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Best Air Integrated Dive Computer Reviews

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Shearwater Research Teric
Shearwater Research Teric

Air integrated computers eliminate the need for an SPG at the end of your high-pressure hose.  The amount of pressure in your tank can be easily monitored on your computer at the same time you keep track of your depth, dive time, and no decompression limits.  These computers tend to be expensive and have lots of other features to consider for the type of diving you plan to do.  To make the selection process easier, a brief buying guide, reviews of top integrated air computers, and a comparison table are presented below.

Best Air Integrated Computer Buying Guide

Diving Level – What sort of diving do you plan to do?  What are your capabilities?  There are dive computers set up for all levels of diving from simple recreational to more advanced with deeper limits, mixed gases, or the use of a rebreather.  With increasing levels of sophistication, the more expensive and complicated the computer will be.

Set Up – Air integrated dive computers have two basic designs, one to carry on your wrist like a watch, or the other on the high-pressure hose.  The wrist-mounted models use a wireless transmitter attached to the first stage.  Hose mounted models are usually a little bulkier and heavier.

Pricing – The air integration feature adds a cost to the price of the dive computer.  The price range is from around $500 to over $2,000.  More capabilities for technical diving that are included is the factor that takes it to the top end of the range.  Hose mounted models run cheaper than the wireless version.  If you know you do not plan to do technical diving that can include several mixed gases, the use of a rebreather or other advanced features, you can save a lot of money by purchasing a simpler model.  To get an idea of models available that are a little more affordable, please take a look at these two reviews.

Readability– Large screens found on many hose-mounted models and computers designed for technical diving are easier to see than the smaller round screen often used on wrist mount models.  The preferred option is an LCD screen display that provides more room to show information useful for technical divers who monitor decompression and multiple gas mixes.

Lighting – Seeing the computer screen in low light or bad visibility conditions is important.  Today’s modern computers take care of that with backlighting or by having an LCD display which is inherently bright.  Without these features, you would need to rely on a flashlight.

Navigation – An essential piece of gear for effective navigation and safety is the compass.  Most air integrated computers will include an integrated compass. This saves having to carry another gauge but does add to the price.

Best Air Integrated Dive Computer Reviews

Suunto D6i Novo

  • Best for: recreational and advanced
  • Modes: air, nitrox, gauge, and free dive
  • User Changeable Battery: No
  • Features: steel casing, tilt-compensated 3D digital compass, anti-reflective coated glass face, hoseless air integration, USB cable
  • Pros: can be worn as a watch out of the water thus keeping your dive info with you, strong and durable steel case
  • Cons: the strap is plastic and prone to breaking, expensive, battery not user changeable or rechargeable
  • Overall Rating:   4.5/5

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Suunto Vyper Novo

  • Best for: recreational
  • Modes: air, nitrox, gauge, free dive
  • User Changeable Battery: yes
  • Features: integrated compass, wireless air integration, 3 button navigation, backlit display, improved USB cable
  • Pros: affordably priced
  • Cons: some have complained the strap is uncomfortable  
  •  Overall Rating:  4.2/5

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Suunto Eon Steel

  • Best for: technical
  • Modes: air, ccr, gauge, mixed gas
  • User Changeable Battery: rechargeable
  • Features: integrated compass, hoseless air integration, USB cable, multi-gas diving up to 10 gases
  • Pros: fully user customizable
  • Cons: a bit bulky mounted on the wrist, expensive
  • Overall Rating:   4.5/5

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Shearwater Perdix AI

  • Best for: technical
  • Modes: air, ccr, gauge, mixed gas
  • User Changeable Battery: yes, standard replaceable AA battery, the transmitter uses a 3V CR2 lithium
  • Features: 5 open-circuit gas switch presets, full-color screen, 850 ft operating depth, Bluetooth connectivity with iOS devices, capable of displaying tank pressure in all modes, 2.2-inch display with enhanced color range and saturation, simple to navigate menu structure, hoseless air integration, integrated compass
  • Pros: Mountable on either wrist, features for use with a rebreather, full information provided for decompression diving
  • Cons: moderately expensive
  • Overall Rating:  5/5

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Shearwater Research Teric

  • Best for: technical
  • Modes:open-circuit, fixed po2, gauge, free dive
  • User Changeable Battery: yes, 1 CR123A battery
  • Features: hoseless air integration, able to connect with 2 transmitters, integrated 3D compass, Bluetooth Smart technology, and wireless charging, switchable audible and vibration alerts
  • Pros: mountable on either wrist, features for use with a rebreather, full information provided for decompression diving
  • Cons: expensive
  • Overall Rating:  4.9/5

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Suunto Cobra 3 

  • Best for: recreational
  • Modes: air, nitrox
  • User Changeable Battery: Yes
  • Features: hose mounted air integration, matrix display, electronic 3D compass tilts to 45 degrees and is still readable, 4 button operation, optional deep stops
  • Pros: quick disconnect, reliable
  • Cons:  let me know
  • Overall Rating:  4.8/5

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Scubapro G2

  • Best for: recreational and technical
  • Modes: scuba, free dive, gauge, CCR, sidemount, trimix
  • User Changeable Battery: rechargeable up to 50 hours of dive time per charge
  • Features: 485 MB memory, USB cable or Bluetooth Low Energy interface, hoseless air integration, integrated digital compass, includes heart rate monitor
  • Pros: loads of memory and features
  • Cons: let me know 
  • Overall Rating:  4.8/5

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Scubapro Mantis 2.0

  • Best for: recreational and technical
  • Modes: deco, gauge, free dive,  CCR
  • User Changeable Battery: yes, good for 150-200 dives
  • Features: hoseless air integration, integrated digital compass, optional heart rate monitor
  • Pros: wristwatch sized, full top-side timekeeping functions
  • Cons: small buttons
  • Overall Rating:  4.5/5

Check the Price

PictureComputerGas MixesCompassRatingPrice
PictureComputerGas MixesCompassRatingPrice
Suunto D6i Novo3Yes4.5$$$
Suunto Vyper Novo3Yes4.2$
Suunto Eon Steel10Yes4.5$$$
Shearwater Research Perdix AI5Yes5$$$
.Shearwater Research TericAny Combination of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and HeliumYes4.9$$$
Suunto Cobra 32Yes4.8$
Scubapro G28Yes4.8$$$
Scubapro Mantis 2.03Yes4.5$$

For other reviews regarding dive computers and compasses, please check these three:

Comments and Feedback

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The Best Dive Compasses Reviewed

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Compass Navigation - Best Dive Compasses
Compass Navigation

Getting your bearings underwater is not as easy as it is on land where you can pick out a mountain or other landmark in the distance.  Perhaps there is bad visibility or you’re in blue water with no reference points.  You might find yourself in a swift current or washing machine like conditions on a dive.  These are all times when a compass would be a big help, if not essential.  A good reliable compass with give you some piece of mind and aid substantially in keeping you safe.

Here I will discuss the important features to look for in a compass and review and compare ten models.  After that is a short video lesson in how to use one.

List of the Best Dive Compasses

How to Choose the Best Dive Compass

Digital or Analog – A digital compass is usually an integrated part of a dive computer.  Whenever you use the battery for the first time, such as right after purchase or when changing the battery, the compass will need to be calibrated.  A digital compass is easy to read, but not as accurate or reliable and an analog model.  An analog model is a standard conventional stand alone compass that is accurate and reliable, requires no battery, and can be mounted anywhere on your equipment.

Tilt Tolerance – This refers to how far off a zero degree plane you can tilt the compass before the needle gets stuck.  The bigger the tolerance, the better.  Unfortunately high tilt tolerance compasses will tend to be thicker and heavier, but in my opinion that is no big inconvenience

Size – Most compasses are approximately the same size. What is important is that it is easy to see and read particularly in low visibility or dark conditions.  A bigger one will be easier to see and the better choice, though perhaps heavier.

Mounting Options

  • Wrist – The compass can be mounted in a housing you can strap to your wrist like a watch.  Some divers would feel uncomfortable with a computer and a compass on the same wrist and will put the compass on one and the computer on the other.
  • Console – It can be included in a boot along with the SPG and computer or depth gauge so that all three are in one handy place easily observed.  Some divers will feel this is heavy or unwieldy.
  • Retractable – The compass can be mounted by attaching a clip to a D-ring.  When you want to use the compass it can be pulled out and when you are finished it will retract back to the storage position.  These will tend to be a little more expensive.

The Best Dive Compasses

Suunto SK8

  • Many features, auto retractable, favored by professionals
  • Pros: quickly stabilizes, gun sight navigation, can tilt to a 30 degree angle, firm grip bezel, auto-retractable
  • Cons: expensive
  • Rating: 4.8
  • Price: $$$$

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Sherwood Wisdom

  • Add on for a Wisdom Dive Computer
  • Pros: highly luminous and easily visible, super tilt can be seen from the top or at a 30 degree angle, 360 degree rotating bezel
  • Cons: add on that doesn’t mount independent of the computer
  • Rating: 4.5
  • Price: $$

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Scubapro FS-2

  • Floating magnet separated from the compass creates a better viewing angle and permits use in the northern and southern hemispheres – a good travel model
  • Pros: durable, scratch resistant, tilts to a 35 degree angle, firm grip bezel, extra luminous
  • Cons:  a bit expensive
  • Rating: 5
  • Price: $$$

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XS Scuba Retractable Super Tilt

  • 25 inch reach with coated stainless steel cord, durable rubber boot and hose mount
  • Pros: easy to read in low light or at night, reliable, durable, retractable
  • Cons: more accurate when extended than when not extended
  • Rating: 5
  • Price: $$

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XS Scuba Highland

  • 30 inches of 4 mm of bungee cord, double bungee strap conveniently secures compass where you want it
  • Pros: large ratcheting bezel, top and side reading, illuminated faceplate at night
  • Cons: works only in the northern hemisphere
  • Rating: 5
  • Price: $$

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Oceanic Aeris Wrist Mount 

  • Use on your wrist or add to a console (works best in an Oceanic SWIV console)
  • Pros: large ratcheting bezel, luminescent floating card enables fast and long lasting glow, high visibility lubber line, easy top or side reading
  • Cons: let me know what you think
  • Rating: 5
  • Price: $$

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Tusa Platina SCA-160

  • Liquid filled wrist mounted, Lumi-Nova light storage dials
  • Pros: gun sight accurate navigation, top and side reading, liquid filled works in northern and southern hemispheres, bright in the dark
  • Cons: let me know what you find
  • Rating: 4.7
  • Price: $$

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Scuba Choice Compass

  • Retractable, 31.5 inches extended, retracts to 7 inches
  • Pros: glows in the dark, large clear faceplate, easy to read, conveniently clips anywhere, affordable
  • Cons: limited side reading capability, some say it has a plastic, cheap feel to it
  • Rating: 4.1
  • Price: $

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Oceanic SWIV Compass Module 

  • Fits a variety of SWIV consoles
  • Pros: top and side reading, luminescent floating card enables fast and long lasting glow, smooth movement with quick response, high visibility lubber line
  • Cons: may not function properly around the metal in some computer batteries
  • Rating: 4.8
  • Price: $$

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Sherwood Genesis Compass and Accessories

  • Retractable, built-in mount, professional quality
  • Pros: highly durable, easily attachable, two different mounting clips, easy to read, excellent tilt range, top and side reading, ratchet bezel, liquid filled, luminescent dial, comes with rubber boot
  • Cons: a little expensive
  • Rating: 5
  • Price: $$$

Check the Price

PictureCompassRatingPrice
Suunto SK84.8$$$$
Sherwood Wisdom4.5$$
Scubapro FS-25$$$
XS Scuba Retractable Super Tilt5$$
XS Scuba Highland5$$
Oceanic Aeris Wrist Mount5$$
Tusa Platina SCA-1604.7$$
Scuba Choice Compass4.1$
Oceanic SWIV Compass Module4.8$$
Sherwood Genesis Compass and Accessories5$$$

I hope you found this post on compasses interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section.  If there is no comments section directly below, click here:  >>comments<<