Suunto Stinger User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Stinger
Dive Computers

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Present Depth
Maximum Depth
Average Depth in Logbook
Fast Ascent Warning
(SLOW)
ACW Indicator
Do Not Fly Icon
Bar Graph:
- Ascent Rate
- Battery Power
- Mode Indicator
Diver Attention Symbol
Temperature
Maximum Depth
Mode Text
Oxygen Percentage in Nitrox
Mode
Week Day
Timer Hours and Minutes
Low Battery Warning
Altitude Adjustment
Mode
Personal Adjustment
Mode
Safety Stop Warning
Safety Stop Indicator
Bar Graph:
- Mode Indicator
- Oxygen Limit Fraction
Daily Alarm
On Indicator
Dive Time
Dive Counter
Oxygen Partial Pressure
in Nitrox Mode
Time
Dual Time
Day, Month
Timer Seconds
Oxygen Partial Pressure
Dive Alarm
On Indicator
Current Time Display
No-Decompression Time
Surface Interval Time
No Flying Time
Total Ascent Time
Ceiling Depth on Decompression Stop
Safety Stop Time
Mandatory Safety Stop Depth and Time
AM/PM Indicator
Arrows:
- Decompression Stop
at the Ceiling Depth
- Mandatory Safety Stop Zone
- Ascent Recommended
- Must Descend

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DEFINITION OF WARNINGS, CAUTIONS AND NOTES
Throughout this manual, special re erences are made when deemed important. Three
classi ications are used to separate these re erences by their order o importance.
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 in ormation.
COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK AND PATENT NOTICE
This instruction manual is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. It may not, in
whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to
any media without prior written consent rom SUUNTO.
SUUNTO, STINGER, Oxygen Limit Fraction (OLF), SUUNTO Reduced Gradient
Bubble Model (RGBM), Continuous Decompression and their logos are all registered
or unregistered trademarks o SUUNTO. All rights are reserved.
Patents have been issued or applied or one or several eatures o this product.
CE
The CE mark is used to mark con ormity with the European Union EMC directive
89/336/EEC. The SUUNTO dive instruments ul ill all the required EU directives.

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FIOH, Laajaniityntie 1, FIN-01620 Vantaa, Finland, noti ied body no.0430, has EC
type-examined this type o personal protective equipment.
This instrument must be serviced by an authorized dealer every second year or a ter
500 dives (whichever comes irst). See chapter 6.
PrEN 13319
PrEN 13319 "Diving accessories - Depth gauges and combined depth and time
measuring devices - Functional and sa ety requirements, test methods" is a European
diving depth gauge standard dra t. The STINGER is designed to comply with this
dra t standard.
ISO 9001
SUUNTO Oyj's Quality Assurance System is certi ied by Det Norske Veritas to be
according to the ISO 9001 in all SUUNTO Oyj's operations (Quality Certi icate No.
96-HEL-AQ-220).
SUUNTO Oyj does not assume any responsibility or losses or claims by third
parties, which may arise through the use o this device.
Due to continuous product development, the STINGER is subject to change without
notice.

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WARNING
Read this manual. Care ully read this instruction manual in its entirety paying
close attention to all warnings listed below, including chapter 1.1. "Sa ety
Precautions". Make sure that you ully understand the use, displays and limitations
o the dive computer because any con usion resulting rom neglecting to ollow
this instruction manual or rom improper use o this device may cause a diver to
commit errors that may lead to serious injury or death.
WARNING
Not or pro essional use. Suunto dive computers are intended or recreational
use only. The demands o commercial or pro essional diving may expose the
diver to depths and exposures that tend to increase the risk o decompression
illness (DCI). There ore, Suunto strongly recommends that the device be not
used or commercial or pro essional diving activity.
WARNING
Only divers trained in the proper use o scuba diving equipment should use a
dive computer. No dive computer can replace the need or proper dive training.
Insu icient or improper training may cause diver to commit errors that may lead
to serious injury or death.

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WARNING
There is always a risk o decompression illness (dci) or any dive pro ile even i
you ollow the dive plan prescribed by dive tables or a dive computer. no
procedure, dive computer or dive table will prevent the possibility o dci or oxygen
toxicity. An individual's physiological make up can vary rom day to day. The
dive computer cannot account or these variations. You are strongly advised
to remain well within the exposure limits provided by the instrument to minimize
the risk o DCI. As an added measure o sa ety, you should consult a physician
regarding your itness be ore diving.
WARNING
Suunto strongly recommends that sport divers limit their maximum depth to 40
m [130 t] or to the depth calculated by the computer based on the selected O2%
and a maximum PO2 o 1.4 bar settings.
WARNING
Dives with required 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 back-up instrumentation
including a depth gauge, submersible pressure gauge, timer or watch, and have
access to decompression tables whenever diving with a dive computer.

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WARNING
Per orm prechecks. Always activate and check the device be ore diving in order
to ensure that all Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) segments are completely
displayed, that the device has not run out o battery power, and that the oxygen,
altitude and personal adjustments are correct. Also, exit the Data Trans er mode
be ore diving, as the computer does not automatically revert to Dive mode rom
Data Trans er mode.
WARNING
You are advised not to ly any time the computer counts down the no- lying
time. always activate the computer to check the remaining no- ly time prior to
lying. The computer goes into the stand-by display automatically 5 minutes
a ter sur acing. Flying or traveling to a higher altitude within no- ly time can
greatly increase the risk o DCI. Review the recommendations given by Diver's
Alert Network (DAN) in chapter 3.2.3.4. "Flying A ter Diving". There can never
be a lying a ter diving rule that is guaranteed to completely prevent
decompression illness!
WARNING
The dive computer should never be traded or shared between users while it is in
operation. Its in ormation will not apply to someone who has not been wearing it
throughout a dive or sequence o repetitive dives. Its dive pro iles must match
that o the user. I it is le t on the sur ace during any dive, it will give inaccurate
in ormation or subsequent dives. No dive computer can take into account dives
made without the computer. Thus any diving activity up to our days prior to
initial use o the computer may cause misleading in ormation and must be avoided.

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WARNING
Do not dive with a cylinder o enriched air i you have not personally veri ied its
contents and entered the analyzed value into your dive computer. Failure to veri y
cylinder contents and enter the appropriate O
2
% into your dive computer will
result in incorrect dive planning in ormation.
WARNING
The dive computer will not accept ractional percentage values o oxygen
concentration. do not round up ractional percentages. For example, 31.8%
oxygen should be entered as 31%. Rounding up will cause nitrogen percentages
to be understated and will a ect decompression calculations. I there is a desire
to adjust the computer to provide more conservative calculations, use the personal
adjustment eature to a ect decompression calculations or reduce the PO2 setting
to a ect oxygen exposure.
WARNING
Set the correct Altitude Adjustment Mode when diving at altitudes greater than
300 m [1000 t] the Altitude Adjustment eature must be correctly selected in
order or the computer to calculate the decompression status. The dive computer
is not intended or use at altitudes greater than 3000 m [10000 t]. Failure to
select the correct Altitude Adjustment setting or diving above the maximum
altitude limit will result in erroneous dive and planning data.

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WARNING
Set the correct Personal Adjustment Mode. Whenever it is believed that actors
that tend to increase the possibility o 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
Freediving a ter scuba diving is not recommended. It is recommended to avoid
reediving or at least two hours and not to exceed ive meters [16 t] a ter scuba
diving depending on your diving activity. Suunto also recommends you to be
trained in reediving technique and physiology be ore conducting breath holding
dives. No dive computer can replace the need or proper dive training. Insu icient
or improper training may cause diver to commit errors that may lead to serious
injury or death.
NOTE:
Free mode automatically changes to Gauge mode when the dive time exceeds ive
minutes or a single dive. I the Stinger is in Gauge mode it is not possible to set it
to Air or EAN modes until 48 hours have passed. This does not apply to changing
between Free and Air or EAN modes.
Changing rom Air to EAN mode is possible at any time. Changing rom EAN to
Air mode however requires you to wait until the no- lying time has counted down.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 12
1.1. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ...................................................................13
1.1.1. Emergency Ascents ..................................................................... 14
1.1.2. Dive Computer Limitations ......................................................... 14
1.1.3. Nitrox .......................................................................................... 15
1.1.4. Freediving ...................................................................................15
2. GETTING ACQUAINTED.......................................................................... 17
2.1. FUNCTIONS ........................................................................................ 17
2.2. PUSH BUTTONS ................................................................................. 17
2.3. WATER CONTACTS ............................................................................ 18
2.4. TIME MODE [TIME] ...........................................................................19
2.4.1. Timekeeping Display ..................................................................20
2.4.2. Stopwatch [Timer] ....................................................................... 21
3. DIVING WITH THE STINGER ..................................................................23
3.1 BEFORE DIVING ................................................................................. 24
3.1.1. Activation and Prechecks ............................................................ 24
3.1.2. Battery Power Indicator and Low Battery Warning .................... 26
3.1.3. User De inable Functions and Alarms ........................................ 28
3.1.3.1. Presetting Time Alarm .................................................... 29
3.1.3.2. Presetting Dive Alarms .................................................. 29
3.1.4. Bookmark ....................................................................................29

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3.2. SCUBA DIVING .................................................................................. 30
3.2.1. Diving with Air ...........................................................................30
3.2.1.1. Dive Planning [PLAN] ................................................... 30
3.2.1.2. Presetting the Displays in the Air mode .........................32
3.2.1.3. Basic Dive Data.............................................................. 32
3.2.1.4. Sa ety stops ................................................................... 34
3.2.1.4.1. Recommended Sa ety Stop .................................35
3.2.1.4.2. Mandatory Sa ety Stop ........................................ 35
3.2.1.5. Ascent Rate Indicator .....................................................37
3.2.1.6. Decompression dives ..................................................... 39
3.2.2. Diving with EAN (Nitrox) .......................................................... 45
3.2.2.1. Be ore Diving .................................................................45
3.2.2.2. Presetting the Displays in the EAN mode ...................... 46
3.2.2.3. Oxygen Displays ............................................................ 47
3.2.2.4. Oxygen Limit Fraction (OLF) ........................................ 48
3.2.3. At the Sur ace .............................................................................. 49
3.2.3.1. Sur ace Interval a ter an Air/EAN Dive .........................49
3.2.3.2. Diver Attention Symbol ................................................. 51
3.2.3.3. Dive Numbering .............................................................51
3.2.3.4. Flying A ter Diving ........................................................52
3.2.4. High Altitude Dives and Personal Adjustment ............................ 53
3.2.4.1. Altitude Adjustment ....................................................... 53
3.2.4.2. Personal Adjustment....................................................... 55
3.2.5. Error Conditions ......................................................................... 57

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3.3. FREE / GAUGE MODE ....................................................................... 58
3.3.1. Be ore Diving in the Free/Gauge mode ...................................... 58
3.3.2. Presetting the Displays in the Free/Gauge mode ........................ 60
3.3.3. Freediving ...................................................................................60
3.3.3.1. Freediving Day History ..................................................61
3.3.4. Gauge mode ................................................................................ 62
3.3.5. Sur ace Interval A ter a Free/Gauge Dive ...................................63
3.4. AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALARMS ...................................................65
4. SETTING MODE [SET] .............................................................................. 68
4.1. SETTING TIME, DATE AND DUAL TIME [TIME ] ........................68
4.2. DAILY ALARM SETTING [ALM] ..................................................... 70
4.3. AIR AND ENRICHED AIR NITROX SETTINGS [EAN] .................. 72
4.4. FREEDIVING AND GAUGE SETTINGS [FREE] ............................. 74
4.5. DIVE ALARM SETTINGS [DIVE AL] ............................................ 75
4.6. ALTITUDE, PERSONAL AND UNIT ADJUSTMENT SETTINGS ......
[AdJ] .....................................................................................................77
5. MEMORIES AND DATA TRANSFER [MEM] .......................................... 79
5.1. LOGBOOK AND DIVE PROFILE MEMORY [LOG] ....................... 80
5.2. DIVE HISTORY MEMORY [HIS] ...................................................... 85
5.3. DATA TRANSFER AND PC-INTERFACE [TR-PC] .......................... 86
6. CARE AND MAINTENANCE ...................................................................89
6.1. CARE OF YOUR STINGER ................................................................89
6.2. MAINTENANCE ................................................................................. 91
6.3. WATER RESISTANCE INSPECTION ................................................ 92

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7. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION .................................................................... 93
7.1. OPERATING PRINCIPLES ................................................................. 93
7.2. REDUCED GRADIENT BUBBLE MODEL, SUUNTO RGBM ....... 96
7.3. OXYGEN EXPOSURE ........................................................................ 98
7.4. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ........................................................ 100
8. WARRANTY ............................................................................................. 105
9. GLOSSARY ............................................................................................... 107

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1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase o the SUUNTO STINGER advanced dive
computer. The Stinger builds on the Suunto tradition o delivering eature-rich dive
computers. The Stinger provides many new and enhanced eatures that cannot be
ound in any other dive computer. Push button controls access a wide selection o
choices. The display is optimized or the dive mode chosen and it incorporates the
patented user de inable display ield. This dive computer is a compact and
sophisticated multipurpose dive instrument, designed to give you years o trouble-
ree service.
CHOICE OF DIVING AND WATCH MODES
User options or the Stinger are selected using the push buttons. Pre dive con iguration
and setup options include:
 Choice o operating mode - Air / Nitrox / Free/Gauge
 Maximum depth alarm
 Dive time alarm
 Mix Oxygen raction % (Nitrox mode only)
 Oxygen partial pressure alarm limit
 Altitude adjustment
 Personal adjustment
 Choice o unit - Metric / Imperial
 Clock, calendar, daily alarm, stopwatch, dual time
 User de inable display ields

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CONTINUOUS DECOMPRESSION WITH SUUNTO RGBM
The Suunto Reduced Gradient Bubble Model (RGBM) utilized in the Stinger predicts
both dissolved and ree gas in blood and tissues o divers. It is a signi icant advance
on the classic Haldane models, which do not predict ree gas. The advantage o
Suunto RGBM is additional sa ety through its ability to adapt to a variety o situations
and dive pro iles.
In order to optimize how to respond to di erent added risk situations an additional
category o stop, re erred to as a Mandatory Sa ety Stop, has been introduced. Also
a countdown or the Recommended Sa ety Stop is included. The combination o
stop types will depend on the speci ic dive situation.
To get the most rom the sa ety bene its be sure to read the summary o the Suunto
Reduced Gradient Bubble Model in chapter 7.2.
1.1. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Do not attempt to use Stinger without reading this instruction manual in its entirety,
including all the warnings. Make sure that you ully understand the use, displays
and limitations o the instrument. I you have any questions about the manual or the
dive computer, contact your SUUNTO dealer be ore diving with the dive computer.
Always remember that you are responsible or your own sa ety.
When used properly, the dive computer is an outstanding tool or assisting properly
trained, certi ied divers in planning and executing sport dives. It is not a substitute
or certi ied scuba instruction, including training in the principles o decompression.

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Diving with enriched air mixtures (nitrox) exposes the user to risks di erent rom
those associated with diving with standard air. These risks are not obvious and require
training to understand and avoid. Risks include possible serious injury or death.
Do not attempt to dive with any gas mix other than standard air without irst receiving
certi ied training in this specialty.
1.1.1. EMERGENCY ASCENTS
In the unlikely event that Stinger mal unctions during a dive, ollow the emergency
procedures provided by your certi ied dive training agency or, alternatively,
STEP 1: Assess the situation calmly and then move promptly to less than 18 m
[60 t].
STEP 2: At 18 m [60 t], slow down your ascent rate to 10 m/min [33 t/min] and
move to a depth between 3 and 6 meters [10 to 20 t].
STEP 3: Stay there as long as you assess your air supply will sa ely allow. A ter
reaching the sur ace stay out o the water or at least 24 hours.
1.1.2. DIVE COMPUTER LIMITATIONS
While the dive computer is based on current decompression research and technology,
you must realize that the computer cannot monitor the actual physiological unctions
o an individual diver. All decompression schedules currently known to the authors,
including the U.S. Navy Tables, are based on theoretical mathematical models, which
are intended to serve as a guide to reduce the probability o decompression illness.

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1.1.3. NITROX
Diving with nitrox provides the diver with an opportunity to reduce the risk o
decompression illness by reducing the nitrogen content in the breathing gas mix.
However, when the gas mix is altered, the oxygen content o 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 computer
tracks the time and intensity o the oxygen exposure and provides the diver with
in ormation to adjust the dive plan in order to maintain oxygen exposure within
reasonably sa e limits.
In addition to the physiological e ects o enriched air on the body there are operational
considerations to be addressed when handling altered breathing mixes. Elevated
concentrations o oxygen present a ire or explosion hazard. Consult with the
manu acturer o your equipment about its compatibility with nitrox.
1.1.4. FREEDIVING
Freediving, and particularly reediving in combination with scuba diving, may have
risks that have not been researched and are not commonly known.
Any person who engages in any orm o breathhold diving is in danger o shallow-
water blackout (SWB) i.e. the sudden loss o consciousness caused by oxygen
starvation.
Any breathhold diving results in some nitrogen build-up in the blood and other ast
tissues. Due to the short time spent at depth this build-up is generally not signi icant.

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There ore, provided the e ort involved in reediving has not been severe, there is
little risk in diving a ter breathhold diving. However, the converse is more unknown
and may increase signi icantly the risk o DCI. There ore, FREEDIVING AFTER
SCUBA DIVING IS NOT RECOMMENDED. You should avoid reediving and
not exceed ive meters [16 t] or at least two hours a ter scuba diving.
Suunto also recommends you to be trained in reediving technique and physiology
be ore conducting breathhold dives. No dive computer can replace the need or proper
dive training. Insu icient or improper training may cause a diver to commit errors
that may lead to serious injury or death.
Fig. 2.1. The push buttons of the
Stinger.

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2. GETTING ACQUAINTED
2.1. FUNCTIONS
The STINGER Advanced Computer Watch is a multipurpose dive instrument and a
sport watch eaturing several watch and dive computer modes. You can select the
dive computer model between the Regular Air Dive Computer (AIR), Enriched Air
Nitrox Dive Computer (EAN) and Freediving computer / Depth Gauge with Timer
mode (FREE). The Air/EAN and Free modes can also be disabled (set to OFF) and
the instrument can be used as a sports watch on land or in water.
2.2. PUSH BUTTONS
The Stinger is controlled with our push buttons as ollows (see Fig. 2.1.).
M (MODE)
 To change rom a main mode to an other main mode press the mode button.
 To exit rom a submode to a main mode press the mode button.
 To activate the electroluminescent backlight hold down the mode button
or more than two seconds or one second in the diving mode.
 To accept the settings in the Setting Mode press the mode button.
S (SELECT)
 To select a submode press the select button.
 To select the active segment in the Setting Mode press the select button.

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 To select the display in the Logbook Mode press the select button.
 To select the dive planning mode in the dive sur ace modes.
 To make a special bookmark in the pro ile memory during a dive and to
operate the timer in the Gauge mode.
+, -
 To show the date, seconds or dual time in the time keeping display press
the + or - button.
 In the Setting Mode
 to increase the value press the + button
 to decrease the value press the - button.
 To operate the stopwatch see chapter 2.4.2.
 To select the dive in the Logbook Mode
 press the + button to move orward
 press the - button to move backwards.
2.3. WATER CONTACTS
The water contact is located on the right side o the case (Fig. 2.2.). When submerged
the contact is connected to the case by the conductivity o the water and the Sur ace
or Diving Mode is automatically activated.
Contamination or dirt on the water contact may prevent this automatic operation. It
is, there ore, important that the water contact is kept clean. The contact can be cleaned
with resh water and a so t brush (e.g. tooth brush).