Having your own dive computer is one of the best decisions you can make when you get into scuba diving. Why? Because we want to enjoy our dives, but always keep safety in mind.
Using a Scuba Diving Computer, you can easily plan your dives, knowing the depth, remaining time of the dive and sugessted decompression stop, and being sure that the levels of nitrogen have dissolved into your bloodstream. It’s the best tool you can get to avoid decompression sickness.
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Top 10 Best Dive Computers
SUUNTO EON CORE
“Top-quality dive computer for serious divers”
The Suunto Eon Core is a high Tech Computer. It features a large, bright and easy-to-read screen. It is fully customizable with five different displays and five modes: Air, Nitrox, Trimix, Gauge and Closed Circuit Rebreathers.
Features: Bright screen, 3D compass, air integration option, rechargeable battery.
Pros: Easy to use, resistant.
Cons: Expensive.
SCUBAPRO G2
“High-tech computer with advanced data tracking”
The Scubapro G2 is a top-end diving computer loaded with topside features and five dive modes: Scuba, free diving, gauge, CCR and sidemount.
Features: Biometrics data, transmitter, rechargeable battery, full-color LCD, digital compass.
Pros: It provides lots of data, nice full color screen, good battery.
Cons: It takes time to learn how to use some advanced features.
CRESSI GIOTTO
“Great computer for beginners and advanced divers”
The Cressi Giotto is a compact dive computer with a three-botton interface that programs Air, Nitrox and Gauge modes.
Features: High-definition screen, large numerical displays, replaceable battery.
Pros: Easy to read, good value for the money.
Cons: No Air integration, no Trimix mode.
HOLLIS TX1
“Great value for technical and recreational divers”
The Hollis TX1 features Air, Nitrox and Trimix modes, and has the most stylish design.
Features: Breathing rate, air integration.
Pros: Easy to use, good value for the money.
Cons: Not very compact.
OCEANIC VEO 4.0
“Use it as your everyday watch”
The Oceanic VEO is a practical computer with Air and Nitrox modes. Thanks to its stylish, small design, this is a great scuba diving computer you can wear everyday.
Features: Dual algorithm, SmartGlo backlight, replaceable battery.
Pros: Nice design and size.
Cons: No air integration, no Trimix mode.
MARES GENIUS
“Very easy to use and read”
The Mares Genius has a high-definition color display that brings tank pressure information to a new level.
Features: Big screen, air integration, Nitrox and Trimix, rechargeable battery.
Pros: Easy to use, great readability.
Cons: You need to recharge pretty often.
SHEARWATER PERDIX
“Great computer for technical divers”
The Shearwater Research Perdix is the perfect dive computer for those who want to get into technical diving or who need a lot of features. It’s a high-tech computer with Air, Nitrox and Trimix modes. It’s pretty much like the Shearwater Petrel, but smaller.
Features: Digital compass, Bluetooth integration, LCD display, replaceable battery.
Pros: Big display, hight-tech quality.
Cons: No air integration.
SHEARWATER PEREGRINE
“Great computer for recreational divers”
The Shearwater Research Peregrine has an ultrabright, high-contrast, full-color OLED display with intuitive colors to identify different dive data. The interface of this dive computer is virtually the same as if you had the Shearwater Research Perdix set to recreational mode.
Features: 30-hour battery life, air and nitrox mode.
Pros: Great display, wireless charging station included, easy to navigate interface.
Cons: No trimix compatibility, it’s not an air integrated computer.
SUUNTO D6i NOVO
“Good computer for free divers and scuba divers”
The Suunto D6i Novo is a computer with a simple design, but awesome performance.
Features: Compatible with Suunto air transmitters, replaceable battery.
Pros: Free diving mode, durable, you can use it like your everyday watch.
Cons: No Trimix compatibility.
SUUNTO ZOOP NOVO
“The perfect computer for entry-level and intermediate divers”
The Suunto Zoop is a classic computer equipped with the most important features. It’s one of the best dive computers for the price and features.
Features: Air and Nitrox mode, audible alarms, replaceable battery.
Pros: Good price, easy-to-use interface.
Cons: No Trimix compatibility, no air integration.
A few things to consider when choosing the best dive computer:
Different gases
Even though diving with compressed air is by far the most popular option, some divers also use Nitrox and Trimix during their immersions.
Think about whether you need a dive computer that is able to calculate different mixes depending on what kind of diver you are.
Air integration
Some of the best dive computers allow you to read your air consumption, thanks to the use of a modern transmitter. Of course, computers featuring air integration tend to be way more expensive. (Keep in mind that air integration is not 100% reliable).
Wrist or Console
If you like to have all the information together, a console computer might be a good option. On the downside, they tend to be bigger, heavier and not as easy to check if you are bringing a camera.
Wrist computers are more practical and easier to read, even when bringing a camera. They can also be your everyday watch thanks to their new, cool designs.
I prefer wrist computers. They are also the most popular choice for recreational and technical divers. That’s why you’ll see that there are no consoles on my list of the best dive computers.
Easy to understand
There are different features, sizes, types of screen display, colors, etc. Some of them are more legible and easy to understand, while others might have more detailed information.
If you are a beginner, I suggest that you choose an easy-to-read dive computer with a big screen and simple parameters.
Advanced divers, will probably need a high-tech computer, ready to calculate various gas mixtures and other features.
Budget
Sophisticated models can be really expensive. However, you don’t have to buy the most expensive computer if you don’t need advanced features.
If you’re just getting into diving, you can find great computers from $200-$400. For more experienced divers who need more features, the best models start from $500.
A FEW EXTRA TIPS:
- Dive computers are designed to last many years if you take care of them properly. You should clean your dive computer with fresh water after each dive and store it in a dry place protected from the sun.
- Do not turn off your dive computer and don’t share it with your mates. The dive computer keeps track of the levels of nitrogen in your body. This includes the nitrogen you accumulate during the dive and the nitrogen you lose between dives. Therefore, it’s important that you don’t share your computer with other divers because you would lose those records.
Other readers were also interested in:
- A great PADI article about how to choose the right dive computer.
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Hi, I’m Miguel; Adventure traveler, scuba diver and hiking lover. I have been traveling the world for the last 12 years and I hope my experiences, photos and hiking routes inspire you to travel the world too.
I liked your review, objective and clean, direct to the point.
The Sharewater Perdix AI has air integrarion and the price is well into the air integration models.
Thank you for your review.