VR3 dive computer

[Mark Y]

I've been diving a VR3 (for the past 16 dives) and really enjoy it. I've the 'wet link' which connects the computer into the Dolphin SCR counter lung with an O2 sensor, which tracks my FO2 and decompression time on the fly. It also has a nice Dive Planner mode.

The negatives? The dive manual, well, takes awhile to get used to and understand (it could be much better) and although the battery & compartment are supposed to be user friendly, it is not friendly with me. A couple of nights ago I wanted to change the battery, the manual suggests it can be "accessed using a coin or a screwdriver." Yeah, right! Eventually I opened it with a Stanley "Mini Wonderbar" with much cosmetic damage to the screw cap. Now I cannot get it properly closed as the two "O" rings keep popping out of the threads! Grrrr. I did get the battery in and enough pressure on the cap to get the VR3 to start up again but it seems to have misplaced my dives logged and thinks it's 1996.

Does anyone have a good method for removing and replacing the battery cap? Something I can pick up at my local hardware store vs. having it machined? Let me know!

Over all, I'd buy it again. It is a very versatile computer will cover most, if not all, of my near future diving needs. I also dive with a Mosquito (OC & SRC) and Aladdin Air X (OC) and I like those as well, although I wish my Aladdin was upgradable to Nitrox!