Tusa Platina IQ-600 User manual

IQ-600
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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This manual contains important safety
and maintenance information. Read this
manual thoroughly and become familiar
with all of your scuba equipment before
diving.
Important information regarding the use or maintenance
of your dive computer is designated, throughout this man-
ual, by the IMPORTANT symbol appearing above. This
manual also uses several signal words to designate haz-
ards with various levels seriousness. These are:
Indicates an imminently hazardous situa-
tion which, if not avoided, will result in
death or serious injury. This signal word is
limited to most extreme situations.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in
damage to or loss of equipment, serious
personal injury or death.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, may result in minor
or moderate injury. It may also be used to
alert against unsafe practices.

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Contents
1.00 Introduction 4
1.01 Simply Reliable 4
1.02 Key Features 4
1.03 Common Sense Warnings 6
2.00 Using the IQ-600 9
2.01 Accessing Display Modes 9
2.02 Surface Mode 11
2.03 Dive Plan Mode 18
2.04 FO2Set Mode 21
2.05 Date/Time Set Mode 25
2.06 Dive Mode 27
2.07 How the IQ-600 Measures (Times) 41
2.08 Understanding FO2Default 42
2.09 PO2/Time/Temp Mode 47
2.10 Log Mode 48
2.11 Profile Mode 51
2.12 Transfer (Upload) Mode 52
3.00 Additional Warnings and Cautions 53
3.01 General Handling 54
3.02 Battery 55
3.03 While Diving 55
4.00 Care and Maintenance 56
5.00 Warranty 56
5.01 Two-Year Limited Warranty 56
5.02 Disclaimer and Limitation of Remedy 58
5.03 Locating Service and Support 58

1.00 Introduction
This information has been developed for your safety. Please
read and understand this manual completely before using your
new TUSA dive computer.
1.01 Simply Reliable
Congratulations! You are now the owner of a new TUSA
Scuba dive computer. You’re about to experience the TUSA
difference in diving equipment—products that are simply reli-
able. At TUSA, we focus on the type of diving you do, then
design products that address your specific needs. The simple,
purposeful designs of all TUSA equipment provide you with
reliable, trouble-free performance, dive after dive.
1.02 Key Features
Among the IQ-600 ’s key features:
 The IQ-600 activates automatically upon descent. It need not
be manually activated beforehand.

It automatically adjusts for altitudes up to 19,680 ft/6,000 m,
and is capable of functioning at depths as deep as 328 ft/100 m.
The IQ-600 displays a variety of data, including: date; time of
day; current and maximum depths; no-decompression dive
time elapsed and remaining, and water temperature.
Additionally, the
IQ-600 is capable of displaying data specifi-
cally related to the use of Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx), includ-
ing: Fraction of Oxygen (FO
2
) setting; Partial Pressure of
Oxygen (PO
2
); and, an Oxygen Limit Index (OLI) represent-
ing the cumulative effect ofa diver’s exposure to elevated PO
2
s
(“CNS Clock”) as an eight-element bar graph.
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Through a combination of audible and visible alarms, the IQ-
600 helps alert divers to a number of possibly hazardous
situations, including: violation of ascent rate or no-decompres-
sion status; and, whether mandatory decompression stops are
necessary or divers have ascended above a mandatory stop
ceiling. Nitrox-specific warnings occur when users exceed a
limiting PO
2
of 1.6 atmospheres, and when cumulative
exposure to elevated PO
2
s exceeds recommended limits.
If needed, the
IQ-600 can calculate decompression stop
requirements for stops as deep as 49 ft/15 m.
The
IQ-600 ’s Random Access Memory (RAM) enables it to
hold and display log data on ten dives. Users can further
access up to a cumulative total of 30 minutes of dive-profile
information, sampled in one-minute intervals.
Depending on use, the
IQ-600 ’s battery can last up to 18
months or more before needing replacement. Battery replace-
ment is recommended to be performed by an authorized
TUSA dealer, or by the consumer, following the instructions
appearing in this manual.
The IQ-600 fits TUSA’s CNC-3
™
Compact Navigational
Console. This console combines the IQ-600 with an analog
submersible pressure gauge (SPG) and easy-to-use top-and
side-reading compass. The console also features clip anchors
on either side, to help attach it to your BC. The IQ-600
computer module will also fit in most other standard instru-
ment consoles and circular wrist mounts.

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1.03 Common Sense Warnings
As is true of every piece of diving equipment—including all
dive computers—the IQ-600’s abilities are not limitless. Thus,
there are certain limitations and restrictions of which you must
be aware, and certain precautions you must take, when using
the IQ-600.
Before using your IQ-600 , it is extremely
important you read the following points—
as well as similar warning and caution
notices that appear throughout this manu-
al—and follow the recommendations they
provide. Failure to do so could result in
damage to or loss of equipment, seri-
ous personal injury or death .
The IQ-600 is designed for use by certified, recreational
divers who have maintained a sufficient level of knowledge
and skill proficiency through a combination of formal
training, ongoing study and experience. It is not intended for
use by persons who lack these qualifications and, thus, may
not be able to identify, assess and manage the risks scuba
diving entails. Use of the IQ-600 in conjunction with
Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx), further requires that divers be
trained and certified for Nitrox diving.
The IQ-600 is not intended for use by commercial, military or
technical divers, whose activities may take them beyond the
commonly accepted depth limits for recreational diving.

The IQ-600 is designed for use by divers breathing either
normal compressed air or Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx)
mixtures whose fraction of oxygen (FO
2
) falls within a
range of from 22 to 50 percent.
Although the
IQ-600 is capable of calculating decompression
stop requirements, this ability is provided as a safety feature
only, should recreational divers accidentally exceed the
No-Decompression Limits (NDLs). Dives requiring man-
datory stage decompression carry substantially greater risk
than dives made well within no-decompression limits. Divers
should not use the IQ-600 to plan or execute dives that
will intentionally exceed no-decompression limits.
The
IQ-600 is designed to be used by only one diver at a
time. Divers should not share a single IQ-600 —or any other
dive computer—on the same dive. Additionally, no diver
should lend his or her IQ-600 to anyone else until it calcu-
lates that no measurable residual nitrogen remains after
previous dives, and displays neither the “Desaturation
Time” nor “No Fly” indicators while in Surface Mode.
Further, no diver should use his or her IQ-600 for repetitive
dives—unless that same IQ-600 has accompanied him or her
on all previous dives in the same repetitive dive series.
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 Neither the IQ-600—nor any other dive computer presently
available—physically measures the amount of nitrogen present
in body tissues, or the rate at which this nitrogen is being
absorbed or released. Instead, the IQ-600 monitors depth and
time, and uses this data to work a mathematical formula
designed to emulate how individuals in good general health
and whose physical characteristics do not place them among
those at higher risk of decompression illness are assumed to
absorb and release nitrogen from body tissues. Thus, the
IQ-600 cannot compensate for factors such as age, obesity,
dehydration, cold or exertion, which experts believe place
divers at greater risk of DCI. If these, or similar factors apply
to you, use the IQ-600
—and any other dive computer or dive
table—with even greater caution.
Experts still know surprisingly little regarding the exact nature
and causes of decompression illness (also known as decom-
pression sickness, DCI or DCS). Susceptibility to DCI may
vary substantially from person to person and from day to day.
Neither the IQ-600—nor any other dive table or computer—
can guarantee that you will not suffer decompression illness.
Even though you use these items correctly, you may still
suffer DCI. Use your IQ-600 conservatively, and in conjunc-
tion with other dive planning devices, such as dive tables. Do
not rely on the IQ-600, or any similar device, as your sole
means of avoiding decompression illness.
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2.00 Using the IQ-600
The key to using the IQ-600 correctly is learning to access,
recognize and interpret the data presented in its various dis-
play modes. The IQ-600 is capable of displaying far more data
than can fit in a single screen. Thus, to help avoid confusion, it
displays only that data which is relevant to a particular situa-
tion. For example, the data appearing when the IQ-600 is in its
Date/Time Set Mode is very different from that appearing
when it is in Dive Mode.
The IQ-600 is capable of presenting ten different display
modes. In the balance of this manual, we will identify each of
these modes, and explain:
What the purpose of each mode is.
How you enter and exit each mode.
What data you will see in each mode, and how to interpret it.
 What audible or visible warnings may be sounded or
displayed in each mode, and how to respond to them.
2.01 Accessing Display Modes
There are some display modes that the IQ-600 enters and/or
exits automatically. For example, by taking the IQ-600 under
water, you automatically activate its Dive Mode. Upon surfac-
ing, your IQ-600 will automatically enter its Surface Mode.
To access other modes, you may need to push one of the two
large, blue buttons appearing on the IQ-600’s face. These are
the Aand Bbuttons.
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Figure 1: The front of the IQ-600, showing its Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) and the two large Aand Bbuttons.
You will find both buttons easy to use. In some instances, you
may need only press a button once and release it to achieve
the desired result. In other instances, you may need to hold the
button down until you get the result you wish. This manual
will outline clearly which procedure to follow for each mode
or task.
Figure 2: The Mode Indicator makes it easy to determine
which mode the IQ-600 is currently displaying.
The IQ-600 makes it easy to determine which mode you are in
at any time. Simply look for the Mode Indicator arrow at the
bottom of the display screen.
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2.02 Surface Mode
Surface Mode is the IQ-600’s default mode. In this mode, the
IQ-600’s Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) displays a minimum
of date, time of day and Altitude Rank. Within 24 hours of
surfacing from a dive, the IQ-600 will display additional infor-
mation while in Surface Mode.
To enter this mode:
The IQ-600 enters Surface Mode automati-
cally upon surfacing from a dive. Additionally, if you leave the
IQ-600 in Plan, Log, FO
2
Set or Date/ Time Set Modes for from
five to six minutes, without taking further action, the computer
will return to Surface Mode automatically.
What you will see: When the IQ-600 is in Surface Mode, it
will display the information appearing in Figure 3. This data
will or may include:
1. Date—The format the IQ-600 uses to display the current
date is that common in the USA and Japan, in which the
first set of one or two digits signifies the month, and the
second set of one or two digits (following the hyphen)
signifies the day. Thus, a date of 11-3 would represent the
third of November.
2.Time of Day—The IQ-600 uses the 24-hour clock format,
common in aviation and military service, to signify time of
day. Thus, a displayed time of 13:04 would represent
1:04 PM. Whenever the IQ-600 displays time of day, the
colon separating hours and minutes will blink.
3.
Altitude Rank—Among the IQ-600’s many features is the fact
it adjusts automatically for diving at altitudes of up to 19,680
ft/6,000 m. To show that it has made this adjustment, the
IQ-600 displays its altitude settings using the numbers 1 , 2 or
3 , or the letter E .
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Figure 3: Surface Mode. When at least 24 hours has passed
since previous dives and the IQ-600 determines there is no
significant residual nitrogen present (and the cumulative effect
of exposure to elevated PO2s has sufficiently diminished), it
displays only date, time of day and Altitude Rank, as shown in
the upper left.
Here is what each Altitude Rank symbol means:
Rank Altitude Range
0Sea Level to 2,624 ft/800m
12,624 ft/800m to 5,248 ft/1,600 m
25,248 ft/1,600 m to 7,872 ft/2,400 m
37,872 ft/2,400 m to 19,680 ft/6,000 m
EAbove 19,680 ft/6,000 m (Out of Range)
Prior to using your IQ-600 at altitudes substantially above
sea level, you should find out what the actual altitude of your
dive site is, and make certain that the altitude settings your
IQ-600 displays accurately matches this height.

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Do not use your IQ-600 to dive at altitude
unless the altitude settings accurately
match the actual height above sea level.
Doing so could cause the IQ-600 to dis-
play inaccurate information. You should
also not use your IQ-600 to dive at alti-
tude when the letter E appears instead of
the numbers 0 , 1 , 2 or 3 . This means that
you are above an altitude of 19,680
ft/6,000 m, which is beyond the IQ-600 ’s
ability to function accurately.
It is also important your IQ-600 not be in Dive Mode when
making sudden, substantial changes in altitude—such as when
flying in an airplane. This would most likely result from stor-
ing your IQ-600 with wet dive gear, which might touch its
external electrical contacts and fool the IQ-600 into thinking it
is under water. This can interfere with your IQ-600’s ability to
function accurately.
Do not pack or store your IQ-600 with wet
dive equipment. Doing so may cause it to
erroneously enter Dive Mode and interfere
with its ability to accurately process and
display data.

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Your IQ-600 monitors and adjusts for changes in altitude
in all modes except Dive and Date/Time Set Mode. It will
display its current altitude settings in all modes except
Log, Date/Time Set, Upload and Profile Modes (in Log
Mode it displays the altitude settings applicable to a
particular dive).
Upon arriving at altitude, your IQ-600’s Residual Nitrogen
Bar Graph may show that there is excess nitrogen present,
even though you may not have made any dives in the
preceding 24 hours. It may also display a surface interval
value, which later re-sets itself.
If you have obtained the Altitude Specialty Diver training
which everyone should have before diving at altitudes
substantially above sea level, you already understand that
this should be expected. By ascending to a higher altitude
from a lower one, your body will have more nitrogen
saturated in body tissues than would be present had you
spent the preceding 24 hours at the higher altitude. By
displaying residual nitrogen and a surface interval, your
IQ-600 is merely reflecting this fact.
If less than 24 hours has passed since a previous dives, your
IQ-600 will display additional information while in Surface
Mode. This information will or may include:
4. Desaturation Time
—If your IQ-600 calculates that there is
residual nitrogen present from previous dives, it will display a
value for Desaturation Time (DESAT.). This represents the
amount of time, expressed in HOURS: MINUTES, that the
IQ-600 calculates must pass before residual nitrogen levels
drop to the point where subsequent dives may be treated as
single (non-repetitive) dives, thus allowing the maximum
possible bottom time.

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5. “No Fly” Symbol—If less than 24 hours has passed since a
previous dive, the IQ-600 will display a “No Fly” symbol
while in Surface Mode.
Experts recommend divers wait at least 24
hours following any dive before flying in
an aircraft or driving to altitude. Failure
to allow sufficient surface interval
before doing so may substantially
increase the risk of Decompression
Illness (DCI).
6. Surface Interval—If your IQ-600 calculates that there is residual
nitrogen present from previous dives, it will also display up to 24
hours of Surface Interval Time (SURF T.) that have elapsed since
ascending, and a symbolic representation of the overall quantity
present on its Residual Nitrogen Bar Graph. The format your
IQ-600 uses to display Surface Interval Time (SURF T.) is
HOURS:MINUTES.
7.
Residual Nitrogen Bar Graph—This is a row of nine
pixels that represents the overall saturation of body tissues
with nitrogen. When all nine pixels appear under water, it
means you have reached (or exceeded) the No-Decompres-
sion Limit (NDL). On the surface, fewer than nine pixels
should appear, and the number of pixels appearing should
diminish over time—as the level of excess nitrogen present in
your system diminishes as your Surface Interval Time passes.

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One of the greatest benefits of this symbolic representation of
nitrogen levels during surface intervals is that it helps you decide
how long to wait before reentering the water. For example,
should you elect to make a repetitive dive when there are more
than just a few pixels appearing, you will discover that your
available no-decompression dive time ends up being very short.
Thus, it makes sense to wait until fewer pixels appear, and you
can enjoy longer bottom times with a greater margin of safety.
8. Oxygen Limit Index (OLI)—This is a column of up to eight
circular pixels representing the cumulative effect of your
exposure to elevated partial pressures of oxygen (PO2s).
Eight pixels is roughly equivalent to having used up 100
percent of the theoretical “CNS Clock” you learned about
during your initial Nitrox Diver training. The number of
pixels displayed will tend to increase during dives and de-
crease during surface intervals. When more than 24 hours
has passed since surfacing from your last dive, the last OLI
pixel should disappear.
9. Mode Indicator—This should point to the abbreviation
SURF when in Surface Mode.
When the Low Battery symbol appears and is blinking, the
IQ-600 will enter Transfer Mode, but cannot enter Dive Mode.
When the Low Battery symbol appears and stops blinking, the
IQ-600 cannot enter either Transfer or Dive Mode.
The battery that comes with your IQ-600 is designed to last
up to 18 months or more under normal use. Several factors
may affect battery life; therefore, do not be surprised if you
get significantly more or less use from your IQ-600’s battery.

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Warnings you may encounter: The only warning that may
appear while the IQ-600 is in Surface Mode is the Low
Battery symbol. The Low Battery warning means that the IQ-
600’s battery lacks sufficient voltage to function properly.
Figure 4: Low Battery Symbol.
Once the Low Battery warning appears,
you must return your IQ-600 to your local
authorized TUSA distributor for battery
replacement, or replace the battery your-
self, following the procedures outlined
later in this manual. Before replacing your
IQ-600’s battery, be sure to upload or copy
all dive log data to your log book, as the
battery replacement process erases all
such data from the IQ-600’s Random
Access Memory (RAM).

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To exit this mode: You can exit Surface Mode in a variety of
ways. Among them:
 Enter Another Mode — Take the steps outlined shortly to
enter Dive Plan, Date/Time Set, Log, Profile or Transfer Modes.
 Go Diving—You can also simply take your IQ-600 under water,
thus activating Dive Mode.
2.03 Dive Plan Mode
Your IQ-600’s Dive Plan Mode enables you to answer the ques-
tion, “If I enter the water right now, how long can I stay at vari-
ous depths while remaining within the IQ-600’s No-
Decompression Limits?” Among the benefits of accessing your
IQ-600’s Dive Plan Mode before taking it under water is that it
enables you to “scroll” through Dive Plan Mode to help better
estimate and plan your dive.
An even more important benefit of doing so is that accessing
Dive Plan Mode prior to every dive allows you to confirm that
your IQ-600 is set to a Fraction of Oxygen (FO2) that accurately
matches the concentration of oxygen in the media you will
breathe during the dive.
Do not use your IQ-600 without confirming
that its FO
2
setting accurately matches that
of your breathing media. Failure to do so
may mean that your IQ-600 will be unable
to accurately monitor your exposure to
nitrogen and oxygen, and lead to decom-
pression illness (DCI) or CNS Oxygen
Toxicity—conditions that can cause seri-
ous personal injury or death.

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Figure 5: Dive Plan Mode.
To enter this mode:
From Surface Mode, simply press the A
button once and release it.
What you will see: As shown in Figure 5, what you will see
when you first enter Dive Plan Mode will depend on its current
FO
2
setting (we cover how to change this setting shortly).

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1. Depth— When you first enter Dive Plan Mode, the initial depth
displayed will be 30 feet or 9 meters. You can advance this depth
in 9.8-ft/3m increments by pressing and releasing the A button.
The IQ-600 is capable of displaying 14 different dive-plan depth
increments, up to a maximum depth of 157 ft/48m. If you press
the A button one more time after reaching a depth value of 157
ft/48m, your IQ-600 will return to Surface Mode.
2. No Decompression Limit (NDL)— Depending on the depth
displayed and its current FO2setting, the IQ-600 will display
the available No-Decompression Limit (NDL), up to a maxi-
mum of 200 minutes. (It takes approximately three seconds for
this value to appear.) If the available NDL exceeds 200 minutes,
the number 200 will simply appear. If the IQ-600’s FO2setting
has defaulted (meaning that you have not reset the computer’s
Fraction of Oxygen, following a previous dive in which the
FO2was set to a value other than Air), a series of horizontal
bars will appear. See page 42 for a more extensive discussion
of why, when and how your IQ-600’s FO2setting defaults.
On the facing page are examples of the No-Decompression
Limits (NDLs) the IQ-600 displays when it calculates that
there is no residual nitrogen present from previous dives.
NDLs are shown in minutes.
If your IQ-600 calculates that there is residual nitrogen pres-
ent from previous dives, the available No-Decompression Limits
it displays will be shorter. Depending on how much residual
nitrogen the IQ-600 calculates is present, it may not display any
available No-Decompression dive time for some deeper depths
Instead, it will simply show a series of horizontal bars.