Dive Essentials - Dive Computers
A few years back dive computers used to be seen as a bit of a luxury item, these days however there are models to suit almost all budgets and most regular divers will have their own. So, the question is, what makes a good dive computer and how much should I spend on one? With so many makes and models out there it can seem a little bewildering to start with so here at Southeast Asia diving we aim to provide a few hints and tips on this very subject, what to look out for, how much should I spend and what sort of functionality should it have.
The authors Suunto D5 dive computer.
The first decision to make is what kind of functionality and also how much you want to spend on a dive computer, there is such a huge array & choice these days it can all seem a little overwhelming. A good place to start is how experienced are you and how many times are you likely to dive each year? If you’re starting off your diving journey and going to go diving a few times a year then its probably best to start off at the lower end of the market. You can pick up a new entry level dive computer for about $150 which will allow you more than enough functionality to get started. Personally I really like Suunto dive computers, I love their simplicity, style and ease of use so I would recommend the Suunto Zoop Novo or equivalent. It has a fantastic build quality and is as tough as old boots - mine has survived countless knocks and drops and is still going strong. It allows you to dive with air, nitrox or free dive and acts as a log too which is really handy when you come to writing your dive log as you don’t have to rely on the guide or instructor for all the important stats, it also monitors your surface interval period and no fly time which is handy for those of us who travel for diving quite a bit. As with all Suunto dive computers it is very conservative on its no decompression time, a lot of people criticise Suunto for this, however I would rather stay on the safe side of things rather than risk it. The Zoop Novo is a great place to start and will last for many years. I have had mine for 4 years now and only just had the battery replaced, these days it acts as my backup
Suunto Zoop Novo - Ideal for novice divers and hard as nails, as you can see its had its fair share of knocks but still going strong.
One of the first challenges you will face when using your dive computer for the first time is what all the information means, aside from the obvious data such as depth, time etc.. you will need to ensure you know what it all means. Most dive computers will display the no decompression time, will automatically start counting down your 3 min safety stop when you hit 5m and will alarm when you start to rise too quickly or go too deep. It is worth taking a bit of time to read the manual to understand what sounds it will make and when - you won’t remember it all the first time around, but it will start to make sense after a few dives. I remember the first time I had the depth alarm go off, I panicked and then went up too quickly and set off another alarm! So, taking time to understand everything is definitely worth while, you can also customise certain alarms such as the depth alarm to personal preference and dive certification.
When you become a bit more experienced or even get into tech diving then you may want to start looking at a new computer with even more functionality. The first choice here will probably be whether or not you stay with a watch style computer of go with once of the larger style computers. As with many things in life, the more you pay, the more you get, many dive computers now will offer wireless connectivity, connectivity to a tank pressure pod, and even rechargeable batteries which is a god send for those who travel to remote areas. (Nothing more annoying than getting somewhere and your dive computer battery failing on you mid dive) For me, having hit the 150 dive mark I started to want something a bit more useable and the idea of having a tank pod really appealed to me so I began to have a look around at the different options.
The Suunto D5 offers advanced functionality and a colour display
The Suunto D5 offers a significant upgrade on the Zoop Novo and having dived with it a few times now i really do think it is a fantastic piece if kit. It does cost significantly more, around $600 but you can often find some really good deals where it is bundled together with the tank pod which is what I managed to do. Less bulky than the Zoop it also offers a colour display which at first seemed like a bit of a gimmick but now I have gotten used to it I wouldn't change it at all. Other features include a rechargeable battery, wireless connectivity and tank pod integration. The rechargeable battery is one of my favourite features, it will last about 8 hours between charges with the only downside being that you have to recalibrate the built in compass each time which is actually pretty easy to do. Another cool feature on this computer is the ability to change how conservative, or aggressive you want the decompression algorithm to be, as mentioned earlier Suunto have a reputation for being conservative so the D5 offers the ability to adjust it based on personal preference. I have not tired this feature out yet, but it is pretty handy to be able to adjust. It also automatically connects with the Suunto app on your mobile phone meaning that all the dive statistics are there in an easy to read format for logging your dives another feature that I really like too. There is also the Sunnto D5 program which you can download onto your laptop or main computer which allows customisation of the display - the downside is that it took me a few attempts to get this downloaded and set up, but eventually Suunto technical support did tell me how to do this, but if I am truthful it wasn’t the quickest response time ever. The controls are easy to use and intuitive, especially if you have used a Suunto computer before. Overall a fantastic piece of equipment and although more expensive really worth it and can’t wait to use it again and again.
Suunto Tank Pod
So in conclusion what are we saying about the best dive computer? Honestly, I don’t think I could definitively say this or that model or make is the best, as with most things it comes down to taste and preference. Personally, I really like Suunto products as they are easy to use, rugged, long lasting and reliable, what else could you want. The entry level Zoop Novo is a fantastic dive com for beginners and is handy to have as a backup too while the D5 offers excellent features such as the ability to re-charge, colour displays and wireless connectivity. It’s not to say that Suunto is the only brand out there, most if not all diving brands will offer their own dive computers but for me, Suunto is the best out their in terms of reliability and safety which I think is the most important aspect for any piece of diving equipment.