Is a Dive Computer Worth Buying?

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Tables used to be how everyone dived. Today, most scuba divers wear a personal related site dive computer and for good reason.

Your computer monitors depth, time, ascent rate, and NDL in real time. Tables give you a static plan. When you change depth partway through, it updates. A table can't.

Wrist computers are what the majority of divers buy these days. These are compact, easy to read, and you'll wear them as a watch too. Console models are an option but less people choose them anymore.

Budget computers start around a few hundred dollars and handle everything a recreational diver needs. You get depth tracking, bottom time, no-deco limits, dive logging, and often an entry-level freediving mode. Stepping up to mid-range includes wireless air monitoring, nicer displays, and more gas compatibility.

Something new divers don't think about is algorithm differences. Some computers are tighter than others. A cautious computer means shorter bottom time. Liberal algorithms give more bottom time but at a thinner buffer. It's not right or wrong. It just what you're comfortable with and your diving background.

Ask the staff at a dive shop who uses multiple brands before you decide. Staff will offer honest opinions on what works and what's just marketing. Most good dive stores have buying guides and comparisons online too

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