Dive computers are a required piece of gear for any scuba diver. Not only do they provide valuable information about depth, time, and decompression limits, but they are key to ensure a safe and enjoyable dive.
From personal experience, dive computers are a piece of scuba gear that each diver should own. If you are looking to buy your first dive computer, check out my ultimate guide. You might also be interested in my latest post on the 15 best dive computers for beginners.
While most dive computers offer basic features such as depth and time monitoring, some go above and beyond with integrated alarms, providing an extra level of safety.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the 10 best dive computers with integrated alarms. These dive computers offer an array of features, including visual, audible, and vibration alarms, to alert divers of potential danger or necessary information during their dive.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, a dive computer with integrated alarms can enhance your diving experience by providing a clear understanding of your dive’s progress and limits. In addition, it offers added peace of mind, providing you with the right confidence to focus on exploring the underwater world without worrying too much about missing potential dangers.
Personally, I am not a fan of audible alarms as they might be overly loud and catch you by surprise, or even over-alert your fellow divers. That said, if you have a tendency to get distracted during a dive, audible alarms can be of great support, I would simply suggest to inform your buddy and fellow divers that you are diving with a dive computer that has audible alarms.
So, let’s dive into our top 10 picks and see how they can enhance your next diving adventure. All dive computers are ranked in terms of preference, based on their alarm functionalities, but also taking into account overall capabilities and experience while testing them.
If you are short on time and need an immediate suggestion, I definitely recommend buying the Shearwater Perdix 2. It is a bit expensive, but I have been using shearwater computers for 5+ years and can only recommend it. If instead you don’t want to invest in a technical dive computer, the Suunto Zoop Novo does its job while being durable and rugged.
Shearwater Perdix 2
The Shearwater Perdix 2 dive computer is a highly advanced device designed for both recreational and technical diving. This is the computer that I regularly use both for recreational and technical diving. It features a high-resolution full-color display, customizable menus, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity with the Shearwater App.
Given its almost infinite capabilities, I basically recommend the Shearwater Perdix 2 to all my students as it is a perfect fit to accompany you along your diving journey, from newbie to pro or tech diver. If you have no intention of doing some more challenging dives or technical diving, the Shearwater Perdix 2 might not be worth the investment.
When it comes to the alarm system, the shearwater Perdix 2 has no nonsense features. The alarm system includes both visual and vibration alarms. It is capable of providing alarms for a wide range of conditions, including depth, time, ascent rate, decompression status, and gas levels.
I often dive in a dry suit with a heavy under suit and can confirm that the vibration system is strong enough to be felt immediately even when diving with a drysuit.
Overall, the Perdix 2 is a highly reliable and versatile dive computer. In my opinion this is really the best you can have when it comes to dive computers. Its advanced features and customizable settings make it a great choice for both novice and experienced divers alike.
However, the device is somewhat pricey compared to other dive computers on the market, which may make it less accessible if you are on a budget.
Ratio iX3M 2 – Pro
Just like the Shearwater Perdix 2, the Ratio iX3M 2 pro is a high-end dive computer designed mostly for technical diving. I had the opportunity to try it out while diving in Raja Ampat and found it somewhat bulky as compared to the Shearwater Perdix 2.
It features a full-color, highly customizable, OLED display, allowing you to choose from a range of layouts and color schemes. The computer offers support for up to 10 gas mixes, making it ideal for advanced divers who frequently switch between different breathing gases.
In terms of alarms, the iX3M 2 pro comes equipped with a vibration alarm, including depth, time, ascent rate, and gas mix alerts. The computer also has a user-settable deep stop alarm, which can be used to prompt divers to make a stop at a specific depth during ascent.
One of the key benefits of the iX3M 2 pro is its high degree of customization. You can choose from a range of display modes, including a detailed technical mode that provides information on all of the gases in use. Additionally, the computer’s firmware can be updated over the air, ensuring that you always have access to the latest features and bug fixes.
Comparing the vibration system of the Ratio iX3M 2 with the one of the Shearwater Perdix 2, I have personally found the Ration iX3M 2 Pro’s vibration a bit weaker. This means that you will need to pay more attention to the vibration in case you are diving in a dry suit.
All in all, the Ratio iX3M 2 pro is a valid alternative to the Shearwater Perdix 2, particularly if you want to buy a highly technical dive computer but are not willing to invest on the Shearwater Perdix 2 price tag.
Suunto Zoop Novo
The Suunto Zoop Novo comes at the third place in my list because of its ruggedness and durability. The Zoop Novo is a versatile and user-friendly dive computer designed mostly for recreational scuba divers. As you might have noticed, this is one of the computers that is most used by dive shops.
It features a large display with easy-to-read digits and intuitive menus that allow you to easily navigate and customize its settings. The device uses a single button interface to access menus and modes, making it simple to use even while wearing gloves.
The Zoop Novo has multiple alarms to ensure safe diving. It includes visual and audible alarms for ascent rate, decompression ceiling, and maximum depth, as well as low battery and no-fly time alerts. The device also has a safety stop timer to help divers maintain their safety stop at the end of a dive.
The Zoop Novo is affordable, durable, and extremely easy to use. It is a great choice for beginners and recreational divers who want a reliable and functional dive computer without breaking the bank. The computer is water-resistant up to 80 meters.
On the flip side, the Zoop Novo does not have an integrated air monitoring system and has a limited memory capacity (max 140 hours dive time). As mentioned, I personally also do not like the quite loud alarm system as it may scare other divers, but this is a personal reference and should not influence your choice.
If you are looking for an entry level, rugged dive computer, the Suunto Zoop Novo is definitely for you.
Suunto D5
The Suunto D5 is a watch style computer. It has a large color display with an easy-to-read interface that provides essential information such as dive time, depth, and decompression status.
The D5 is equipped with four different types of alarms. They are visual, vibration, and sound (can be turned off) and include depth, time, tank pressure, and ascent rate, all of which can be customized by the user.
You can set the depth alarm to trigger at a specific depth or depth range, while you can set the time alarm to remind you to check their remaining dive time.
The tank pressure alarm will alert you when your tank pressure drops to a certain level, and the ascent rate alarm warns you if you ascend too quickly (Ascent speed exceeds safe speed of 33ft (10 m) per minute for five seconds or more). All alarms have adjustable warning levels, making them adaptable to different diving scenarios.
I have tried the D5 in several cold and warm water dives, and found that its compact and lightweight design, makes it easy to wear throughout a dive (even with a dry suit).
The large, clear display is also a plus, as it makes it easy to read vital information while underwater. The customizable alarms are also a great feature, allowing you to tailor them to their specific diving needs.
However, if you are planning to dive mostly in cold water in a dry suit, be aware that the vibration alarm is not as strong as the one from the Shearwater Perdix 2. At times I have found the vibrations almost impossible to feel. This is partially compensated by the bright screen.
Suunto Vyper Novo
The Suunto Vyper Novo is a dive computer designed to provide accurate and reliable dive data in a user-friendly format. It has a large, easy-to-read display and a customizable menu system that allows you to adjust settings to your preferences.
As you might notice, the Vyper Novo is almost identical to the Zoop Novo. However note that the Vyper Novo is actually slightly larger (0.2 inches), and has some more advanced features than the Zoop Novo (e.g. more gas mixes).
The Vyper Novo features several types of alarms, including depth, time, and ascent rate alarms, as well as low battery and dive time alarms. The computer also includes a safety stop timer to help prevent decompression sickness and a built-in dive planner to help divers plan their dives.
One of the nice features of the Vyper Novo is its long battery life, which can last up to 100 hours of dive time. Additionally, its customizable display allows you to view the data you find most important.
Overall, the Suunto Vyper Novo is a reliable and user-friendly dive computer that provides accurate data and several useful features. Just like the Zoop, it is quite rugged. I highly recommend it for new divers that want an excellent dive computer and that are not interested in technical diving.
Suunto D4i Novo
The Suunto D4i Novo Dive computer is a wrist-mounted device that is designed for scuba diving. It is equipped with a four-button interface that makes it easy to use, even while wearing gloves. The computer features a bright and easy-to-read display that shows all the necessary information at a glance, including depth, time, and decompression stops.
The Suunto D4i Novo has multiple types of alarms, including ascent rate, depth, and dive time alarms. These alarms are audible and visible, making it easy to monitor your dive and stay safe. In addition, the computer also features a low battery warning, which helps ensure that you always have enough power for your dive.
One of the main pros of the Suunto D4i Novo is its intuitive interface, which makes it easy to use and navigate, even for beginners. The device is also very accurate and reliable, providing accurate readings and alarms throughout your dive.
One potential con of the Suunto D4i Novo is that it may be too basic for more advanced divers who require more detailed information and features. Additionally, some users have reported issues with the battery life, which can be shorter than expected.
Overall, the Suunto D4i Novo is a solid choice for recreational divers who want a reliable and user-friendly dive computer. Its multiple alarms and intuitive interface make it a great option for divers of all experience levels.
Atmos Mission 2
The Atmos Mission 2 Dive computer is a watch style computer designed for divers of all experience levels. The device has a backlit display that shows all critical information, including depth, time, and temperature, which I find particularly nice and easy to read.
The Mission 2 has visual and audible alarms to alert you if you exceed pre-set limits for depth, ascent rate, or dive time. It also has a safety stop countdown timer that reminds the diver to make a safety stop before ascending to the surface.
One of the pros of the Mission 2 is its ease of use, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. The device is also rugged and durable, making it suitable for use in harsh underwater environments. Additionally, it has a long battery life and can track multiple gas mixes for technical divers.
Note however that I have found the alarms to be too loud and not easily adjustable, which could be distracting during a dive.
The Mission 2 is also a good choice if you are looking for a dive computer that is also able to track your activity above the surface. In fact, it can be used for running, biking, skiing, swimming and also walking.
Oceanic VEO 4.0
The Oceanic VEO 4.0 is a wrist-mounted device designed for recreational scuba diving. It features a large, easy-to-read display and an intuitive user interface, making it easy to use , particularly for beginners. The computer tracks key dive metrics such as depth, time, and decompression status, and also includes a variety of alarms to enhance dive safety.
The VEO 4.0 includes both visual and audible alarms, with customizable settings to suit the individual diver’s needs. The computer can be set to notify the diver when reaching predetermined depths, ascent rates, and decompression limits, among other things. Additionally, the computer features a unique Dual Algorithm™, which allows the user to choose between the Pelagic DSAT or Z+ algorithms, providing versatility in dive planning.
One potential downside of the VEO 4.0 is that it lacks wireless air integration, requiring you to rely totally on your pressure gauge to monitor tank levels. However, the device’s long battery life and durable construction make it a reliable choice for divers of all levels. Overall, the Oceanic VEO 4.0 Computer is a solid choice for divers seeking a reliable and user-friendly device with a range of customizable alarms to enhance dive safety.
Aqualung i100
The Aqua Lung i100 dive computer is a wrist-mounted device that provides real-time information to scuba divers. It is quite similar in shape to the Suunto Zoop Novo, Vyper Novo and to the Oceanic VEO 4.0
The device has a clear and easy-to-read display that shows important dive data such as depth, time, and temperature. The i100 has both visual and audible alarms for important alerts, such as ascent rate, maximum depth, and no-decompression limits. The i100 also has a safety stop timer that counts down the recommended 3-minute stop at 15 feet.
One of the pros of the i100 is its affordability, making it a great option for beginner to intermediate divers. Another pro is its simplicity and user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to operate and navigate.
However, the i100 has some cons. One of them is its lack of air integration, which means it cannot display information about the remaining air supply in your cylinder. Additionally, the device’s display is not backlit, which can make it difficult to read in low light conditions.
Overall, the Aqua Lung i100 dive computer is a reliable and affordable option for divers who want basic dive data and important alarms.
Divesoft Freedom Basic
The Divesoft Freedom Basic is a wrist-mounted dive computer that offers both recreational and technical diving features. It has a bright, clear display and an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate.
The device features a 3-axis tilt-compensated digital compass, air integration, and supports up to three gas mixes.
The device has multiple types of alarms, including depth, ascent rate, decompression limit, and gas supply warnings. The alarms are customizable, allowing the user to set the threshold for each alarm type.
One of the pros of the Divesoft Freedom Basic is its robust feature set. The device supports a variety of diving modes, including gauge, nitrox, and trimix. It also features a user-replaceable battery, making it easy to maintain.
One of the cons of the device is its price point. It is relatively expensive compared to other dive computers on the market.
Overall, the Divesoft Freedom Basic is an excellent dive computer that offers a range of advanced features for technical divers. Its customizable alarms and easy-to-use interface make it a great option for divers of all experience levels.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a dive computer with integrated alarms, there are plenty of options to choose from, depending on how much you are willing to spend, on your diving level and on whether you prefer to have a computer with technical diving capabilities or not.
If you are just starting to dive and would like to have a computer that will be able to assist you along your entire diving “career”, I definitely suggest buying the Shearwater Perdix 2. Its recreational mode makes this computer perfectly fit for entry level divers. On the other hand its technical diving capabilities are almost unparalleled.
If instead, you would like to buy an entry level computer that can support you in your recreational dives with safety alarms, I would suggest to buy either the Suunto Zoop Novo or the Suunto Vyper Novo.
If you need additional guidance in choosing your first dive computer don’t forget to take a look at my ultimate guide on how to choose your first dive computer as well as at my list of 15 best dive computers for beginners.