Buying a dive computer can feel like a lot of work, but researching is paramount.
I have trialled and reviewed a number of watches and the best dive computers are the Shearwater Teric, Garmin Mk2S and the Suunto D5.
A computer is a lifeline and is an important part of your scuba gear, many newcomers confuse them with dive watches. Computers track your no decompression limits, diver profile, water temperature and can provide compasses.
Each diver will require a different type of computer read my best dive computers review for everything you need to know before making a purchase.
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FOR NEW DIVERS
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BEST ON A BUDGET
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BEST OVERALL
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4.0
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4.5
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5.0
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$339.19
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N/A
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N/A
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A diver computer is an essential piece of kit, but which one you chose to buy depends on your individual dive needs
Table of Contents
Best Dive Computers
- Shearwater Teric – Best dive computer overall
- Garmin Mk2S – Best all-rounder
- Suunto D5 – Best dive compass computer
- Mares Smart – Best budget dive computer
- Cressi Leonardo – Best dive computer for beginners
- Suunto Core Eon with Transmitter – Best air integrated dive computer
- Shearwater Peregrine – Best console device
- Oceanic Geo 4.0 – Great for new divers
- Cressi Giotto
- Aqualung i200c
- Easy to navigate and easy to read with its four-button operation
- Charge anywhere and anytime with wireless charging
- Highly customisable with a vivid colourful AMOLED display
- Not for divers on a budget
Possibly one of the most impressive dive computers currently on the market and one that is favoured by many technical divers. It’s now my primary dive computer and I can’t get enough of the clarity and brightness of the screen!
The amount of customization options available for dive computer is next level and it is designed to work with Air, Nitrox, Trimix as well as CCR. For a watch sized computer, the functions are incredible. You can add up to two wireless transmitters to monitor gas consumption and re-charge the battery whilst on the go with wireless charging. The sleek and strong design is a winner in all areas.
I’ve written an in depth review of the Shearwater Teric – give it a read to find out why I love it so much!
Best For: Technical divers
Modes: OC REC (3 gas nitrox recreational), OC TEC (multi-gas,trimix decompression computer), CC/BO (closed circuit fixed PPO2), Gauge, Freediving.
Max Depth: 200 metres
Air Integration: Yes
User Replaceable Battery: Yes – wireless charging
Specifications
- AMOLED full colour display
- Rechargeable battery
- Wireless charging station
- Dive mode battery life – 30+ hours
- Watch mode – 50+ hours
- 500 hour dive log capacity
- 316 Stainless bezel & buttons
- Bluetooth LE
- 3 axis, tilt compensated digital compass
- Air integrated allowing for up to 2 transmitters (purchase separately)
- Designed for smaller wrists
- Great durability
- GPS tracks your dive entry & exit points
- Brilliant user experience
- Expensive
Welcome to a new world of diving and lifestyle. The Garmin Descent Mk2S is a fitness watch combined with a dive computer. It’s a seriously clever piece of equipment that will suit divers that are active above the surface just as much as they are underneath the surface.
Track your daily activity goals, keep on top of your healthy lifestyle and take it diving. It really is an all rounder – just take a look at the Garmin Fennix 6 and this will give you an idea about what’s features this watch has.
It performs extremely well underwater and has a customisable and clear display, and although designed for smaller wrists, it’s still very clear and user friendly.
For a bigger and more in depth review, head on over and check out my Garmin Descent Mk2S review.
Best For: All levels
Modes: Air, nitrox, free, gauge, watch
Max Depth: 100 metres
Air Integration: No – but check out the Garmin Mk2i for this!
User Replaceable Battery: Rechargeable
Specifications
- Updateable software
- Vibration Alarms
- Health and fitness tracker
- Customizable display
- Integrated dive compass
- Rechargeable computer battery
- Easy to set up
- Suitable for all levels of divers from beginner to advanced
- Powered USB port to re-charge battery
- The colour screen is easily one of the most impressive on the market for its price
- Nothing
With the watch sized, colour screen and stylishly designed Suunto D5 dive computer you will be turning heads everywhere you go, below and above the water. It has 3 – button interface and allows users to customize what they see in dive mode on up to 4 screens that can each easily be accessed with the touch of a button.
It has all the technology of a larger wrist mounted dive computer but packed into a small watch style design, without compromising on the beautiful colour screen that can be read in all conditions. The straps can also be changed easily allowing for further customisation.
You can make the optional purchase of the Wireless Tank POD Transmitter to receive cylinder pressures along with breathing rate on the screen display. There is no doubt that Suunto have opened up a new era to dive computers and recognised them as not only an important tool to have underwater, but as a sign of a diver above the water. This is a diving computer that looks well placed on entry level divers and experienced alike. It certainly is one of the best dive computers that I have tried. I even wrote an in-depth review on the Suunto D5.
Best For: All levels
Modes: Air, nitrox, free, gauge, watch
Max Depth: 100 metres
Air Integration: Yes
User Replaceable Battery: Yes – rechargeable
Specifications
- Updateable software
- Wireless Bluetooth Mobile Connection to Suunto App
- Vibration Alarms
- Up to 3 gases
- Lifetime dive history
- 200 hour logbook memory
- Customizable display
- Integrated dive compass
- Rechargeable computer battery
- Long battery life
- Lightweight and compact
- Great range of colours
- Re-chargeable battery
- No air integration
- Low dive log capacity
A super compact and lightweight dive computer that is adored by many. This is the best dive computer for divers on a budget. Its sporty design makes it look at home on your wrist above and under the water and is a dive computer suitable for novice to advanced divers worldwide.
The way this dive computer lays out the information avoids any complication or misunderstanding. It has a dual button interface that makes it easy to scroll through the menus pre, during and post dive. The sections on the screen split the information nicely so that the data can be easily accessed.
In short, this dive computer is simple to use, does what it says and is amazing value for money, placing it at the top of the game for best budget dive computers.
Best For: Entry level to Intermediate divers
Modes: air, nitrox, free
Max Depth: 150 metres
Air Integration: No
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- Updateable software
- Wireless Bluetooth Mobile Connection to Suunto App
- Vibration Alarms
- Up to 3 gases
- Lifetime dive history
- 200 hour logbook memory
- Customizable display
- Integrated dive compass
- Rechargeable computer battery
- Excellent value for money
- Simple and easy to use
- Designed with new divers in mind
- Low backlight
- No safety stop timer, just an alarm
One of the most unique features of the Cressi Leonardo is the algorithm that is utilised. Developed by Bruce Wlenke, the Cressi RGBM Algorithm has been specially adapted which offers safe decompression diving. This makes this dive computer an ideal purchase for divers that often do repetitive dives and those looking to do liveaboard holidays.
The computer boasts a single button interface that is surprisingly easy to navigate the menu, showing on a clear display, even in low light conditions. Divers using the Cressi Leonardo can choose to set audible alarms that alert to important information. It is one of the best dive computers for new divers.
This is another computer which benefits from user changeable battery feature ensuring that maintenance costs are kept to a minimum as there is no need to send off to a service centre. Not only that, the battery life is indicated on the screen so that you can plan for your next battery change.
Best For: Entry level to Intermediate divers
Modes: air, nitrox, free
Max Depth: 150 metres
Air Integration: No
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- O2 adjustable between 21% and 50%
- PO2 limits can be set between 1.2 & 1.6 bars
- Ascent rate indicator
- Oxygen toxicity bar graph and audible alarm
- Can be adjusted to dive in altitudes up to 3,700 metres
- Can be completely reset after each dive
- 3 dive mode settings
- Dive log up to 75 hours
- Strong composite casing
- Divers can connect up to 10 Tank PODS which makes it ideal for tec divers
- You can customise your own computer screens that are easy to scroll through during the dive
- Very clear to read at depth
- Nothing!
The little brother to the Suunto EON steel, and probably the best air integrated dive computer on the market, the Suunto Core Eon is a compact version which keeps the impressive colour screen yet is mounted into a composite frame. The buttons for the EON Steel were placed on the front of the body but the Core sees them on the side.
With its re-chargeable lithium-ion battery that can last 10-20 hours per charge, and its Fused RGBM algorithm that allows for air, nitrox, trimix, gauge and CCR, this is a brilliantly reliable option for the more advanced divers reading this. It can also connect to multiple PODS for air integration which allows for a much easier way of reading information whilst diving.
Best For: Advanced and technical divers
Modes: Air, Nitrox, Gauge, Trimix, CCR (Fixed Point)
Max Depth: 80 metres
Air Integration: Yes
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- Colour-coded alarms, warnings and notifications
- Choice of graphical and numerical screen layout
- Magnetic charging cable that charges the computer and updates software
- Wireless mobile connectivity
- Multiple POD Connectivity
- Tilt compensated dive compass
- Mineral crystal glass screen & reinforced composite body.
- Excellent quality and performance
- Well priced
- Reliable and durable
- 2.2' LCD display for clarity
- Bluetooth connectivity
- None
Easily the most rugged yet sleek dive computer in the industry. However, along with its ruggedness comes its reliability. We all know how important it is that our dive gear is hardy, and Shearwater are known for building the most hardiest of computers for divers that dive a lot.
It is fitted with a bright screen that is easy to read and individually customise. The buttons are brilliant and super easy to use even whilst wearing thick gloves. It’s one of the best dive computers for the money, particularly if you are looking for a console style display.
Best For: Recreational Divers
Modes: OC Rec (3 gas nitrox recreational), Air, Single-gas Nitrox, and multi-gas Nitrox modes.
Max Depth: 120 metres
Air Integration: No
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- Full colour LCD
- Up to 30 hours battery life
- Imperial & metric displays
- Dive planner
- 200 hours dive log
- Store dive logs via Bluetooth connection
- DiverLog + App allows divers to plan the dives from the comfort of their own mobile device
- The Dual Algorithm lets divers choose the decompression algorithm that best suits their needs without reducing safety.
- No air integration
The Oceanic Geo 4.0 dive computer is an impressive recreational dive computer that can be used everyday as a wrist watch. It’s sporty style with modern day features such as Bluetooth compatibility, allowing divers to link their Geo 4.0 to their smartphones or tablets via the DiverLog+ App for easy storing of dive data and dive profile. It’s one of the best dive computers for beginners.
Divers can choose how their dive profile will be by taking advantage of the Dual-Algorithm function, allowing a better match to your buddy’s computer. If you are a regular recreational diver, this computer is a good investment and has all the functions and modes that you will ever need to use.
There are a total of 5 different colour straps available so that divers can personalise their own look and remain stylish.
Best For: Intermediate – Advanced level divers
Modes: air, nitrox, gauge, free, watch
Max Depth: 100 metres
Air Integration: No
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- Bluetooth 4.0 compatability
- Dual Algorithm
- Extra large computer display makes it easy to read
- 4 operating modes
- 3 gases including Nitrox up to 100%
- User friendly interface with one button click to move back through the menu
- User replaceable batteries
- Firmware Auto – Update
- User friendly display
- Has all the features an entry level recreational diver would look for
- Lots of colour options
- No air integration
- Too bulky for use above the water
An ideal computer for new divers that are looking for a travel companion as much as a dive computer. The Cressi Giotto is lightweight and compact yet hardier than its predecessors. Like the Leonardo, the Giotto is a beautifully conservative computer that uses the RGBM based upon the Haldane model and is ideal for divers that are going on multi day dive excursions.
The high definition screen displays large, clear digits against a back-lit screen that can be easy to read even in the lower visibility waters. The audible alarm helps alert the diver to important data showing on the screen ensuring that safety is in its best interest.
The screen is larger and the motherboard has been enhanced so that the computer is energy efficient and serves a long battery life. The Giotto has two buttons to navigate through its features unlike the Leonardos’ one and it also allows for gas-switching between two nitrox mixes during the dive. Another best dive computer for recreational divers that wish to venture a bit into the world of nitrox.
Best For: Intermediate divers
Modes: air, nitrox, gauge
Max Depth: 100 metres
Air Integration: No
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- Audible and visual alarms that can be set by user
- Large high resolution display
- Three dive mode settings
- Two nitrox settings between 21% and 99%
- Cressi RGBM algorithm
- User replaceable lithium battery
- Dive log of 70 hours
- Displays either imperial or metric
- User-changeable standard battery
- High visibility LED alarm light
- Switch between 2 nitrox mixes
- Large display
- DiverLog+ app for iOS and Android
- Not a rechargeable battery
The Aqualung i200c is perfect for new divers with its easy to follow navigation system that can set the dive computer into one of the four operating modes that are offered. It is commonly used within scuba diving schools for students because of its ease to understand, reliability and acts as a great introduction to the world of dive computers.
The high visibility LED screen works nicely at deeper depths and the computer comes with some very handy safety features including audible alarms to help avoid rapid ascents and other dive limits. For new divers that are looking to progress into diving with nitrox, the i200 has a nitrox mode that upon setting the gas mix, will change its algorithm to suit.
Best For: Entry Level Divers
Modes: air, nitrox, gauge, free
Max Depth: 100 metres
Air Integration: No
User Replaceable Battery: Yes
Specifications
- Keeps settings between battery changes
- High visibility warning light for set dive limits
- Software can be updated by user
- Pre dive planning
- Can set 2 nitrox gasses
- Nitrox mix to 100% O2
- Automatically accounts for dive altitude adjustment
- History mode shows user stats including total number of dives and max depth
Technology is always advancing, and with this, so are modern day dive computers. The best dive computer can be hard to find, simply because there are so many on the market. But choosing a diving computer should not be that difficult. With sleek designs, colour screens, air integration and new connectivity to electronic devices such as smartphones, dive computers open up a whole new world.
