| The main role of a dive computer watch is to help | | | | breathing time. |
| scuba divers in tracking their dives and maneuvering | | | | While Modern computer dive watches are able to |
| safely back to sea level. A computer dive watch, is a | | | | generate an ascent plan on-the-fly, for safety |
| dive computer compacted into the size of a regular | | | | reasons, divers are still urged to plan their dives well |
| sports watch. Consumer computer dive watches | | | | in advance and always within the limits of established |
| offer the functions of a conventional diving watch in | | | | decompression tables. Unless a dive is disrupted |
| a digital format, but with additional options well in | | | | unexpectedly, a diver should always stay with the |
| excess of the standard analog timepiece. | | | | original plan. |
| Dive computers offer a secondary way of calculating | | | | Divers are urged to take the following safeguards to |
| the information that has traditionally been the job of | | | | reduce the risk of decompression sickness: |
| decompression tables. Since a computer can execute | | | | - If relying on dive computers, apply a cautious |
| continuous calculations based on the partial pressure | | | | decompression model |
| of inert gasses in the human body, depth of the dive | | | | - Account for common environmental discrepancies |
| and overall time, the statistical read-out can be | | | | that watch might not be programmed to |
| calculated in real-time, offering the diver | | | | compensate for (e.g. high surface altitude) |
| up-to-the-minute info and accounting for changes in | | | | - Add supplemental deep safety stops when |
| the dive schedule. | | | | attempting a deep dive |
| The actual data fields supported in a modern-day | | | | - Never be afraid to ascend slower than you need to |
| dive computer watch differs from model to model, | | | | - Add more shallow safety stops |
| but a typical computer watch will present the | | | | - Spend a long period of time at the surface in |
| following info in easy-to-read LCD format: | | | | between dives A problem dive computer algorithms |
| - Current depth of the dive | | | | have is that absorption of gas and pressurized |
| - The maximum depth reached in the current dive | | | | discharge in the body is not a topic that is |
| - The time taken to reach the current depth (minus | | | | understood fully. Another source of error in computer |
| decompression stops) | | | | dives is that is that an individual diver's fitness, health |
| - Cumulative dive time | | | | and physiology differs from person to person. |
| - Essential decompression stop depth and time | | | | A modern day dive computer watch can offer scuba |
| - Current water temperature | | | | divers a great deal of additional functionality beyond |
| - Climb rate in this dive | | | | that a conventional divers watch can offer. |
| - Diving profiles (handy when transferring your diving | | | | In today's market, computer dive watches are |
| data to a computer) | | | | considerably more affordable and thus, accessible to |
| - Time to Fly - the duration a diver must delay | | | | the average diver than in the days when they were |
| before boarding a plane after a dive | | | | a new item. |
| - Diving history - all data conglomerated in earlier | | | | While a dive computer watch tends to lack the |
| dives | | | | status appeal of an analog diving watch, serious |
| - Maximum non-decompression bottom of the last | | | | scuba divers can benefit immensely from having |
| dive Some modern diving computers can link to a | | | | up-to-the-minute data on their wrists. A dive |
| diving cylinder pressure meter, permitting them | | | | computer is a great investment, even if not used as |
| access to actual gas level readings, this allows them | | | | a primary watch. |
| to display data such as gas pressure and remaining | | | | |