How do dive computers work

This means that if you buy a product, book a liveaboard, book accommodation or purchase insurance, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. November 1, Information Found On Dive Computers. No stop limits. Dive Depth. Previous dive info.

Ascent rate. Emergency decompression. No stop time remaining. Enriched air compatible. Low battery warning. Diving Squad Tip:. Life underwater is fascinating. Use your energy on discovering awesome creatures and let your dive computer do the rest.

First things first, it is important to consider the following: Diving style: The kind of diving you do or want to do technical dive or simple. Computer style: The type of dive computer you want keep reading to find out the different kinds. Your budget: How much are you willing to spend? Makes sense for you: Do you prefer graphics and charts or numbers?

Can you see the display through your mask? Types Of Dive Computer:. Discovering ocean wildlife is far more exciting than trying to remember your dive tables.

Broken down:. These are the factors that affect your NDL. Best Dive Computers for Beginners:. Best All Round Dive Computers:. Diving Squad Debriefing. Support the Squad! Be wary of a computer that is too small. No-Stop Limit: This is the main piece of information to read on your computer. Based on your previous diving, it can calculate your no-stop limit.

This takes into account depth and air and so on. It offers data on when you need to take a decompression stop if you passed the no-stop limit. There will also be a countdown to let you know when to start your ascent again. NDL : Your no-decompression limits or no stop time remaining. This is how much time you can spend at depth without worrying about decompression.

Your own dive computer can monitor breathing gas levels and the high pressure hose. This is obviously essential for calculating remaining dive time. Depth: This is a pretty self-explanatory function. It uses a depth gauge to tell you how deep you are. This depth is factored into the algorithms that determine your time limits and so on. This is essential for deep diving. Time : Losing track of time while diving is very easy to do. They have various display modes which can cover all of these functions.

Ascent Rate: You need to ascend slow enough that you avoid any physical repercussions. Your dive computer tracks your rate of ascent. At that rate, you are ascending too quickly. The ambient pressure is monitored to help you understand this.

Emergency Stop Required: If you do ascend too fast, you need emergency decompression. Your dive computer will alert you to this. It will indicate how long you need to wait for before you can continue your ascent. Enriched Air Compatible: Your dive computer may be enriched air compatible. If so, it will alter things like your no-stop limit based on whether you use enriched air.

Not every diver is aware of how enriched air works, however. In simple terms, enriched air is a more pure kind of air. However, there are small amounts of other elements present. That increases the oxygen percentage. That in turn means you can dive longer before you reach your NDL. Dive Info: This is important information to log.

Because you still have nitrogen in your blood after a dive, your dive info can monitor this. If you have gone on more than one dive, you need 18 hours of rest before flying.

Also, if you went diving yesterday, it can affect dive depths and times the next day. All of this is calculated by your dive computer to keep you safe. Water Temperature: Not every computer includes this, but many do.

Battery Power: As with any electronic device, a dive computer is no good without power. The battery warning alerts you if the computer is dying. Always remember to take it on a dive with a full charge. Compass: An electronic compass may be a little old school but many dive computers do include them. This can be helpful when it comes to getting oriented under the water. Closed Circuit Rebreather Compatibility: Closed circuit rebreather diving is a kind of diving some divers feel is superior.

It involves supplying pure oxygen and a second gas into a loop. Some dive computers are compatible with this kind of system. A CCR system can greatly alter dive times. Data Analysis: Most computers work with apps. You can link these to a laptop or smartphone to analyze your dives.

You can see where you may need improvement in managing your time, breathing, and so on. Your dive profile can be used to help you dive more efficiently in the future. As you can see, this is a great tool. It does a lot. There are some factors that a dive computer cannot take into consideration. Those are all about you. You as an individual are a wild card when it comes to computer calculations.

So what does that mean? Your ability to manage oxygen on a dive is affected by you physically. Weight and age are big factors that can tweak your numbers. A dive computer can learn to compensate for that in time by creating a dive profile.

But circumstantial changes may cause issues as well. The way your body processes nitrogen and oxygen will be affected as well. So you need to be aware of yourself, How you feel and your own limitations. Some dive computers will also have a handful of additional limitations. Depth: One of the big ones you need to be aware of is the depth limitations.

Hopefully, any dive computer you find will be good to well beyond your dive depth. Many can handle depths up to feet or more. That should be plenty adequate. Keeping this mind most manufacturers these days pre-install multiple algorithms so that you can choose one that is suitable for your dive type. You can use this information to choose the right dive computer for yourself.

Let us know in the comments below, what other information should we include in this article. Have you ever seen a diver wearing what looks like an oversized watch on their wrist? That diver was wearing a dive computer! Dive computers are a very interesting instance. They are to a diver what a motor is to a boat: they provide mobility in the water. With so. Scuba divers have a few options of clothing to wear while diving.

These options range from normal-looking shirts, to full body suits. The island is known for its pristine natural. It is important to make an informed decision when choosing a BCD. The dive sites of Mabul Island are known for its outstanding diversity of macro life in the area.

Yacht Services. Corporate Scuba Diving Clubs. TV and Media Work. About Dive Computer Displays Dive computers have easy-to-read displays also available in colour that provide divers with the following essential information: No stop limits Dive depth Time Ascent rate No stop time remaining Emergency decompression Previous dive information Low battery warning Enriched air compatible How to Choose the Best Dive Computer Choosing the right dive computer can be the difference between a good dive and a great one.

Provide Decompression Times Dive computers provide you with decompression times which basically means they tell you how long you can stay at a particular depth without increasing your chance of decompression sickness where nitrogen bubbles appear in your body after a dive.

You Can Upload all the Information Another beneficial aspect of dive computers is that you can upload all of the information you gather on a dive onto your computer. Air Transmitter An extra feature of dive computers is the air transmitter. Monitors Multiple Gases As you become a more experienced diver, you may move to more technical diving trips that require more than one cylinder of oxygens. Rechargeable Batteries As we all take steps to be more environmentally friendly in our daily lives and activities, it is now possible to enjoy dive computers that come with rechargeable batteries.

It has most of the functions of other dive computers, but does tend to be a bit more expensive. Console Computer: the console computer replaces your current pressure and depth gauge that is attached via hose to your regulators. Very popular in America, the console computer is less convenient to take with you on a dive but does a great job at monitoring your oxygen levels, depth, and safety. Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment.