YOUR PORTABLE Underwater Friend
Constantly prepared to descend when necessary.
The Suunto D4i Novo dive watch is durable and light weight, and it has a soft silicone strap. As well as timer and watch features, it has four dive modes: air, nitrox, freedive, and gauge. A user-friendly interface is provided with optional wireless tank pressure measurement and graphical dive logs.
What is a dive computer?
A dive computer, personal decompression computer or decompression meter is a device used by an underwater diver to measure the elapsed time and depth during a dive and use this data to calculate and display an ascent profile which, according to the programmed decompression algorithm, will give a low risk of decompression sickness.
Most dive computers use real-time ambient pressure input to a decompression algorithm to indicate the remaining time to the no-stop limit, and after that has passed, the minimum decompression required to surface with an acceptable risk of decompression sickness. Several algorithms have been used, and various personal conservatism factors may be available. Some dive computers allow for gas switching during the dive. Audible alarms may be available to warn the diver when exceeding the no-stop limit, the maximum operating depth for the gas mixture, the recommended ascent rate or other limit beyond which risk increases significantly.
The display provides data to allow the diver to avoid decompression, or to decompress relatively safely, and includes depth and duration of the dive. Several additional functions and displays may be available for interest and convenience, such as water temperature and compass direction, and it may be possible to download the data from the dives to a personal computer via cable or wireless connection. Data recorded by a dive computer may be of great value to the investigators in a diving accident, and may allow the cause of an accident to be discovered.
Dive computers may be wrist-mounted or fitted to a console with the submersible pressure gauge. A dive computer is perceived by recreational scuba divers and service providers to be one of the most important items of safety equipment. Use by professional scuba divers is also common, but use by surface-supplied divers is less widespread, as the diver’s depth is monitored at the surface by pneumofathometer and decompression is controlled by the diving supervisor.
Imagesource: Suunto (Suunto D4i Novo White – A lightweight and compact dive computer)