Computer Vs. Tables

I tap my air gauge to indicate that I’d like to know my buddy’s air situation, he signals back that he’s still got over a hundred Bar, I look at my gauge and see that I’m also over a hundred, so I signal that we could head a little deeper to investigate the ship’s lower decks if he wanted to – they didn’t look that interesting on the dive map so we didn’t plan for them, but from down here they look very inviting – my buddy agrees with me and gives the “ok”, so we descend…

The situation described above is a fairly normal situation when diving a site you don’t know. You may have looked at maps of the site, but ultimately you won’t know where you want to go until you’re down there. The problem with this is that if you don’t know where and, more to the point, how deep you wish to go then your planning on the RDP (Recreational Dive Planner) counts for very little because it will constrict you to an inflexible dive profile that might not meet the type of dive you want to do. For the guys described in the passage above they would be diving beyond their scheduled dive plan which could cause them real problems once they surface.

The modern diver doesn’t interact much with the RDP these days. The closest most divers get to using the tables is during their open water course, or their nitrox course, and even this will come to an end soon (PADI will be phasing in the computer-only open water course in the next couple of years). And yet, for all that a novice diver will think he is not using the RDP, he will be using it every time he dives, because all dive computers use the tables for their basic model. In essence, the computer is just an electronic RDP calculator with a depth gauge, stopwatch and memory all combined into one unit. There is no ground breaking technology in it, yet it is the most researched and refined piece of gear you will find in your equipment bag.

Still Used In All Dives, The RDP Lives On In Computers Rather Than Slabs Of Plastic...

So Jamie, How Does It Work?

Em… ahem…you see…there’s a gauge right, and a…a…and it’s very complicated, you wouldn’t understand it!

Although it is very complicated (for the designers), it is also very simple (for us, the users). As the diver begins his descent the computer starts the stopwatch, this is the actual bottom time. It also begins to take readings of depth at frequent intervals (usually around twenty a second, though you can normally set it to be more or less often). For each reading it takes, it gets its tiny RDP out and does the calculation just as we do in our open water course. It then jots down the current nitrogen level in our body and also states how much more bottom time we have left at this depth. If we stay at this depth the computer will keep doing its RDP sums and count down our bottom time, if we descend further it will see that we are deeper and start doing maths to find out how much less time we have. So basically you have a little man inside your computer who is crazy fast on the ol’ RDP and he does constant and corrective calculations that give you an accurate statement of your current levels of nitrogen and how much longer you can stay at that depth…. Does that sound plausible?

You Feed The Little Man Through The Tube On The Left...

Which Computer’s Best?

Obviously everyone wants to know which model is best, to save them buying a duff product. The odd thing about dive computers is that, even though there are certainly “better” products, the actual dive computers are mostly all the same or similar. The real differences between them are how they display the information, how easy they are to use, how it looks, and what additional features the designers have managed to squeeze in. The computer’s ability to calculate remaining bottom time is generally fairly standard nowadays (with mild variations in accuracy, the mathematical model used and how conservative they are).

The answer then, is that none of the computers are better than the others, but there are plenty of reasons that you’d choose one computer over another. I’ll look into what those reasons might be throughout the rest of this article.

Take Your Pick...All Computers Ultimately Aim To Do The Same Thing!

What Does It Mean If My Computer Is Conservative?

It means your computer believes in marrying before having sex, and thinks knee length skirts are too short! Well, not really, most computers are actually very liberal and into free love and support progressive government propositions!

But in a diving sense (which is why we’re here after all), a conservative computer is one that will either give more warnings, give warnings earlier or read as though you have been deeper or have less bottom time. To put it simply, a conservative computer is a very nervous, safety conscious computer that would like to err on the safe side rather than take risks. This might sound like exactly the kind of computer you’d want, who wouldn’t like to be more safe on their dive? The answer here is that an overly conservative computer will likely drive you to insanity before you’re more than ten minutes into the dive. A twitchy computer will beep if you move your arm up too fast, it will make you do double the safety stops your fellow divers will do and you’ll end up loosing a big chunk out of your bottom time.

The key is to get a computer that has variable levels of conservatism so you can set it to a level that suits your circumstances (if you are very overweight, for instance, it might be prudent to put the computer on a more cautious setting).

Wrist Vs. Console

This is a less pressing debate now than it was ten or even five years ago because computers of today are much more compact, so there is less of an issue putting it on your wrist as it was before.  It is less a piece of gear, as a very functional piece of jewellery.

The question is, do you want the convenience of having your computer built into your regulator (usually in place of a SPG) so that you can’t forget or loose it, and you get the added benefit of having air readouts and calculations displayed on the same screen. Or, do you take the lighter, more easily read and more fashionable watch-style computer that now has the ability to take air readings too (in some cases)?

The question isn’t as pressing as it once was, but the customisation of gear is the mark of an experienced diver, and this is a personal choice that will make a tangible difference to the way you interact with your computer.

Which One? Doesn't Matter As Much As It Once Did...

Essential Features

This is a short list of the features that most modern dive computers come with as standard, you can use this as a glossary of terms so you know what you’re looking at when staring at the back of the box in the dive store.

• Clear Display – This is pretty much priority number one for me, if the screen is jumbled, illogical or too small then I will not be able to fully interact with the computer on a natural level. The computer must be able to plainly display all the information you need throughout the dive in a basic and concise format. Avoid busy screens, choose a large, simple display.
  

  As Screen Technology Gets Better, The Displays Can Show More - Colour Screens Are The Next Trend

• Intuitive Menu System – For similar reasons as I require a logical screen setup, I need to be able to select functions, view different data and adjust settings in a coherent and rational manner. Again, simple menu systems work better for this than ten button, IQ test, Rubix Cube puzzle systems.
• Alarms – When you’re diving you’re down there to experience the underwater world and see as much as you can, you certainly don’t want to be diving with your face attached to your computer screen. This is why alarms are useful, they will tell you if you are reaching maximum bottom time, your predefined time limit or ascending too fast. Alarms let you dive, not watch a screen underwater.
• Backlight – Simple, you want to see your computer on night dives and in bad viz? Get a good back light that will operate for long enough to let you fully read the display.
• Comfortable – You will be wearing this wrist-top computer for at least two hours on the day you dive, and if you’re like me you’ll leave it on between dives. Make sure you test how comfortable it is (some are really bulky and very uncomfortable).
• Thermometer – It might seem like a frivolous feature that is only for curiosity’s sake, but a thermometer is useful for lots more than just telling your friends how cold it was on your ice dive! A thermometer can help you work out your temperature tolerance (look in the log book, see that last time you dived in twenty degrees you wore a five millimetre and you were cold, now you know to take a seven millimetre suit) or it can give you an idea of what wildlife will be around, or not.
• Ascent Rate Indicator – One of the most used features on a computer, this monitors how fast you go up. If you go too fast it will warn you so you can slow down. This is great for letting you relax as you ascend, if the computer is reading green then you can just enjoy the last of your dive, not stress about the ascent.
• Safety Stop – Another important feature of a computer is to alert you to mandatory and non-mandatory stops, at what depth and for how long. It will give a countdown and an ideal depth for you to rest at. There will be another alarm if you ignore the safety stop and it will send you to bed with no dinner (a computer can be a real nag!)

Desirable Features

This is a list of things that you might be interested in looking out for when choosing your next computer. Some are more useful than others, there is a fine line between throwaway gimmick and essential tool.

• Air Integration – I briefly mentioned this earlier, essentially it allows your computer to monitor your air supply and not only display how much you have, but how much more time you have left breathing at the rate you are presently and the current depth. The accuracy of this is a little dubious and for most divers it is unnecessary because they can calculate their own air supply. If you are looking at using air integration with your wrist computer then you will need to buy a separate wireless transmitter that attaches onto your regulator first stage. These little devices can cost a fortune! The value of such an item is very subjective.
  

  Air Integration Can Add A Lot To Your Dive, And A Lot To Your Credit Card Bill...

• Compass – Compasses in dive computers are both potentially useful and generally pointless. The fact that you can house a digital compass in the computer is very exciting, and as a backup it’s great. But, the format that it is displayed in is so unnatural that I always end up reverting to my Suunto and working old-school. Once they manage to get the display of the digital compass to equal that of an analogue compass then this will be an excellent feature.
  

  The Digital Compass Is Currently Just a Backup, Hopefully They Can Make It A Replacement...

• Large and Useful Logbook – This isn’t so much a feature as a general requirement. All computers have a logbook but some are hard to use, hard to read and are too small. A logbook should be something you briefly look at, recall the data and put away, not spend an hour mining the information out piece by piece. It should also be big enough to store a two week dive holiday’s dives (at least forty hours worth in my opinion)
• Gas Switching and Nitrox Support – This feature is becoming more essential as time and the dive industry progresses. It is also becoming more prevalent in the average computer, it is almost a standard feature now. Because divers now dive breathing gas blends and more than one mix of gas there is a need for the computer to work using different parameters. If this gas switching and mix entering is easy then it makes a complicated thing very simple, which is a good thing when divers are concerned.
• Computer-to-PC Connectivity – This is another trend on the marketplace that will only become more common, not less. People are used to uploading and downloading their personal information onto the computer and internet (look at what we do with our personal digital pictures and what we write about ourselves online). This goes for dive logs too. A dive log program will display graphs of dive profiles and maps of dive destinations, and it will also allow you to post your dives online, for all the community to see!
  

  Plug It In And Post It To The Internet! That's The Modern Diver's Motto!

Final Thoughts

The dive computer has now been around for so long that it is no longer a luxury item that only wealthy and experienced divers used. Even divers on a budget can now buy high quality, feature-packed computers from well known brands – they’ve become that mainstream. This isn’t a random act of capitalism at work here, it’s a simple case of supply and demand – divers like having the freedom to adjust their dive profiles on the fly without having to worry about DCS creeping up on them. They also like having control over their data, and the computers that are coming onto the market are offering them new ways to manipulate, record and view their dive information. It’s the electronic age and diving is no exception!

Do you have a favourite dive computer? What features do you look for when choosing a new computer? Have you ever had one fail on you? Do you shun computers in favour of old fashioned tables? Please share your thoughts and experiences with us using the comment section below.

Happy (logged) Bubbles!

By Jamie Campbell

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Dive Watches

Divers are gear fiends. They love to add more equipment to their collection, and the more novel or higher the quality the better. Expense often becomes the last priority, whereas having the latest gadget becomes everything.

The only problem with shelling out for a new double tank rig, titanium knife or self inflating SMB is that you can’t really show them off to your friends at the bar, nor will anyone who isn’t a diver give it a second look. The one savior of the proud capitalist diver is the dive watch, he can spend masses of his hard earned cash on it, he can devote hours of his precious time to pouring over the specifications of individual marine time pieces, it has potential for serious bragging rights and, most importantly, can be flashed around on the boat, at the bar or on the eighteenth hole.

A Satisfying Display of Your Diving Credentials...While Sitting in the Bar!

I happen to fit the profile mentioned above in all aspects apart from the part about playing golf (I stink at golf), but I do love watches, dive watches in particular being as they are always so quality intensive and have so many innovative features. I have quite a number of various timepieces that I’ve accumulated along my travels. This guide is designed to educate the novice watch buyer to the gratuitous need for a diver’s wristwatch or, alternatively, to stoke the fires of passion in the hardened chronophile.

Analogue or Digital?

So, day one, hour one of your watch hunt (or virtual watch hunt for the less rich of us) you need to start making some tough decisions about your next dive gear acquisition, first off let’s decide if you want a classic timepiece that gives you an element of old school diver credibility, or do you want to go digital, which will likely have more features (some dive watches sit on the line that divides time keeping with dive computing, and some cross it completely).

I can’t say that one technology is better than the other though I can state what attributes each style is more accomplished in to help you make up your mind.

Digital

Clear – I tend to find that although I have always preferred analogue dials on my watches, digital displays are much clearer to read and more precise (especially when viewed in murky water). A digital screen requires less air volume too, which means it can have a wider viewing angle underwater. It’s also much easier to count down the seconds on a digital watch, which might aid in some time-sensitive diving practices (e.g. counting out sixty-seconds before surfacing when searching for a lost buddy).

Accurate – This is not to say that an analogue watch isn’t accurate, but digital watches, even cheap models, are unlikely to loose or gain more than thirty-seconds in a month. Some, like the Casio G-Shock, have radio time updates that keep it perfectly accurate all the time.

Cheaper – Although this isn’t always true, broadly speaking it is cheaper to choose a digital watch than an analogue equivalent (a complete role reversal from twenty-five years ago!)

More Functions – Even a basic digital watch will have a stopwatch, alarm, day/date, backlight and, obviously, tell the time. It’s quite surprising how many of these features can become useful to a diver at one stage or another of his diving career.

Analogue

Rugged – Although there are plenty of solid digital watches, a well made analogue timepiece will survive an extra level of abuse. They are also much more likely to last fifty years, whereas a digital watch might only have a useful life of ten, which makes it a poor heirloom.

Rugged and Practical, What Mechanical Watches Were Meant to Be

Stylish – This is probably the real reason that most people will take an analogue over a digital – they just look better. It’s something about the classic style of two mechanical hands on a face versus a plastic screen that tends to put people’s cash in the direction of mechanical.

A Digital Watch Could Never Be As Chic As This

Credible – Another aspect of diver’s vanity is their lust for credibility. This is especially true when looking into the technical side of diving, there is masses of bravado and machismo floating around in the diving community which feeds a desire to prove (or suggest) a battle-won respect. One way to hint at years of diving experience is to use old school gear (and say; “they don’t make X like they used to) like “classic style” analogue watches.

Hybrid

There is a third avenue for you to go down which is the combined analogue watch with a digital display behind it. It doesn’t have the same level of credibility as a mechanical watch nor is the screen as big on the digital display, but it means you can avoid the difficult question altogether. This trend appears to be broadly fading away as nineties phenomenon.

Features

Dive watches have a few features that make them just a little more useful to a diver than simply being able to tell the time. One or all of these might just make you choose one watch over another.

Stop Watch

In a digital format a device that accurately records the time from and to a predetermined point is called a stop watch, in a mechanical device it is called a chronograph. In either case it can be useful to a diver for timing dives, measuring distance when traveling at a known speed or for settling a dispute over whose fins are faster over a hundred meters.

Compass

This is one of those features that you might find is life changing or gimmicky. I have found that a compass in a watch (or placed on a watch strap) is a useful item when broadly trying to gather your bearings (in a city with many blocks and little visual references, for instance) but for navigating underwater I find them pointless. They won’t tilt, be as accurate, or glow as brightly as my Suunto SK-7 which I stand by as the best dive compass available.

Depth Gauge

This is a fairly new development in diver’s wristwatches. To put it simply, it means that the watch is halfway between being a dive computer and a time piece but doesn’t quite have the features to replace a computer. I won’t argue that a back up of anything is a good idea, especially if you are diving off the RDP using a watch and SPG, not using a computer. But, you’ll have to excuse me for skepticism, most divers are using computers now, so the need for an additional depth gauge is pretty much redundant. The only exceptions are those dive computers that are so small that they double up as watches, in their case a depth gauge is a very necessary feature!

Gas Escape Valve

When looking at hardcore dive watches for saturation divers who spend days at great depths, you will often find a gas release valve which is designed to allow the extremely small molecules of helium, that have found their way into your watch case, to vent as the diver decompresses. If this vent did not exist then the watch face might well pop off due to the increasing pressure buildup within the case. This feature has nothing to do with normal recreational divers, it only affects those divers that use helium in their breathing mix.

Inconspicuous But Vital, A Helium Escape Valve Makes It Viable to Take Your Watch Deep

Fluid Filled

This is one of my favorite dive watch innovations because it allows the watch to be taken down to literally any depth found in the Earth’s ocean without any pressure related problems. The layperson’s explanation is that if you fill the case with a very thin oil (it has to be thin to allow the movement to run smoothly, and it has to be oil so it doesn’t cause corrosion) then there is no air space to be compressed by the deep water, which allows it remain in equilibrium with the surrounding water. Being as there is no air space between the crystal and the dial, there is no angle at which you cannot see the watch face because the light doesn’t change medium, allowing the beam to stay straight and not refract.

Bezel

This is the rotating ring that sits on the watch, it usually has a glow in the dark mark on it and minute markings around it. This bezel is used to show a diver how long he has been diving for. You place the big mark on the minute hand (wherever it is) and then as the dive progresses you look at the bezel’s minute markers and the minute hand will point to the how long you’ve been under. Some bezels will only move in one direction, this means that if you bang your watch when you’re under you won’t add time to your dive, you can only take time off – which is much safer.

A bezel is also often raised from the watch face which helps to protect the face from getting scratched. Be careful of any dive watch with a bulbous face – they are very easy to catch on a wall or other hard object which will cause damage to the crystal.

Strap

After hours of comparing features and watch styles you must now choose what method you intend to use to keep it from drifting down to the sea bed. A strap is important, think about where you will wear this watch and how long you will keep it on for at a time.Decide which of the following materials would suit your relationship with your dive timepiece. Some prestige watches come with a variety of straps to allow you to change it personally, depending on your need.

Metal

Metal straps are the standard for mechanical watches, and the more classic looking option. They are strong, comfortable (if adjusted properly) and easy to put on. A metal strap usually requires an initial adjustment to fit to the diver’s wrist (ensure it’s not too tight because the strap will not stretch as your wrist swells in heat) which is a slight inconvenience but is made up for by the speed you can put it on in the morning or before a dive. Most metal dive watches have a second link hidden in the clasp that pulls out to expand the wrist strap, this is so your watch will fit over a bulky drysuit.

I’d avoid brushed steel bracelets (because they corrode quickly – I managed to wear a strap down so thin that it snapped as I walked to work), high grade stainless steel is a much better bet. Titanium is also making a big entrance into the watch world because it doesn’t corrode, though it is very brittle, so be careful not to shock it too hard.

Rubber

Rubber is a great strap material for working watches because it is tough and cheap to replace. It is also much less likely to get caught on something like a loose metal strap might. The problem with rubber is that there is a tendency for people to tighten it too much which then traps sweat or seawater under the band, which can lead to skin irritations. This strap is easily adjusted on the fly for whatever exposure suit you choose.

Nylon

Made from the same nylon webbing as seat belts and backpack straps are made from so it’s tough and moderately more breathable than rubber (but not by much). It is usually paired up with Velcro™ to make an easily adjustable, easy to don strap. The downside of this is the fastening will probably wear out in two years or so, meaning you’ll have to replace the whole strap. The good news is that this type of strap is really cheap!

Leather

I’ve put this in because I want to point out that no scuba watch will ever have a leather strap. Nor should you ever fit one to a dive watch because the leather will break down in the sea very quickly, especially if you wear it in the sun too.

Backlit or Luminous

It is important that you remember that you might be using this watch in poor visibility or in the dark on a night dive, in which case you need to be able to see it. The two existing methods of seeing a watch at night are backlite screens and luminous hands/faces. Digital watches can only use electronic lights to be seen in the dark, whereas mechanical watches can use backlighting or luminous paint. Backlighting is good because you can turn it on and off when you want to (there’s nothing worse than ruining your night adjusted vision by glancing at a bright screen), but it also means you have to press a button to activate it, which can be cumbersome with thick gloves or cold hands. On the other hand, glow in the dark paint needs time in the light to charge up, it then gradually diminishes over a few hours. This is a pain when you want to see your watch in the dead of night but the light has dimmed too much (higher end watches have better paint – some you can read a book by). This lighting decision, when all is said and done, is not too much of a consideration because if you are buying a high end watch, it will have a good night visibility system.

A Luminous Dial Is Easy To Read And Doesn't Need To Be Turned On

Battery or Mechanical

This is another one of those categories when digital can only do one, but analogue can do both. Digital watches require batteries, which means you must replace them from time to time – this isn’t a big problem being as most digital watches will run for many years on one battery. However, some people (including myself) prefer not to have to worry about finite power sources – so I like to use kinetic watches, i.e. watches that wind themselves by the movement of your wrist. It means that you don’t need to consider ever going to a jewelers about your watch battery again. The other upside to kinetic watches is that they are completely sealed environments – there is no back to take off to replace the battery, which makes it more watertight.

The problem with an automatic watch (another name for the self-winding mechanism) is that if you don’t wear it for a week or two, then you’ll need to reset the time and date, and maybe give it a big of a shake to get it working again. I have two watches that I like to alternate between, both of them are kinetic so I need to reset them every time I switch, this really bugs me because I also have an old Casio digital watch that has been left in a drawer for four years and still keeps great time. The lesson here is that sometimes simple and low tech works out better than over engineered and pricey.

Closing Statement

Whether you are looking at buying a dive watch as a working tool, a dive fashion statement or as a dive computer, you will certainly have almost endless choice. To help narrow your choices down, I will follow up on this article with a list of eight excellent aquatic timepieces that are all fantastic in their own way.

Do you have a favorite dive watch? Ever heard any wild tales of chronometric extravagance or heartbreaking yarns about loosing a loved timepiece? Whatever your feelings on dive watches, please let us know by leaving a comment below.

By Jamie Campbell

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Dive computers. These two words will either send you to sleep or drive you into a geeky frenzy that will have you trolling the internet for hours, looking at specifications and comparing features. I fall into the latter category. And the Suunto Vyper Air was made for divers like me. I will say, with great confidence that the Vyper Air has too many features for the lay recreational diver. That is not to say that they will be unsatisfied with the computer; it is clear, simple to use and has all the important information available on one screen. My point is that the average diver will have all they require in a Suunto Zoop (for a much reduced price), the features in the Viper are mostly gadgets rather than “must haves”… But I love gadgets, so I’ll continue.

The Vyper Air has a few major additions compared to the last version of the Vyper; namely the forty-five degree tilt compass, the ability to download your log to a pc, the full dive simulator and its namesake – the air integration receiver.

The Compass

The electronic compass that is built into the Vyper Air is at once a revolutionary piece of equipment and an unnecessary hassle. The compass is built to operate up to a tilt angle of forty-five degrees. This is actually a better tilt tolerance than their best analogue compass, the SK-7 (which sticks at thirty degrees). However, before you throw your standard compass overboard you should consider the interface on the Vyper Air – it’s a flat screen with numbers that state your current bearing. I know that this is sufficient for navigating but I find that being able to look at a rotating dial from above is far more intuitive and allows for a quicker glance at the device. For backup navigation, it is excellent but it doesn’t replace the simplicity and reliability of my trusty SK-7.

Downloadable Content

This is a real selling point for the über-geeks among us as it allows us to continue our fiddling well after we’ve dried off. It is simply a convenient and pleasant way to view the details of last dives, though it still can’t log where you saw the whale shark or a what depth that pesky trigger fish lurks…

Dive Simulator

A dive simulator might appear like a gimmick at first but it does provide a useful service to those who are completely allergic to the RDP, but who would like to be a little more proactive with their dive planning. It allows a diver to fully explore the possible dive profiles they might use on a given dive.

Air Integration

At last, we come to the real reason why this computer exists, the air integration receiver that gives the Viper Air its name. Suunto Vyper Air can sync with a tank pressure transmitter and display your air supply details on your wrist. Along with this the computer estimates how much longer your air supply will last based on current breathing rate, though as far as I can tell this data relies on your depth not varying. Otherwise, if you think you can plan your air better than a calculator then this data is arbitrary. It also allows for you to remove a hose from your first stage (in the form of the SPG), though I like having a reliable analogue gauge at my side.

You might feel I’m being a little harsh on the Vyper Air, being as each feature could be useful to a certain diver at some point and I agree. It also has a great deal of merit because it is a very capable Nitrox computer that will go from 21% O2 right the way up to 100% in one percent intervals. And don’t forget that it uses Suunto’s new Deepstop RGBM algorithm that is designed with the deep diver in mind and factors in short, deeper safety stops that allow the body to exhaust nitrogen in stages. This is a fantastic computer with potentially useful features that may make your dives easier, though ultimately this is a feature-freak’s computer and is designed to make geeks happy… and I am, thank you Suunto!

Pros

• Full Nitrox support and gas switching
• 45 degree tilt compass
• Dive simulator
• Full air integration (transmitter sold separately)
• PC downloader (cable sold separately.
• Deepstop RGBM
• Clear Screen
• Backlight
• Thermometer
• Large capacity logbook
• Various alarms – depth, time, ascent rate, etc
• Replaceable screen guards (a big plus if you’re as clumsy as I am!)

Cons

• Bulky
• Ugly (subjective)
• Pricey (especially if you want to use air integration and pc downloading)
• Compass requires patience to learn
• Debatable necessity for air integration.

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The Galileo Luna computer from Scubapro is the most recent  addition to the Galileo family manufactured by famous Uwatex. The Luna dive computer has a full-tilt digital compass, extra large display  and a huge memory , as well as a choice of three pre-figured screen (Light, Full and Classic) displays and micro-bubble management. The Galileo Luna is a hoseless air-integrated dive computer.  There is an option to upgrade this dive computer  to read as much as four transmitters and support  three gas mixes up to 100%.  One the of great part of Luna is the ease-of-use. All three control buttons are clearly labeled and it is quite difficult to get lost. At depth Galileo Luna offers  its  data on its display with depth, dive time, psi and NDLs prominently displayed. Divers can setup  up to 6 micro-bubble suppression levels for additional safety.

Large display, choice of data screens and excellent digital compass, makes this dive computer an excellent addition to Galileo family. So it will be safe to say that this product is one of the most advanced dive computers currently offered in the market.

Prices vary but it seems that the best deal is offered thru LeisurePro

What’s New

• Complete navigational system with integrated digital compass and bearing memory, virtually unaffected by tilt. Ease and accuracy, all in one instrument.
• Galileo combines an extra large dot matrix display with a huge memory for unprecedented flexibility:
• PDIS (Profile Dependent Intermediate Stops) optimizes your dive in complete security.
• Hoseless gas integrated computer: when used with a Smart transmitter you get tank pressure and true remaining bottom time (RBT) on the computer screen.
• Galileo can be reprogrammed through its infrared interface, meaning you can easily upgrade your computer with new functions and features downloaded from our website.
• Predictive Multi Gas algorithm: allowing you to enjoy the full benefits of high oxygen concentration mixes.
• User friendly graphic data display, shows you tissue loading and oxygen toxicity levels as a bar graph.

Ability to store personal information

The diver can simply enter  his/her personal info  ( such as name, cert. numbers). Also the Luna can store information about your dive insurance , contacts,  some medical information (such as allergies); in case of an accident these information can easily be accessed at the touch of a button.

• Alarms and warnings appear on the large display in clear text in pre-chosen language, thus you’ll never misunderstand important signals while enjoying the beauty  of the underwater world. The beeps of alarms can’t be turned off, but you can do it for warnings. You have an option to choose to receive warning  of either only visual, only audible or both.
• Galileo’s interface is user friendly and quite easy to use. It’s like a cell phone so you can setup and view all interface elements for complete personalization without hassle.

The exclusive advantage of dive  computers from UWATEC is that they be upgraded. You can download the update packages from the Internet to add new features, new languages and so on.

For  additional amount of money  UWATEC Galileo Luna  can be upgraded with 2 additional features and they are available at your Authorized SCUBAPRO UWATEC dealer, these two features can be added quickly via: galileo.uwatec.com.

• Predictive Multi-Gas upgrade: Purchasing this PMG feature at a later time, or whenever you need it, allows LUNA to use up to 3 Nitrox mixes (21-100% O2) during the dive, calculating the ascent schedule for all possible combinations of the programmed mixes. The outcome of the different decompression calculations can be shown on the screen in a dedicated deco summary screen.
• Heart Rate Monitor upgrade: Galileo’s heart rate monitor, has been developed together with Polar (one of the world leaders  in the niche of heart rate monitors), not only measures and records the heartbeat during the dive but allows the dive computer to factor the intensity of the exercise into the decompression calculation, as it is reported by the diver’s physiology. The HRM is also ideal for Apnea divers, measuring heart rate and sounding an alarm if the heart rate drops below the set level.

Some great features which I like

• Full-tilt digital compass with bearing memory
• Extra large dot matrix display and huge memory
• Hoseless gas integration
• PDIS (Profile Dependent Intermediate Stops) for optimized diving
• Choice of 3 pre-figured screen display modes; Light, Full and Classic
• Easy to use interface, similar to a cell phone
• Personalize with owner or emergency or health information
• Oil filled technology
• User replaceable battery
• Infrared technology and PC download capability
• Heart rate monitor system and Predictive Multi gas features are available to upgrade. These are not included with item and should be purchased separately.
• True remaining bottom time (RBT) calculated using tank pressure, breathing rate, depth, ideal ascending speed and more.
• Nitrox compatibility
• Microbubble management.

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Oceanic Datamask HUD dive computer

Have you ever though about the idea to dive without using dive computer on your hand ? Well what can I say, the Oceanic Datamask HUD dive computer simply allows you to do that. The dive computer is Integrated in the mask. It represents itself as small LCD panel that shows depth, psi of air in cylinder, time, and decompression stop info and the most important part is ” You can always see them in front of you ” , without use of your hands. The miniature LCD allows you to keep your eyes focused on the dive while presenting critical dive data including: current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining. The Digital Optic System provides a clear, highly magnified image of the LCD, which is viewable regardless of environmental conditions and may be seen clearly by the vast majority of people, regardless of vision. Like all other dive computers this one also have ability to alarm if you ascend too quickly, you’re low on air or already spent a lot of time at depth and etc. It also has user replaceable batteries, and allows uploading of dive data to you your computer. So DATAMASK HUD (Heads Up Display) – featuring an advanced air-integrated dive computer – built directly into the mask! is a scuba equipment which can make your dive more comfortable. Well I would like to also to post youtube video representing Oceanic DATAMASK HUD Scuba Dive Computer

Buy it now

Product Features

• Integrated dive computer (built directly into the mask)
• Wireless Air Integrated Technology
• Miniature Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Panel
• Proprietary Digital Optic System
• Microprocessor
• Depth Transducer
• Wireless Cylinder Pressure Receiver
• OceanLog® PC Download and Settings Upload Software and USB Cable included

Official Description
Military Special Forces won’t get in the water without it and soon you can dive with it. We?re talking about the DATAMASK HUD ? featuring an advanced air-integrated dive computer ? built directly into the mask! The DATAMASK contains a miniature liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, proprietary Digital Optic System, microprocessor, depth transducer, wireless cylinder pressure receiver, diver replaceable battery, and controlling software. The miniature LCD allows you to keep your eyes focused on the dive while presenting critical dive data including: current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining. The Digital Optic System provides a clear, highly magnified image of the LCD, which is viewable regardless of environmental conditions and may be seen clearly by the vast majority of people, regardless of vision

Reviews across the net

Tisro Diaz (Review from Amazon.com )

I just made a few dives with the new toy and I am quite happy with it. I find it excellent for diving in bad visibility especially if you have someone with you you want to keep an eye on. The display is easy to read, all relevant information available and quite simple to operate. Disadvantage: The mask is heavy and a bit bulky. Underwater I found it difficult to perform equalization as it is hard to get to the nose with thick dry suit gloves.

Summary: Cool tool for diving in bad visibility and for teaching when you have to keep your eyes on your students. But I will stick to my wrist computer for holiday diving in clear, warm water.

Arina Danesa ( Review from leisurepro.com )

Oceanic Datamask HUD dive computer is very easy to use. The price is bit expensive , but you’re paying for high quality product. I’m totally satisfied with my purchase

redange81 ( ebay Feedback left )

Dive computers recieved and used . It’s outstanding expirience

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GALILEO Terra has a user-friendly display which shows all that is needed and is very simple to use. With three large buttons it’s easy to manage it.

GALILEO Terra display by default gives you current depth, dive time, no-stop time, oxygen percentage, temperature, central nervous system toxicity percentage, and maximum depth. It will warn you just about every dangerous situation. When you are done with the scuba diving and on the surface, Terra gives you desaturation time and no-fly time.

UWATEC GALILEO Terra dive computer has preinstalled important features that each scuba diver will need.

Nitrox of this dive coputer can be set at 21-100 per cent with the maximum pO2 at 1.6 bar. Terra has a built-in compass and appears to function even when the computer is tilted at 45 degrees. It can be connected to the home PC, personalise it, upload diagrams of your favourite dive sites, analyse every minute of each dive and download a fairly comprehensive logbook.

And now the most important part for some – the price. UWATEC GALILEO Terra is now available for only $499.95 during a month – 1 July to 1 August (You Save: 53%:  Original price is: $558.05 )

UWATEC GALILEO Terra Features

* Full Tilt Digital Compass with Bearing Memory and Navigational Aid
* Dot Matrix Display with Full Flexibility for Multiple Screen Configurations
* ZH-L8 ADT MB
* Depth Limit: 1082 ft (330m) in Gauge Mode; 393 ft (120m) for Decompression
* Personalization of Owner Screens and Emergency Information
* Safety Stop Timer (1-5min and Automatic or Manual
* Adjustable Partial Pressure of Oxygen (pp02) with MOD Alarm (1.2 to 1.6 Bar) with Off Option
* Gauge Mode Up to 330m with Stopwatch and Resettable Average Depth
* Push Buttons with Function Changing Labels

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Dive Computer

To avoid decompression sickness during scuba diving, it is critical to monitor your depth and time underwater on every dive. In the past, this would have been done using a watch and a depth gauge, but these functions and many others can now be performed by a dive computer.

The main functions of a dive computer are to monitor your dive time and depth and calculate safe dive schedules. A basic model uses this data to assess the level of nitrogen absorption in your body while you are under the water, and also displays information about your ascent rate, including any stops you may need to make during an ascent to avoid decompression sickness. More advanced models also inform you about the temperature of the water and your air consumption (if linked via a transmitter to your regulator first stage), both for normal air and technical gas mixes. Computers are more flexible than dive tables. Dive tables show how long you can spend at different depths before needing decompression stops. Most tables assume that you spend your entire dive at the greatest depth; computers can make more complicated calculations, including the time spent at all the different depths reached on a dive. Some computers will also schedule deep decompression stops. These reduce the risk of nitrogen microbubbles forming in your body, meaning that less time is spent decompressing in shallow water. When making repeat dives, especially in places where you are not limited by times of tides and slack water, using dive tables instead of a computer may not give you the maximum number of dives you can safely make each day. Computers are also able to monitor your ascent rate accurately. In your dive training, you will be taught to ascend no faster than the smallest exhaled bubble, but it is more accurate to follow a digital readout that tells you the safe ascent rate.

Buying a dive computer

A key consideration when buying a computer is the readability of the display. Too many figures on a small screen are difficult to read—the simplest models are often the best. Choose one with digits that are large enough to read with ease, without any nonessential data on the primary screen. It is also advisable to opt
for a brand with a proven track record. Computers are the most precise way of monitoring your dive, but they are not a foolproof means of avoiding DCS. It is
impossible for data from a computer to exactly reflect your body’s requirements. All models have built-in safety margins, but to be sure of avoiding problems, you
should always dive conservatively, and not push your depths and times to the limit.

Tips and precautions

Safety checks
As you ascend, keep a close watch on your dive computer to make sure that you are not exceeding the maximum ascent rate it recommends.

Malfunction precautions
Never rely solely on a computer. As a precaution against malfunction, it is always worth practicing how to calculate dive times using tables. Although your computer will give early warning of a low battery, make sure you carry back up devices—either a watch and depth gauge, or a second computer, which can be mounted on your console.

Which brand to choose ?

On this question I do not have certain answer , but I would like to recommend 2 major brand Mares and Suunto .I’ve written blogposts about Suunto D9 and Suunto Helo2 .

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The Finnish company «Suunto» presented latest of its developments – a computer for technical diving Suunto HelO2, with the help of which you can plan dives based on data from previous dives, set 8 gas mixtures, including trimiks, and receive guidance on preparation of mixtures.

Key Features

• Algorithm Suunto RGBM.
• Suunto Dive Planner – an easy-to-use graphical user profile diary for planning dives, gas and emergency plans.
• Suunto Dive Manager – an updated version with support for analysis of up to 8 gases.
• Using of several mixtures – up to 8 gas mixtures with oxygen from 8% to 100% and helium up to 92%. The computer tells you when you need to change the gas. Procedure for displaying messages on change of the gas changes in the case of deviation from the plan.
• In the measuring device can be used as a meter of bottom time and depth, including a stopwatch function.
• The journal is kept info about dives with the step measure of 1, 10, 20, 30 or 60 seconds. Profiles can be viewed on the screen of the device.
• The history of diving, including the total time of dive, maximum depth and number of dives.
• Maximum depth – 120 m.
• Wireless Transmitter (optional).
• Easy to read screen – dot-matrix display.

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