode. Fig. 4.25. Setting altitude adjustment. Press scroll buttons to change altitude ...

  • Page 47: 5. Care and Maintenance

    46 5. Care and maintenance this suunto dive computer is a sophisticated precision instrument. Though designed to withstand the rigors of scuba diving you must treat it with proper care and caution as any other precision instrument. 5.1. Important information water contacts and push buttons contamina...

  • Page 48: 5.3. Maintenance

    47 like scuba cylinders, nor chemicals like gasoline, cleaning solvents, aerosol sprays, adhesive agents, paint, acetone, alcohol etc. Chemical reactions with such agents will damage seals, case and finish. • store your dive computer in a dry place when you are not using it. • the dive computer will...

  • Page 49: 5.5. Battery Replacement

    48 in case of a leak, immediately take the dive computer to an authorized suun- to dealer or distributor. 5.5. Battery replacement note! It is advisable to contact an authorized suunto dealer for battery replacement. It is imperative that the change is made in a proper manner to avoid any leakage of...

  • Page 50

    49 follow the procedure below: 1. Remove the computer from the console or boot. Wrist model: • pull off the boot. Remove it first from the front end with the longer part of the strap. • disassemble the shorter part of the strap with a flat 1.5 mm screwdriver or a special tool for spring bars. The lo...

  • Page 51: Caution!

    50 11. Reinstall the battery retainer in its correct position. 12. Check that the new lubricated o-ring is in good condition. Put it in the right position on the battery compartment. Be very careful not to get any dirt on the o-ring or its sealing surfaces. 13. Carefully press the lid onto the batte...

  • Page 52

    51 complete strap (v5841) short strap with buckle (v5836) spring bar (k5588) long strap (k5592) fig. 5.2 opening of the securing ring. Securing ring (v5844) battery compartment lid with buzzer (v5843) o-ring (k5664) battery retainer (v5842) battery (k5597) fig. 5.1 instrument parts. The code after t...

  • Page 53: 6. Technical Description

    52 6. Technical description 6.1. Operating principles no-decompression limits the no-decompression limits displayed by the dive computer for the first dive to a single depth (see table 6.1. And table 6.2.), are slightly more conservative than those permitted by the u.S. Navy tables. Table 6.1. No-de...

  • Page 54

    53 table 6.2. No-decompression time limits (min) for various depths [ft] for the first dive of a series altitude diving the atmospheric pressure is lower at high altitudes than at sea level. After traveling to a higher altitude, the diver will have additional nitrogen in his body, compared to the eq...

  • Page 55: Model (Rgbm)

    54 6.2. Suunto reduced gradient bubble model (rgbm) the suunto reduced gradient bubble model (rgbm) is a modern algorithm for predicting both dissolved and free gas in the tissues and blood of divers. It was developed in a co-operation between suunto and bruce r. Wienke bsc, msc. Phd. It is based on...

  • Page 56: 6.3. Oxygen Exposure

    55 6.3. Oxygen exposure the oxygen exposure calculations are based on currently accepted exposure time limit tables and principles. In addition to this the dive computer uses several methods to conservatively estimate the oxygen exposure. These include for ex- ample: - the displayed oxygen exposure ...

  • Page 57

    56 - maximum depth of operation: 80 m [262 ft] (complying with en 13319). - accuracy: ± 1% of full scale or better from 0 to 80 m [262 ft] at 20°c [68°f] (complying with en 13319). - depth display range: 0 … 99,9 m [328 ft]. - resolution: 0.1 m from 0 to 99,9 m [1 ft from 0 to 328 ft]. Temperature d...

  • Page 58

    57 operating conditions - normal altitude range: 0 to 3000 m [10000 ft] above sea level. - operating temperature: 0°c to 40°c [32°f to 104°f]. - storage temperature: -20°c to +50°c [ -4°f to +122°f]. It is recommended that the instrument be stored in a dry place at room tempera- ture. Note! Do not l...

  • Page 59

    58 - the quality of the battery (some lithium batteries may exhaust unexpect- edly, which cannot be tested in advance). - the time the dive computer has been stored until it gets to the customer. The battery is installed into the unit at the factory. Note! Low temperature or an internal oxidation of...

  • Page 60: 7. Warranty

    59 7. Warranty note! The warranty arrangements are different in different countries. The dive computer packaging contains information regarding the warranty benefits and requirements applicable to your purchase. This suunto dive computer is warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for ...

  • Page 61: Suuntosports.Com

    60 8. Suuntosports.Com suuntosports.Com is an international free web community where you can refine and share the data that you have measured with your personal suunto instru- ment and analyzed with the sport-specific pc interface. Suuntosports.Com of- fers you a number of features that help you to ...

  • Page 62: 8.3. Getting Started

    61 displayed in your personal information. Here you can also manage them and decide if they can be presented to all other community users or just to limited groups. When you have uploaded logs to suuntosports.Com, you can create charts from the dive related data in the logs. You can also publish you...

  • Page 63: 9. Glossary

    62 9. Glossary altitude dive a dive made at an elevation greater than 300 m [1000 ft] above sea level. Ascent rate the speed at which the diver ascends toward the surface. Asc rate abbreviation for ascent rate. Ascent time the minimum amount of time needed to reach the surface on a decompression sto...

  • Page 64

    63 dive series a group of repetitive dives between which the dive computer indicates some nitrogen loading is present. When nitrogen loading reaches zero the dive computer deactivates. Dive time elapsed time between leaving the surface to descend, and returning to the surface at the end of a dive. E...

  • Page 65

    64 oxygen limit fraction a term used by suunto for the values displayed in the oxygen toxicity bargraph. The value is either the cns% or the otu%. O 2 % oxygen percentage or oxygen fraction in the breathing gas. Standard air has 21% oxygen. Oxygen partial pressure limits the maximum depth to which t...

  • Page 66

    Quick reference guide ° f ° c ft max avgp o 2 no dec time st op time time surf dive o2% asc time ceiling ok quit select options no s l o w t c b olf dive m low battery w arning temperature w eek day mode t ext personal adjustment mode do not fly icon bar graph: - mode indicator - consumed botton t i...