Dive computers are an excellent piece of equipment for divers of all levels and are quickly growing in popularity. One of the greatest things about a high-quality dive computer is it takes real time information from each dive, including depth and time spent underwater, and then applies it to a decompression model to determine just how much time you have left to safely dive. With the Mare Puck Pro you will get some of the most basic features at an affordable price.
How to Choose a Dive Computer
With how many different options of dive computers there are, it can be hard to choose the best one. The good news is if you know what you are looking for, you can often find the best one that fits your needs by doing just a little bit of research.
The first thing you need to ask your self is what you want your dive computer to do now and what you want to be able to do with it after you have gained some experience. You should also figure out if it is compatible with your current diving equipment. For those that are new to diving, you should look into packages that offer a dive computer along with the other equipment you need.
Once you figure out what you need or want your dive computer to do you need to begin researching the various features that each computer has to offer. You want to find something that matches your equipment setup and will work with your dive style. For example, if you do a lot of free diving you don’t want a watch that doesn’t come equipped with a free-dive mode.
Some features to think about include how well you can read the display, whether or not the information being displayed makes sense to you, and are you able to use the dive computer fairly easily to obtain the necessary information you require.
Mares Puck Pro Dive Computer Review
If you are looking for a dive computer that offers all of the basic features you require as a beginning scuba diver you need to consider the Mares Puck Pro. This high quality dive watch offers everything beginners need along with an affordable price tag. The best part is experienced divers also enjoy having the Mares Puck Pro around as an excellent back up computer.
Introduced to the diving industry in 2008 the Mares Puck stunned divers with how simple it was to use, all it took was a single button to navigate through everything the dive computer had to offer. The Mares Puck Pro is an upgraded version of the originally model and offers some great improvements while still being simple to use.
The larger design of the watch, which is available in several different color options, is easier to read underwater as the display is larger than average. The larger size does mean the watch cannot double as a regular everyday watch.
Pros:
- Large display.
- Personal dive profiles.
- Easy to use.
- Large log book.
- Personal dive profiles.
Cons:
- No air integration
- Too big to wear as a regular watch
Capabilities:
Over 2 inches in diameter and almost an inch thick, the Mares Puck Pro big size allows for a large and easy to read display. The larger display screen makes it easier4 for divers to read the information being displayed while underwater. Not to mention the easy to read screen makes it to where you don’t have to search through everything to find the information you are looking for. The Mares Puck Pro offers three dive modes: gauge, nitrox, and air.
As we mentioned before the dive computer is simple to use, which makes it such a popular choice among beginner scuba divers. It is also the reason why so many experienced divers enjoy having it as their back up. The dive computer is controlled through a single button, which works well even for those wearing gloves.
The only down fall to the single button is having to scroll through the options to move through to different functions. The watch features a strong backlight that ranges from 1 to 10 seconds to prolong battery life and offers a variety of visual and audible alarms.
Technical Capabilities:
The technical capabilities of the Mares Puck Pro include the ability to handle oxygen mixtures from 21% up to 99% for those who use the Nitrox mode. You can also adjust the PO2 levels between 1.2 and 1.6 bar. The maximum diving depth with this watch is 150 meters or 492 feet with the ability for altitude adjustments up to 3,700 meters or 12,100 feet.
The Mares Puck Pro uses an algorithm that is based on the Mares-Wienke RGBM model. It is a conservative algorithm that is able to be adjusted through various setting. The algorithm provides divers with the ability to increase safety settings to ensure they are staying safe on their dives, if they prefer to error on the side of caution.
Dive Log:
The dive log on the Mares Puck Pro has the ability to record and store up to 35 6 hours of dive time. The sampling arte of the puck Pro is every 5 seconds, which is an excellent rate to provide you with a decent sized log of your dive.
Divers are unable to delete the information from the dive logs, so they simply have to wait until the old information is overwritten by a new dive. The only way not to lose information is to transfer your dive info from your dive log onto a computer as soon as possible. To transfer information you will need to purchase a separate USB connector.
Social Proof:
In reading through several online reviews, it is safe to say that the Mares Puck Pro offers beginners an excellent choice for a dive watch. Most divers,, even the experienced ones, enjoy how simple the watch is to use and navigate. Plus you really can’t get a better watch for its price.
The dive watch is not the first choice for experienced divers, as it is missing the more advanced features you find on higher end dive computers, but beginner or mid-level divers won’t miss what they have never used. The biggest downfall to not having these advanced features is you can’t expand the capabilities of the watch. Once you need these more advanced features you will need to upgrade to a new watch.
Conclusion
For those of you who are looking for a high quality dive computer for beginners that offers all of the features you need at an affordable price, the Mares Puck Pro is an excellent choice. Beginners will discover a watch that is easy to use with simple navigation that only requires one button. With three different modes and an easy to read display, you really can’t ask for much more at such an affordable price.
