How to Compare Dive Computers

Dive computers calculate a diver's profile underwater based on depth, dive time and gas used. There are a wide variety of models available from various manufacturers.

  1. Cost

    • This is a major yardstick. Cost varies with the amount of features a dive computer offers, the manufacturer and what material it is made from. The price can range from $200 for basic computers to $2,000 for high-end devices.

    Dimensions

    • Computers are available in wrist-mounted units or units mounted on consoles attached to the diver's regulator. Computer sizes range from small watch-size devices to more bulky devices with screens up to 3 inches wide. The size affects how much data can be seen on the screen at any one time.

    Air Integration

    • Air integration is a feature that tells the diver how much air is in the tank. It is available on a limited amount of computers. Computers with air integration are either attached as the submersible pressure gauge or receive the data from a transmitter in a high-pressure port in the regulator.

    Gas Capability

    • Divers who want to use different gases need to check whether the computer has the ability to plan nitrox (air enriched with a higher percentage of oxygen) or trimix (oxygen, nitrogen and helium gas mix) dives. If so, the diver should check whether the computer has the ability to switch between gases during the dive.

    Decompression Options

    • The diver should check the computer decompression options and safety features for the type of diving they will be doing.

    Computer Interface

    • Some computers have the ability to upload their data to a PC following the dive. This can be useful for logging dives and looking at profiles in the event of dive accidents.