The Suunto Stinger was a pretty decent wrist worn dive computer, it was exceptional at the time. I really liked the look of the Stinger, it made a diver fashion statement to identify a diver well before dive fashion brands took off. Plenty of people wanted a Suunto Stinger as their dive computer and daily wearing watch, it is a pretty big daily wearer watch though.

The Vyper took off at the same time, just about every divemaster and dive instructor had either the larger wrist mounted plastic Vyper dive computer or the smaller stainless steel case and bracelet Stinger watch/dive computer. The newer range of Suunto dive computers sported the RGBM algorithm, a series of profiles I was not so enthusiastic about, what was great at the time was the safety stop timer – that was a real hit.

Then Suunto came up with the D4, D6 and D9 dive computers with rubber straps and eventually the Stinger went out of production. I knew a German dive shop owner who requested to Suunto that they offer the Singer to him. Suunto were happy to reopen the production line again for 100 units that he promptly sold through his chain of dive shops.

My former partner now living back in Japan was interested in snapping one up as well. She was pretty stylish, she knew what she liked and had the disposal funds to purchase quality products. I missed my chance and ended up with the D6 computer, good for single dives only and was harsh on batteries. The Stinger is not an easy battery change either, it is pretty expensive and based on my D6 experience, the batteries do not last all that long so I am not keen on the Suunto battery life.