Tracking your body’s exposure to nitrogen is a must during recreational diving. When diving, nitrogen can quickly dissolve into your body tissue as the pressure builds up at depth. If you don’t properly pace yourself as you swim to the surface, you could experience decompression sickness because of the build-up of nitrogen bubbles in your body.

Scuba dive computers guide you to safety so that you can maximize your bottom time. They also make it easier for you to track the dissolved nitrogen in your body and make decompression stops at the right depths and time intervals.

Scuba.com stocks the best scuba dive computers from top equipment manufacturers, including Aqualung, Scubapro, and Suunto. Browse our inventory today.

Reduce Human Error with Reliable, Dive Computer Data

Dive computers look like small square consoles or wrist watches. They monitor your dive duration, depth, ascent rate, and movement underwater using a series of algorithms. This reliable piece of diving equipment provides crucial info that will ensure your safety every time you venture underwater.

Owning a dive computer is also incredibly convenient because they take away the hassle of carrying a separate gauge to measure time and dive depth. On top of that, it notifies you when you’ve missed decompression stops and helps you manage your ascent rate.

While dive computers assist you with figuring out vital calculations, like how long you can stay in the water without consulting dive tables, these tables are still an important part of dive planning. Use your dive computer in conjunction with dive tables to eliminate human error and work autonomously throughout your dive.

Order a Wrist Dive Computer from Scuba.com

Dive computers come in different brands and configurations. Start by determining the diving activities you do, as well as what you plan to do in the future. Then consider which air integrated dive computer is compatible with your current equipment. Search for dive computers that support your dive style and equipment set-up. Furthermore, check whether you can clearly see the data display even with your mask on and understand how to obtain the dive info you need.

Stay informed and get access to relevant underwater data. Scuba.com carries an extensive line-up of oceanic dive computers in various equipment configurations. Whether you prefer wrist dive computers, console computers, hoseless computers, or transmitters, you’ll find a device for your needs here.

Do You Need a Dive Computer?

There are ways to dive without using a dive computer. In the past, divers memorized dive tables so they knew how to monitor their nitrogen levels and time their decompression stops. Advanced divers still learn these skills as a contingency.

However, a dive computer is a very important piece of safety equipment that every scuba diver should know how to use. Dive computers keep you safe from calculation errors, keep your timing on track if you become confused while underwater, and log all your dive data for future review.

Even if you’re not ready to invest in an advanced dive computer, you’ll be glad you bought at least a basic model.

Should You Accidentally Exceed Your Dive Computer's No-Decompression Limit?

You should never exceed your dive computer’s no-decompression limit.

Factors like time spent underwater, depth, gas mixture, and number of dives in a day all impact the amount of compressed nitrogen inside your body. Every diver is different, so your individual body chemistry can also affect your nitrogen absorption.

Dive computers provide important safety guidelines to minimize your risk of decompression problems. Give yourself an extra safety window, and don’t push the recommended limits. Create and follow a contingency plan in case you mistakenly exceed your planned depth.

Why Use a Dive Computer?

Scuba diving comes with certain risks. Using a dive computer reduces some of these risks by providing you with crucial information.

Dive computers tell you more than simply when to take decompression breaks or track your ascent rate. They provide a wealth of useful info you can use to keep yourself secure.

Your dive computer can help you find your bearings if you suddenly lose visibility from silt. It can also show you how much air is left in your tank, and it can help you keep track of water temperature as an added layer of protection from hypothermia.

Take some of the stress and guesswork out of scuba diving with a comprehensive dive computer.

Can Dive Computers Replace Compression Tables?

In terms of practical application, dive computers effectively replace compression tables. If you know how to use your dive computer correctly and you program it accurately with your expected dive information, your unit will give you all the guidance you need to stay safe while underwater.

Even with the most effective dive computer on your wrist, you still need to understand how it figures its measurements and makes its recommendations. If your model is damaged or fails while you’re on a dive, you’ll be okay if you always take along a set of dive tables as a backup — and know how to use them.

Ideally, technology should make your diving more convenient, but it can’t replace the experience and knowledge of how to dive safely.