By Eli Del
Many people run out and buy dive computers without even understanding the function of a dive computer. Yes, they are cool and will make you look like you know what you are doing. I still think it's risky when people don't do some research first, especially considering that these wonderful pieces of technology are very intricate and expensive. What I'm trying to say is... don't be one of those people who buys one just to look cool and impress others and then finds out that the computer was not the best match for you. Take two minutes to read an article like this and then go buy a dive computer.
There are many brands and many different styles of dive computer available. In order to make this easy and painless, we are gong to spell out the features that you need to look for when you buy a dive computer. If you come across one that does not offer these functions, move on to the next one.
The first thing that you should look for is what information will be displayed on your LCD display. You will need to know what your current depth is, the no-stop time (time left at the current depth before you will need to stop for a decompression stop while ascending) and your total dive time. Other additional features that are considered a bonus are the temperature of the water, rate of ascension and the required decompression safety stop depth and time.
Another function that you will need are alerts, especially if you are in a situation where you might have forgotten information that you learned during your certification training. The alerts are built in to enhance safety and if a high-risk event occurs you will be grateful that a warning buzzer will go off. A high-risk situation while diving could be one of the following: you miss your decompression stop, you have reached the maximum depth at which the dive computer operates, you are nearing the maximum oxygen levels allowed in your body or you are ascending at a faster pace than allowed. In most cases you will not ever come across these events, but if that buzzer goes off you will be glad that you decided to buy a dive computer.
The last feature that you must have in your dive computer is the ability to read the information from your diving cylinder. Your computer should tell you what your current gas pressure is and what the estimated remaining time is based on the rate of gas consumption and available gas.
All of these features above are the most important ones and you should not buy a dive computer if it does not include them. Most dive computers will offer a lot more, but we are not going to go into those here because we want to keep it simple for you. We hope that you have learned the basics of the dive computer and that you are proud of yourself for taking two minutes to read an informative article about the product before you buy it.
Find the best dive computer deals here
Elidel
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