Hi SD fans, and welcome back. Dive computers are one of the core essentials of your diving
arsenal. Yes, you can go old-school and dive without one – fondly remember dive tables
and a diving watch - but why not make full use of the technology at your disposal and
get the most out of your diving – with a dive computer, you will be able to safely
extend your dive times, especially when you are doing repetitive days of diving. In this
video, I look at the budget end of wrist-mounted computers.
For those here for the first time – and why is that? - my name is Mark, I am the editor-in-chief
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Now, let’s dive into the video!
Dive computers are one of those items that have come down dramatically in price, and
what you can get for your money at the budget end of the scale is pretty phenomenal. Now,
there is a solid argument for going for a dive computer that can grow with you as your
dive skills develop, and I myself am a big proponent of that way of thinking. Buy once,
buy wisely has been my mantra for a long time. However, it has to be said, the vast majority
of people starting out on their diving journey will never venture into open-circuit technical
diving or closed-circuit rebreathers, so really, they don’t need an all-singing, all-dancing
computer that has a whole host of features they will never, ever use or need.
That said, some of the wrist-mounted dive computers in our budget line-up – we have
set the price bar at under 300 British pounds – do have features that would allow the
user to dabble in some entry-level technical diving (I am talking multiple nitrox mixes
and gauge mode) so they do have the ability to take you further on your diving adventures
without breaking the bank. By and large, though, these computers are
designed for recreational diving, with air or nitrox, and then it is down to the manufacturer
as to the type of screen display, number of control buttons, whether it has a user-changeable
or rechargeable battery, has Bluetooth connectivity for downloading your dives, and so on.
Right, so you have a tight budget for your first dive computer - let’s take a look
at what is available.
Aqualung i330R The i330R is the new kid on the block, and
has literally just hit the marketplace, and it is certainly going to give the established
players a run for their money, as it is the only one in this price bracket with a full
colour screen. The i330R is quite a compact unit, but with
a vividly bright full-colour IPS display, it is exceptionally easy to see even in bright
sunlight, bad visibility and at night. Navigation is via two buttons mounted on the
right hand side, and the intuitive menus are simple to scroll through and make changes.
It uses a tried-and-tested Z+ algorithm to safely maximise your dive time, and once you
are back on the surface, you can download your dives to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth.
The i330R is factory-sealed, and has a rechargeable battery – it is the only computer in this
line-up with a rechargeable battery - so there are no worries about flooding it. Battery
life is good, but you can top up the juice via the USB and magnetic charging cable as
and when you need to on your dive trip. The brightness of that screen can also be dialled
down if you want to extend the battery life a little more.
The computer is fitted with a NATO-style webbing strap, which is strong and secure and looks
good as well.
Cressi Leonardo The Cressi Leonardo is one of the cheaper
models in this budget line up, but it still has a solid skill set. This puck-style computers
uses the Cressi RGBM algorithm, which Cressi says has been specially adapted to offer safe
decompression diving in a multi-day, repetitive dive format, which they reckon makes the Leonardo
particularly effective for holiday and liveaboard diving.
Navigation around the menus is a doddle, as it only has a single button. It has three
modes – air, nitrox and gauge – and can handle a single nitrox mix from 21-50%. There
are three levels of user-adjustable conservatism. It is powered by a user-changeable CR 2430
battery, which is said to last approximately two years, but that obviously depends on how
many dives you are doing annually. It also comes in a selection of colours for
those who want to brighten up their kit.
Mares Quad The Mares Quad is one of the larger computers
in this line up, but thanks to its neat design, it is not particularly cumbersome. The display
itself is absolutely huge and the digits on the segment LCD screen are easy to see, but
the computer body is quite slimline on your wrist.
Navigation of the menus is simple via the four large buttons, and once on the dive,
these become mirrored, so the top two buttons perform the same function, as do the lower
buttons. This can certainly make things more straightforward when you are on the dive itself.
It offers three modes – air, nitrox and gauge – and can handle up to three nitrox
mixes (21-99%). Once you return from your dive, you can download your dives to your
phone or tablet via a USB cable or, via an upgrade, using Bluetooth.
It has a CR2450 user-replaceable battery, and this lasts for approximately 200-300 dives.
It also comes in a selection of colours for those who want to brighten up their kit.
Scubapro Aladin Sport The Scubapro Aladin Sport is a puck-style
dive computer that has two buttons mounted on the front to navigate through the menus.
It has a predictive multi-gas ZHL 16 ADT micro-bubble algorithm, which will calculate an intermediate
stop based on your nitrogen loading, current and previous dives, and your breathing mixes
for safer diving, and the user can adjust the micro-bubble level of conservatism to
reflect their age, physical fitness and experience. The Aladin Sport is one of only two computers
in this price bracket – along with the Suunto Vyper Novo - with a compass to aid navigation
underwater. It is powered by a user-changeable CR 2430
battery, which is said to last approximately two years, or 300 dives.
Suunto Vyper Novo The Vyper Novo is the latest incarnation of
the trusty Vyper, and it has had a makeover from its previous guise. It now boasts a new
screen display which features a blend of segment and dot-matrix LCD, and it has four buttons
for navigation, which brings it in line with Suunto’s range of wristwatch-style dive
computers. The Vyper Novo utilises Suunto’s RGBM algorithm
for optimised bottom times and ascent times, and it can deal with up to three nitrox mixes,
ranging from 21-99%. It is the only computer in this line up that
has the capability to offer air integration with an optional transmitter on your first
stage, and along with the Scubapro Aladin Sport, one of two with a digital compass.
So, that’s our selection of budget wrist-mounted dive computers. But which one is the best?
I have not personally dived all of these yet, but on paper, that new Aqualung i330R takes
some beating. The venerable Suunto Vyper Novo has a compass
and the ability to use air integration, whereas the i330R has neither of those capabilities,
but there is no getting away from that outstanding colour screen, and the rechargeable battery.
And that price point - £269 for a computer that can handle up to three nitrox mixes and
have those features is a game-changer. It is certainly going to be interesting seeing
how the other manufacturers react to this new computer with any future changes to their
budget range.
What is your favourite dive computer? If you are a new diver, are you thinking technical
diving is in your future? Leave your comments below, and if you have a question, fire away
– if we can’t answer it, I am sure some of our ever-growing subscribers will be able
to assist. If you enjoyed this video, please hit that
subscribe button, so you don’t miss out on any of our future content, and go check
out our playlist for more educational and entertaining videos. Remember to come back
next week, when we will have a comprehensive review of the new Aqualung i330R.
As always, if you are going diving, stay safe!