Suunto D6 User Manual

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1. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SUUNTO DIVING INSTRUMENTS .. ... ... ... . 7

2. WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, AND NOTES . . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 9

3. SUUNTO D6 AT A GLANCE .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 15

3.1. Navigating in the menus . ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . . 16

3.2. Button symbols and functions ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . 17

4. GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR SUUNTO D6 . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 19

4.1. TIME mode settings . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... . 19

4.1.1. Setting the alarm ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . .. 20

4.1.2. Setting the time . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... . 21

4.1.3. Setting the dual time .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 21

4.1.4. Setting the date ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... .. 22

4.1.5. Setting the units . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 22

4.1.6. Setting the backlight . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . 23

4.1.7. Setting the tones . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . . 23

4.2. Stopwatch . . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 24

4.3. AC water contacts . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. 25

4.4. Learning how to use your compass . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... .. 26

4.4.1. Compass display .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... 27

4.4.2. Locking a bearing . ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . 28

4.4.3. Compass settings ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . . 29

5. BEFORE DIVING ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... 32

5.1. The Suunto RGBM/Deep Stop Algorithm .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . 33

5.2. Emergency ascents .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... .. 33

5.3. Dive computer limitations ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... .. 34

5.4. Nitrox . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... . 34

5.5. Freediving . . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 34

5.6. Audible and visual alarms ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... . 35

5.7. Error conditions . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... 39

5.8. DIVE mode settings . . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... 40

5.8.1. Setting the depth alarm ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... .. 41

5.8.2. Setting the dive-time alarm .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... .. 42

5.8.3. Setting the nitrox values . ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... 42

5.8.4. Setting the personal/altitude adjustments ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 44

5.8.5. Setting the sample rate . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . 44

5.8.6. Setting the Safety Stops/Deep Stops .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 45

5.8.7. Setting the RGBM values .. . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 45

5.9. Activation and pre-checks . . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 46

5.9.1. Accessing DIVE mode . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 46

5.9.2. DIVE mode activation ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... . 46

5.9.3. Battery power indication . ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... 48

5.9.4. Diving at altitude .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... . 49

5.9.5. Personal adjustments ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... . 50

5.10. Safety Stops . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... . 52

5.10.1. Recommended Safety Stops . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... .. 52

5.10.2. Mandatory Safety Stops .. ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... 53

5.11. Deep stops . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... 55

6. DIVING . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... .. 56

6.1. Diving in AIR mode (DIVEair) .. ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 56

6.1.1. Basic dive data . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . 56

6.1.2. Bookmark . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . 58

6.1.3. Ascent rate indicator .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 59

6.1.4. Safety Stops and Deep Stops . . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... .. 60

6.1.5. Decompression dives . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... 60

6.2. Diving in NITROX mode (DIVEean) ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . . 65

6.2.1. Before diving in NITROX mode ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. 66

6.2.2. Oxygen displays . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... 67

6.2.3. Oxygen limit fraction (OLF) ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . 69

6.2.4. Gas change and multiple breathing gas mixes . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... 70

6.3. Diving in GAUGE mode (DIVEgauge) . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 71

7. AFTER DIVING . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 73

7.1. At the surface .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... 73

7.1.1. Surface interval . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... . 73

7.1.2. Dive numbering ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... .. 74

7.1.3. Repetitive dive planning .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... .. 75

7.1.4. Flying after diving .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . .. 75

7.1.5. MEMORY mode ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. 76

7.1.6. Suunto Dive Manager (SDM) ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 81

7.1.7. SuuntoSports.com .. . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 82

8. CARE AND MAINTENANCE ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 84

8.1. Water contacts and buttons .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... 84

8.2. Care of your dive computer ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 84

8.3. Maintenance ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... 85

8.4. Water resistance inspection ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... .. 86

8.5. Battery replacement .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... .. 87

9. TECHNICAL DATA ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... .. 88

9.1. Technical specifications .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... . 88

9.2. RGBM . ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . 91

9.2.1. Suunto RGBM adaptive decompression ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... . 92

9.2.2. No-decompression limits ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... 93

9.2.3. Altitude diving ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... 95

9.3. Oxygen exposure . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... 96

10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY . . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . .. . .. 97

10.1. Copyright . . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... . 97

10.2. Trademark . . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... ... . .. 97

10.3. Patent notice . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... . 97

11. DISCLAIMERS . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 98

11.1. User’s responsibility . ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... .. 98

11.2. Limits of liability and ISO 9001 compliance . ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... . 98

11.3. After sales service .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 99

12. WARRANTY ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... 100

13. DISPOSAL OF THE DEVICE . . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . . 102

GLOSSARY .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . .. . ... ... ... ... . .. . ... .. 103

1. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SUUNTO DIVING INSTRUMENTS

Suunto D6 was designed to help you get the most out of your diving. After reading this manual and becoming familiar with the functions of your dive computer, you'll be ready to take the plunge into a whole new world of diving.

With integrated digital compass and gas switching, Suunto D6 simplifies your diving experience because all the information you need relating to depth, time, decompression status, and direction is available on one easy-to-read screen – not hanging off you in a tangle of different gauges.

To get the most out of your Suunto D6, please read this instruction manual carefully and make sure you understand the use, displays, and limitations of the instrument before using it. To make life easier, we've included a glossary of dive-specific terminology at the back of the manual.

2. WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, AND NOTES

Throughout this manual, important safety icons are displayed. Three classifications are used to separate these icons by their order of importance:

WARNING

is used in connection with a procedure or situation that could result in serious injury or death

CAUTION

is used in connection with a procedure or situation that could result in damage to the device

NOTE

is used to emphasize important information

Before you go on to read the manual itself, it is extremely important that you read the following warnings. These warnings are intended to maximize your safety while using Suunto D6 and must not be ignored.

WARNING

READ THIS MANUAL! Carefully read this manual in its entirety, paying close attention to all the warnings listed below, including Section 5. BEFORE DIVING. Make sure that you fully understand the use, displays and limitations of the dive computer, because any confusion resulting from neglecting to follow this user's manual or from improper use of this device could cause you to commit errors that may lead to serious injury or death.

WARNING

NOT FOR PROFESSIONAL USE! Suunto dive computers are intended for recreational use only. The demands of commercial or professional diving may expose the diver to depths and conditions that tend to increase the risk of decompression illness (DCI). Therefore, Suunto strongly recommends that the device is not used for any commercial or professional diving activities.

WARNING

ONLY DIVERS TRAINED IN THE PROPER USE OF SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT SHOULD USE A DIVE COMPUTER! No dive computer can replace the need for proper dive training. Insufficient or improper training may cause you to commit errors that may lead to serious injury or death.

WARNING

THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK OF DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS (DCI) FOR ANY DIVE PROFILE, EVEN IF YOU FOLLOW THE DIVE PLAN PRESCRIBED BY DIVE TABLES OR A DIVE COMPUTER. NO PROCEDURE, DIVE COMPUTER, OR DIVE TABLE CAN PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF DCI OR OXYGEN TOXICITY! An individual’s physiological make-up can vary from day to day. The dive computer cannot account for these variations. You are strongly advised to remain well within the exposure limits provided by the instrument to minimize the risk of DCI. As an added precaution, you should consult a physician regarding your fitness before diving.

WARNING

SUUNTO STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT SPORT DIVERS LIMIT THEIR MAXIMUM DEPTH TO 40 M/130 FT OR TO THE DEPTH CALCULATED BY THE COMPUTER BASED ON THE SELECTED O2% AND A MAXIMUM PO2OF 1.4 BAR!

WARNING

DIVES THAT REQUIRE DECOMPRESSION STOPS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED. YOU SHOULD ASCEND AND BEGIN DECOMPRESSION IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE DIVE COMPUTER SHOWS YOU THAT A DECOMPRESSION STOP IS REQUIRED! Note the blinking ASC TIME symbol and the upward pointing arrow.

WARNING

USE BACK-UP INSTRUMENTS! Make sure that you use backup instrumentation, including a depth gauge, submersible pressure gauge, timer or watch, and have access to decompression tables whenever diving with the dive computer.

WARNING

PERFORM PRE-CHECKS! Always activate and check the device before diving in order to ensure that all Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) segments are completely displayed, that the device has not run out of battery power, and that the oxygen, altitude, personal, Safety/Deep Stop, and RGBM adjustments are correct.

WARNING

YOU ARE ADVISED TO AVOID FLYING ANY TIME THE COMPUTER COUNTS DOWN THE NO-FLY TIME. ALWAYS ACTIVATE THE COMPUTER TO CHECK THE REMAINING NOFLY TIME PRIOR TO FLYING! Flying or traveling to a higher altitude within the no-fly time can greatly increase the risk of DCI. Review the recommendations given by Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) in Section 7.1.4. Flying after diving.

WARNING

THE DIVE COMPUTER SHOULD NEVER BE TRADED OR SHARED BETWEEN USERS WHILE IT IS IN OPERATION! Its information will not apply to someone who has not been wearing it throughout a dive, or sequence of repetitive dives. Its dive profiles must match that of the user. If it is left on the surface during any dive, the dive computer will give inaccurate information for subsequent dives. No dive computer can take into account dives made without the computer. Thus, any diving activity up to four days prior to initial use of the computer may cause misleading information and must be avoided.

WARNING

DO NOT DIVE WITH A CYLINDER OF ENRICHED AIR IF YOU HAVE NOT PERSONALLY VERIFIED ITS CONTENTS AND ENTERED THE ANALYZED VALUE INTO YOUR DIVE COMPUTER! Failure to verify cylinder contents and enter the appropriate O2% into your dive computer will result in incorrect dive planning information.

WARNING

THE DIVE COMPUTER WILL NOT ACCEPT FRACTIONAL PERCENTAGE VALUES OF OXYGEN CONCENTRATION. DO NOT ROUND UP FRACTIONAL PERCENTAGES! For example,

31.8% oxygen should be entered as 31%. Rounding up will cause nitrogen percentages to be understated and will affect decompression calculations. If you want to adjust the computer to provide more conservative calculations, use the personal adjustment feature to affect decompression calculations, or reduce the PO2setting to affect oxygen exposure.

WARNING

SELECT THE CORRECT ALTITUDE ADJUSTMENT SETTING! When diving at altitudes greater than 300 m/1,000 ft the Altitude Adjustment feature must be correctly selected in order for the computer to calculate the decompression status. The dive computer is not intended for use at altitudes greater than 3,000 m/10,000 ft. Failure to select the correct Altitude Adjustment setting, or diving above the maximum altitude limit will result in erroneous dive and planning data.

WARNING

SELECT THE CORRECT PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT SETTING! 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 conservative. Failure to select the correct Personal Adjustment setting will result in erroneous dive and planning data.

WARNING

This device contains a Lithium cell battery. To reduce the risk of fire or burns, do not disassemble, crush, puncture, short external contacts, or dispose of in fire or water. Replace only with manufacturer-specified batteries. Recycle or dispose of used batteries properly.

NOTE

It is not possible to change between AIR, NITROX and GAUGE modes before the instrument has counted down the no-fly time. There is one exception to this: You can change from AIR to NITROX mode even during the no-fly time. When planning both air and nitrox dives during the same dive series, you should set the instrument in NITROX mode and modify the gas mix accordingly. In GAUGE mode, the no-fly time is always 48 hours.

3. SUUNTO D6 AT A GLANCE

Safety Stop Indicator

Present Depth

No-Fly Icon

Diver

Attention Symbol

Date Dual

Time Maximum Depth PO

(Nitrox Mode)

Time

Low Battery

Warning

Ascent Rate Bar Graph

Active

Water Contact

Indicator

Seconds Display Stopwatch Weekday Dive

Time Temperature PO

(Nitrox Mode) OLF% (Nitrox Mode)

Current

Time Display Mode Indicator No-Decompression

Time Total Ascent Time Ceiling Depth Safety/Deep

Stop Time

Surface Interval

Time

No-Fly

Time

Com

pass Display

Dive

Alarm Indicator

Daily

Alarm Indicator

NOTE

If no button is pressed for 5 minutes, the dive computer beeps and returns to the TIME mode automatically.

3.1. Navigating in the menus

Suunto D6 has three main operating modes - TIME mode (TIME), DIVE mode (DIVE), and MEMORY mode (MEM) – as well as the COMPASS submode, which can be activated from either TIME or DIVE modes. To toggle between the main modes, press the MODE button. To select a submode in DIVE and MEM mode, press the UP/DOWN buttons.

3.2. Button symbols and functions

The table below explains the main functions of the dive computer's buttons. The buttons and their use will be explained in more detail in the relevant sections of the manual.

Table 3.1. Button symbols and functions

Main functionsPressButtonSymbol

Switch between main modes Switch from submode to main mode Activate backlight in DIVE mode

ShortMODE

Activate backlight in other modesLongMODE

Select a submode Select and accept settings

ShortSELECT

Activate compass in TIME and DIVE modesLongSELECT

Main functionsPressButtonSymbol

Toggle between alternative displays Change submode Increase values

ShortUP

Enable gas switching in NITROX modeLongUP

Toggle between alternative displays Change submode Decrease values

ShortDOWN

Enter Setting mode

LongDOWN

4. GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR SUUNTO D6

To get the most out of your Suunto D6, take some time to personalize it and really make it YOUR computer. Set the correct time and date, as well as the alarms and tones, unit and backlight settings, then calibrate and test the compass function.

Suunto D6 is a very user-friendly dive computer, and you will quickly become familiar with its functions. Make absolutely sure that you know your computer and have it set up as you want it BEFORE getting into the water.

4.1. TIME mode settings

The first thing you'll want to do with your Suunto D6, is to set the TIME mode shortcuts: alarm, time, dual time, date, units, backlight, and tones. In this section, we look at how to do this.

Before that, however, take a look at the figure below, which shows how to toggle between different shortcuts in the TIME mode.

NOTE

The seconds display reverts to date display after 5 minutes in order to save battery power.

NOTE

The display is illuminated by holding down the MODE button for more than 2 seconds.

Now that you know how to toggle between the shortcuts, you can start to set them. The following figure shows how to enter the TIME SETTINGS menu.

USE UP AND DOWN BUTTONS

TO TOGGLE BETWEEN ALARM, TIME,

DUAL TIME, DATE, UNITS, BACKLIGHT

AND

TONES.

4.1.1. Setting the alarm

The dive computer has a daily alarm function. When the daily alarm activates, the screen blinks and the alarm sounds for 24 seconds. Press any button to stop the alarm.