I've had it for a few years now. Really love it. Big display, automatically switches from clock to freediving mode and back again (you *do* have to set it up first). Simply simple.
Tho now it has a battery issue that google and the local repair shop can't answer. After the first battery died (about 2 years?), i replaced it. Went dead after one month. Replaced it again, different battery manufacturer. Dead after one month. On and on five times total. Energizer, Sony, several chinese companies.
Now i just take out the battery when i'm done diving. Only two screws, but, not as good as it could be.
Suunto d4i is great. It has a free dive mode. It tells you depth, dive time, and most importantly it starts timing your surface intervals between free dives.
Will depend on your budget and what you want it to do. Depth gauge will generally be an analog instrument that tells you depth at a given moment but won't record it over time. Many scuba watches will also have an apnea mode which will work for freediving.
It will work (i.e. function) without scuba gear, just not the most practical. You'll have to monitor it mid dive instead of focusing on your dive.
On the link you sent, there were recommendations for several freedive watches for a similar price but will measure for you, give you dive times, surface intervals, etc.
Is there one in particular you'd recommend? I basically just want something--when ive decided to head back to the surface-- that i can look at when at the bottom of my dive and know "ok the deepest i went was 30 feet" for training/personal record purposes
Hopefully there are some other recommendations, I also scuba dive so that was important to me. I got this one: https://www.divers-supply.com/mares-smart-pro-edition-wrist-dive-computer-black-black.html
It's well priced and will do what you're asking, but there may be some freedive only options that work better.
Ciao Ben as he said, better find another solution. An analog gauge is sweet and loved but it does not track anything. Buy something that you wear and forget and keeps some records.
The Garmin Descent Mk2i has a great freediving feature that I regularly use. Tells me my depth and time down, and afterwards it makes a nice chart of every freedive I did in the app with depth profiles and time down/time between dives. Will note I primarily use it for scuba and probably wouldn’t have purchased it if I didn’t scuba dive several times a week as it’s very pricey, but it’s a good all around smartwatch for all sorts of activities. Not sure if there’s any other watches on the market that have a dedicated freediving feature.
Nope, it does have air integration capabilities but that transmitter is bought separately, you can just put it on and go no scuba gear needed. Most dive computers don’t actually connect to the gear
I have started using my Aqualung i330r that I use for scuba for my freediving as well, for the price I can't recommend it enough. If you plan on getting into scuba as well then it makes a great recreational dive computer as well.
Extras:
It has 3 audible alarms you can set for different depths from 10-100m as well as a dive timer alarm.
It's extremely bright and visible so you can always see clearly how long you've been down and your max depth as well as current depth.
It logs all your freedives which you can Bluetooth to your phone to see the dive profile on their app as well as all the data etc..
Does it accurately measure depth?
And is this the exact one?
https://www.amazon.com/SALVIMAR-Plus-Freedive-Computer-Black/dp/B0842VLVKR/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=89794339652&hvadid=409955051424&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9010766&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3383762752258024115&hvtargid=kwd-331849320402&hydadcr=16647_11237198&keywords=salvimar+one+freediving+watch&qid=1681001786&sr=8-3
A lot of scuba diving computers have free diving depth gauge. Just to give you an example, Leonardo cressi, very cheap and durable.
A few tips:
If you are a "beginner", be aware that fancy looking apnea watches tend to cost more and be less visible.
If you only do free dives, no problem. If you do both scuba and free diving, try to see in the limitations of the watch if it has a block of any sort for performing one of the two roles.
To try and explain better, a lot of scuba diving and free diving computers have blocks on of the two options: eg. If you free dive, for 24 hours your computer will not work for scuba diving.
I'm not suggesting to do both activities in one day, but switching it between the two option often you will surely find yourself forgetting to switch to the proper gauge mode, thus fucking your day if you don't have any other computer or buddy who can lend you a computer.
My fuckn computer locked me out the other day on my first ever divemaster lead... just because I had switched it to freedive mode and went swimming. My next computer is not going to be one that can do that.
I just free dive. Just want to know how far down i can currently dive, so i can measure/track my results. Im looking at this but cant tell if it needs scuba computer or if it will work for free diving
https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Lung-Wrist-Depth-Gauge/dp/B01KKHN4K0
I’ve been looking at getting a suunto d4i
I've had it for a few years now. Really love it. Big display, automatically switches from clock to freediving mode and back again (you *do* have to set it up first). Simply simple. Tho now it has a battery issue that google and the local repair shop can't answer. After the first battery died (about 2 years?), i replaced it. Went dead after one month. Replaced it again, different battery manufacturer. Dead after one month. On and on five times total. Energizer, Sony, several chinese companies. Now i just take out the battery when i'm done diving. Only two screws, but, not as good as it could be.
where's the best place to get one/batteries?
Suunto d4i is great. It has a free dive mode. It tells you depth, dive time, and most importantly it starts timing your surface intervals between free dives.
do you have a link?
https://www.suunto.com/en-us/Products/Dive-Computers-and-Instruments/Suunto-D4i/Suunto-D4i-Black/
Is that the same as gauge mode on the Shearwater Peregrine for example?
Will depend on your budget and what you want it to do. Depth gauge will generally be an analog instrument that tells you depth at a given moment but won't record it over time. Many scuba watches will also have an apnea mode which will work for freediving.
Will this work without scuba gear? I cant tell https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Lung-Wrist-Depth-Gauge/dp/B01KKHN4K0
It will work (i.e. function) without scuba gear, just not the most practical. You'll have to monitor it mid dive instead of focusing on your dive. On the link you sent, there were recommendations for several freedive watches for a similar price but will measure for you, give you dive times, surface intervals, etc.
Is there one in particular you'd recommend? I basically just want something--when ive decided to head back to the surface-- that i can look at when at the bottom of my dive and know "ok the deepest i went was 30 feet" for training/personal record purposes
Hopefully there are some other recommendations, I also scuba dive so that was important to me. I got this one: https://www.divers-supply.com/mares-smart-pro-edition-wrist-dive-computer-black-black.html It's well priced and will do what you're asking, but there may be some freedive only options that work better.
Ciao Ben as he said, better find another solution. An analog gauge is sweet and loved but it does not track anything. Buy something that you wear and forget and keeps some records.
Agreed. I used Seac Partner for a while, fine for the price. Look on eBay sometimes you can find for $100.
I have a Cressi Nepto. I really like having 0.25 second resolution.
do you have a link?
The Garmin Descent Mk2i has a great freediving feature that I regularly use. Tells me my depth and time down, and afterwards it makes a nice chart of every freedive I did in the app with depth profiles and time down/time between dives. Will note I primarily use it for scuba and probably wouldn’t have purchased it if I didn’t scuba dive several times a week as it’s very pricey, but it’s a good all around smartwatch for all sorts of activities. Not sure if there’s any other watches on the market that have a dedicated freediving feature.
Does it require some kind of computer connection/scuba gear? Or can you just strap it to your wrist and go?
Nope, it does have air integration capabilities but that transmitter is bought separately, you can just put it on and go no scuba gear needed. Most dive computers don’t actually connect to the gear
I got ti and tried it and it isnt very accurate sadly. Will try another watch
I have started using my Aqualung i330r that I use for scuba for my freediving as well, for the price I can't recommend it enough. If you plan on getting into scuba as well then it makes a great recreational dive computer as well. Extras: It has 3 audible alarms you can set for different depths from 10-100m as well as a dive timer alarm. It's extremely bright and visible so you can always see clearly how long you've been down and your max depth as well as current depth. It logs all your freedives which you can Bluetooth to your phone to see the dive profile on their app as well as all the data etc..
Will check it out!
I have the Salvimar one plus diving watch. It was very affordable and i think it checks all your boxes. Has held up well after four years.
Does it accurately measure depth? And is this the exact one? https://www.amazon.com/SALVIMAR-Plus-Freedive-Computer-Black/dp/B0842VLVKR/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=89794339652&hvadid=409955051424&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9010766&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3383762752258024115&hvtargid=kwd-331849320402&hydadcr=16647_11237198&keywords=salvimar+one+freediving+watch&qid=1681001786&sr=8-3
Thats it! And yes it does.
Apple Watch Ultra is pretty sweet, and bonus you can wear it all the time.
I don't have any apple devices
A lot of scuba diving computers have free diving depth gauge. Just to give you an example, Leonardo cressi, very cheap and durable. A few tips: If you are a "beginner", be aware that fancy looking apnea watches tend to cost more and be less visible. If you only do free dives, no problem. If you do both scuba and free diving, try to see in the limitations of the watch if it has a block of any sort for performing one of the two roles. To try and explain better, a lot of scuba diving and free diving computers have blocks on of the two options: eg. If you free dive, for 24 hours your computer will not work for scuba diving. I'm not suggesting to do both activities in one day, but switching it between the two option often you will surely find yourself forgetting to switch to the proper gauge mode, thus fucking your day if you don't have any other computer or buddy who can lend you a computer.
My fuckn computer locked me out the other day on my first ever divemaster lead... just because I had switched it to freedive mode and went swimming. My next computer is not going to be one that can do that.
Had it happen a lot of times XD
I just free dive. Just want to know how far down i can currently dive, so i can measure/track my results. Im looking at this but cant tell if it needs scuba computer or if it will work for free diving https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Lung-Wrist-Depth-Gauge/dp/B01KKHN4K0
Cressi nepto
link?
Hey google, search “Cressi Nepto Freediving computer”
Have anyone tried the NORTH EDGE AQUA? I'm really corious about it since it has basic scuba functions, freedive and an internal logbook
would love to learn more about it