At The Scuba Doctor we sell a range of the leading and newest dive computers including those from top brands like Cressi, Suunto, Tusa, Mares, and Divesoft. Suunto are the market leaders in Australia when it comes to Diving Computers and we all use them. We also really like the Cressi range of dive computers for their stylish design, great functionality, low prices and super reliability, which is why we maintain large stocks of every dive computer in the Cressi range.
If there's even the slightest chance of you using nitrox, or wanting to in the future, then it makes sense to buy a dive computer that supports nitrox diving. Generally, these dive computers only cost a little more, and buying one that can match your pace as you advance through your training and diving experiences will prove cheaper in the long run.
Air-integrated dive computers monitor how much gas you have remaining during a dive, and your breathing rate. They will tell you how much time you have left at a given depth (whether that's limited by your remaining air, or your dive time). The dive computer can also work out, if you're breathing slow, that you've absorbed less nitrogen and therefore can permit you to stay down longer. Longer dives - what's not to love?
Generally this is a matter of preference. Bear in mind that if you choose a console computer and don't plan on taking your regs on your next dive trip, you'll either need to hire and use a dive computer you might be unfamiliar with, or take the dive computer console off of your regs and put it on the hire regs. Some people go for the 'big watch' style dive computers and wear them every day. Our preference, especially for technical and cave diving, is for a large, easy to read wrist mounted dive computer.
Time-to-fly is the time you must wait between your last dive and ascending to altitude. Most dive computers display the amount of time remaining until residual nitrogen levels drop to the point where the computer considers a subsequent dive to be the same as a non-repetitive dive. This time may be described as a time-to-fly. However, even after considerable study, flying after diving recommendations remain controversial and continue to evolve. Decompression sickness statistics from Divers Alert Network (DAN) make it very clear that no current decompression theory and computer algorithm is able to account for all the complexities of decompression introduced by flying after diving. Instead, we encourage you to follow the May 2002 Flying After Diving Workshop recommendations published by DAN:
A dive computer allows divers to extend their time and safety while in the water. Considered essential by most dive operators around the world today, your dive computer should be one of the first things you should buy.
Since back in the 1980's dive computers have been revolutionising the way that we dive. Before the dive computer came along you would calculate your dive time based on the maximum depth you were diving to. The dive computer changed this significantly by being able to calculate your max dive time based on the actual dive allowing multi-level diving. Modern dive computers update you constantly on how much time you have left, based on your current depth. Essentially this allows you to remain underwater for longer in safety with potentially shorter safety stops.
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Put simply, dive computers use a depth sensor and a timer to work out how fast you absorb gases into your body by using an algorithm inside them. The deeper and longer you stay down the faster you absorb the gases you're breathing. Your computer monitors your depth and time at all times.
Your dive computer keeps you safe and has multiple alarms to let you know if you go down too deep, ascend too fast, or if you have an air integrated computer, which uses an air transmitter to receive your air pressure throughout the dive, it will even tell you how long your air will last.
When you ascend during a dive your computer will automatically go into a safety stop and tell you what depth to stay at and count down how long for. Most computers today alarm when you do something wrong like ascend too fast, or stay down too long, so you can concentrate more on the dive at hand.
Most dive computers today come with Nitrox algorithms so you can swap between air and nitrox. These computers can be set to different levels of O2% and some can even handle multiple values during the same dive if you dive with multiple mixes. Trimix is the next level by adding Helium to the mix and requires further training before you can dive safely on it. If you're thinking of progressing to far deeper depths then a trimix computer is a consideration.
There are various different decompression models coded into hundreds of dive computers around the world that will work out your Nitrogen loading based on your dive profile. They won't all give the same results as one will be more conservative than others, or use a different decompression theory. Because of this if you're diving with a computer different to your buddy, you can be waiting around for them to end a safety stop, or forced to ascend because they are reaching their No Decompression Limit (NDL) faster than you are.
Some dive computer manufacturers have understood the issue of multiple algorithms being used, so they have coded multiple algorithms into their dive computers, and you can choose ones that better match each other. Even if your dive computer doesn't support multiple algorithms, ir most likely will enable you to adjust the conservatism of its algorithm. This can also be used to match your buddy's dive computer so you can match their dive profile better.
Most dive computers will have a conservatism factor that you can change because not all divers are the same. Algorithms are fairly generic and everybody is slightly different when it comes to fitness and body composition, so you can tell some computers to be more or less conservative based on your body, as well as altitude of the dive too.
The Suunto Reduced Gradient Bubble Model (RGBM) is a state of the art algorithm for managing both dissolved gas and free-gas in all its stages in the tissues and blood of the diver. Suunto computers have one of three RGBM models inside, either the standard RGBM which is great for recreational diving, RGBM Technical for deeper advanced diving, and Fused RGBM that combines the two for the best of both.
It is a significant advance on the classical Haldane models, which do not predict free-gas (microbubbles). The advantage of Suunto RGBM is a more accurate representation of what is happening in the diver's body, through its ability to adapt to a wide variety of situations.
The Suunto RGBM addresses a number of diving circumstances that have not been considered by previous dissolved gas models, adapting to:
The Suunto RGBM algorithm automatically adapts its predictions of both the effects of micro-bubble build up, and adverse dive profiles in the current dive series. It will further modify these calculations according to the personal adjustment that a diver can select. Essentially when you dive you take on gas, this is called on-gassing. You need to off-gas for a sufficient time during surface intervals to avoid illness. The Suunto RGBM algorithm helps you to do this correctly. Click here to see our range of Suunto Diving Computers.
Not all displays on dive computers are the same. Entry level computers will have a segmented display much like a digital watch, and can be harder to display complicated information. Dot Matrix screens have lots of small segments that can spell out more complicated information and be easier to understand. Some modern dive computers have colour screens that have far greater detail and intuitive colours, but they do tend to use more battery power, so tend to be rechargeable.
Colour screens are best as the colours draw your eye to important information if you get close to a limit. The LED or LCD backlight for colour screen computers makes them easier to see in low light and poor visibility.
Segmented display computers have a range of symbols outside of the centre that tell you need to read the manual to understand.
You may want to consider not only logging your dives in your log book, but also on your PC. All major manufacturers now have models that can download your dive data to your PC. This allows you to see your whole dives in profile and provides extra information not normally accessible via the dive computer itself. Some computers are now including the download software and interface, whilst with others you have to purchase them separately.
Right now we're seeing the introduction of dive computers that use Bluetooth connectiveity to let you download you dive computer data.
The fashion in Australia is for wrist mounted computers. Typically console mounted computers are used by dive centres, dive resorts etc. There are arguments for both systems, but here are a couple of points you should consider before deciding which would suit you best:
Console mounted dive computers are larger and are attached to your regulator via a hose. This makes them less likely to be mislaid. A console mounted dive computer is not necessarily an air integrated dive computer, but many are. The pressure gauge in your console requires a connection to your tank in order to show a pressure reading, but this does not mean that the computer is connected to the air source too. Some dive computers are simply a wrist computer mounted into a console next to a traditional SPG.
Wrist mounted dive computers strap to your arm and are either a large screen or watch sized. Watched size computers can be worn after the dive day to day, but have smaller screens. Large screen computers can be easier to read.
Wrist mounted computers can be used for other purposes such as free diving swimming and other sports. Some computers are solely made for apnea freediving and don't have the same alarms and algorithms as most dive computers. Click here to take a look at our range of dive computers with an Apnea Modes, plus apnea only computers.With an air integrated dive computer you have another great benefit in that the computer tells you how much air you have left and can calculate your breathing rate, telling you how much time you have left to dive at your current air consumption rate. This facility also allows the computer to monitor and learn your breathing rates so that if the current is behind you and your breathing slows, the computer can rightly calculate that you absorb less nitrogen and therefore you can remain underwater longer.
Air integrated dive computers can either be hosed or hoseless (via a transmitter on the first stage).
Hoseless air integration requires that an appropriate air transmitter is attached to your first stage regulation. We recommend using a short 15 cm (6 inch) high pressure hose to do this, rather than connecting the transmitter directly to the 1st stage regulator.
Most dive computers will have visual and audible alarms to warn you when you get close to a limit, such as no stop time approaching, fast ascent etc. You will hear a beeping underwater to tell you to look at your computer and the backlight will flash to draw your attention.
You can also set your own alarms in most computers too, like a dive time alarm that tells you when you've been underwater for x amount of time. A tank pressure alarm on integrated computers is useful so your computer will tell you when you get low on gas. And no decompression limit (NDL) alarms tell you when you get close to your no decompression limit and you have to ascend.
Modern dive computers are often made with user changeable batteries. However, only a few have watertight battery chambers meaning that if you fit the battery wrongly and it floods, the whole computer is ruined. For this reason most divers still return their computers to service centres for battery changes and servicing. Although more expensive than doing it yourself, having professionals do it is much less expensive than a new dive computer.
Most watch style dive computers need the battery changed by a qualified service centre and pressure tested to ensure its waterproof again.
Screen guards are now fitted on most dive computers to stop the screen getting scratched. These guards will quickly become very scratched and although difficult to read on dry land once submerged the scratches virtually disappear. However if the guard becomes too scratched, or cracked, replacements are available. If your computer does not have a screen guard make sure you purchase a perspex (not stick on) cover for it if available.
Take a look at our list of Top 10 Best Dive Computers, or shop our dive computers department online.
Suunto Ambassador, pioneering cave diver, explorer and author Jill Heinerth talks about Diving Physiology, Deco Basics, Conservatism and Gradient Factors, Getting Bent, and dive computers.
Dive In With Jill Heinerth | Diving Physiology | Episode 1
Dive In With Jill Heinerth | Deco Basics | Episode 2
Dive In With Jill Heinerth | Conservatism and Gradient Factors | Episode 3
Dive In With Jill Heinerth | Getting Bent | Episode 4
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