One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a scuba diver hasn’t been how to clear a flooded mask or how to hover effortlessly in perfect trim, although both of those skills were challenging to learn. The biggest challenge I have found is to find gear that fits.  In fact, my quest for well-fitted dive gear is what ultimately garnered me a job at Dive Rite…I was trying to learn how to sidemount and needed a rig designed for my petite frame. I knew Dive Rite was the only company that had gear designed for all shapes and sizes and if they couldn’t fit me, they would do a custom rig.

I happen to know that I’m not the only diver who is frustrated with gear designed for a 6-foot tall male or has a footprint the size of Sasquatch. The beauty of diving is the effortlessness that comes from being free of gravity. To glide rather than walk, to travel easily with speed, to move with grace and explore! The last thing I want is to take Sasquatch along for the ride.

This brings me to write this shout-out for the Dive Rite NiTek Q dive computer, which I love. The reason I love it? It has a tiny footprint, yet packs all the features required of a 2-gas or mixed-gas computer and displays them on a HUGE screen. Now I have a dive computer that sits upon my arm that I can read and easily scroll through the menus. Other dive computers are so big and heavy that they won’t stay put and flop around my wrist. I find myself constantly repositioning them on the dive, which is annoying and anti-productive.

Ah, thank you, Dive Rite, for once again delivering just what I need!

Kathleen Byars, Marketing Director

Too BIG!                                      Screen too tiny                         This one is just right!

The NiTek Q Workbench software is ready for release and a link is available on our website. The Windows version was developed for Windows 7 and the Mac version is ready for Snow Leopard and Mountain Lion. The communications are plug and play, just follow the directions on screen to install, you must have a broadband internet connection to install the software. After it’s installed another screen will indicate when its ready for offline use. For best results try to have an internet connection when accessing the program so it can check for software updates. This version works with Nitek Q units with firmware 2.0 and higher. As soon as the next version is ready (later this month) computers with earlier firmware versions can be updated via the Workbench and will then work with all the functions in Workbench.

The bungee mount is available as an option for divers who prefer that mounting to a standard strap. See Dive Rite TV for installation instructions.

Lamar

Nitek Q computers are in stock and available for immediate shipment. We have changed the USB plug to red along with the sealing o-ring so the diver has high contrast between the computer and seal. Whenever you remove the USB cable and activate the screen (by pushing either button) it displays “remember to replace the USB cap” and this screen will not go away until you hold the left (A button) for five seconds.

We have now repackaged the standard options to make it easy for divers. The basic model is two-gas, Nitrox and the Trimix model is full seven-gas, Trimix mode. All the other options can be purchased as desired and this keeps the price competitive based on the main features divers have asked us for.

The Nitek Q4 comes with full, seven-gas Trimix as well and closed circuit mode unlocked. When choosing between the Q and Q4 remember the only feature the Q4 has that the standard Q can’t do is monitor a 4th cell in a rebreather. The Q4 is more expensive because of the “Fischer” cable interface for direct connection to an oxygen sensor in the rebreather.

Thanks to all our customers for your patience during this long delay. This certainly wasn’t our goal and we appreciate everyone who stood by us along the way.

Lamar