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If you’re planning to go diving of any variety, in any body of water, it’s smart to invest in both the ability to record any data pertinent to the activity as well as the safety and peace of mind that is offered by a high-quality dive computer. You wouldn’t want to drive a car that was missing a speedometer, and you shouldn’t dive without an indicator of the various statistics that will help you perform at your peak and keep you from overextending your abilities.
To help you select the right device, we thoroughly evaluated the well-known Cressi Leonardo dive computer alongside a few competitive models.
What Is a Cressi Leonardo Dive Computer?
A Cressi Leonardo dive computer is a user-friendly, feature-balanced dive computer that works well both for beginners and experts looking for a streamlined experience that doesn’t sacrifice usability. It compliments a diver’s gear lineup by relaying information on its waterproof, wristwatch-style display.
Product Specs
image source: Amazon
The Cressi Leonardo Dive Computer features a 2″ back-lit LCD screen with a large and easy-to-parse display. It’s quick to read underwater, and the device makes use of both visual and audio alerts to keep you in the know as to your current depth, NDL, maximum depth, ongoing dive-time, battery level, temperature, current gas mix, P02 setting, and conservatism factor.
Other information on display includes your current rate of ascent as well as oxygen toxicity. It’s possible to tailor these statistics further to your individualized diving setup. Nitrox is adjustable up to 50 percent, PO2 from 1.2 to 1.6, and you can set any of three separate levels of conservatism to protect against decompression sickness.
Algorithmically speaking, a Cressi Leonardo dive computer makes use of the Bruce Wienke/Haldane model. It has a depth display that is functional up to 393 ft. (120m), and it is altitude-adjustable up to 12,129 ft. (3700m). It has a 60-dive or 70-hour memory capacity, time and date management functionality, and an imperial-to-metric display that you can toggle. The battery is a 3V, Cr2430 replaceable battery. The Cressi Leonardo dive computer is capable of connecting to an external PC and logging its recorded information for review and archiving purposes.
Pricing
image source: Amazon
The models on this list range in price from about $200 to $900, with the more expensive models usually offering better build quality, more extensive functionality, and higher amounts of memory.
How It Compares
We looked at a few dive computers available on the market to see how they compare to the Cressi Leonardo dive computer.
- Sherwood Vision Dive Computer
- Suunto Zoop Novo Dive Computer Wrist Watch
- Aqua Lung i450t Hoseless Air Integrated Wrist Watch Dive Computer
Cressi Leonardo Dive Computer
[amazon box=”B07G4SN7J8″]
Cressi Leonardo provides a dive computer that makes for an excellent beginner’s tracking device. It has a relatively low price point and simple but sufficient functionality.
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars
Some of the most impressive points of interest we found with the Cressi Leonardo dive computer were its ease of use, accessible price, and high level of features included nonetheless. This makes it an excellent dive computer for beginners as well as seasoned divers looking for a simplified user experience.
Features 4/5
Although the Cressi Leonardo dive computer is an inexpensive model, it’s capable of tracking, recording, and alerting you to all the essential info you’ll want to keep tabs on during your dives. However, more experienced divers may find these essentials not to be quite enough.
Design Quality 4/5
With its attractive, durable strap and clear display, the only real knock we came up with against this dive computer is that it’s a bit too big to be worn comfortably as an ordinary watch or accessory.
Warranty 4/5
Cressi Leonardo dive computers are covered by the manufacturer with a limited warranty for 24 months after purchase.
PROS
- Good beginner dive computer
- Display is easy to read quickly
- Audio and visual alerts
CONS
- Large, conspicuous size
- No safety stop timer
Sherwood Vision Dive Computer
[amazon box=”B00RYMALJW”]
This higher-end dive computer is pro-friendly, sophisticated, and loaded with features to satisfy even the most detail-oriented divers. It features a 3-button design for navigating menus and entering change modes. Control of gas management is expanded upon in this model, which can monitor four gases and obtain up to 100% oxygenation for enriched air diving.
Automatic altitude adjustment makes non-ocean dives a breeze to prepare for, allowing up to 14,000 ft. (4,367m) of adjustment. Dive time, NDL, maximum depth, current depth, and surface interval time are all displayed up front for easy access. With the use of the menu buttons, features such as pre-dive planning and repeat-dive planning are accessible, allowing for the creation of multiple custom dive profiles.
This dive computer features a variety of essential calculations designed to make diving both safer and easier, such as air remaining and dive time remaining. A modified Haldanean-based Pelagic DSAT algorithm is used, and this Sherwood Vision device is capable of measuring depths of up to 399 ft. (120m). This computer is capable of storing data on up to 110 dives in its internal memory, and it can also communicate information to external devices for purposes of review or archiving. It provides audio and visual alerts and is powered by a user-replaceable 3-volt, CR2450 lithium battery.
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars
Although this model certainly gets points for its outstanding customizability, automatically adjusting sensors, and functionality, it is ultimately a fairly high-level, mechanically complex device. If you have a limited knack for dealing with tech or are looking for a first dive computer, you may want to choose a less dizzyingly feature-rich model.
Features 5/5
There’s little this dive computer can’t do, and with a high amount of memory onboard you can make full use of the information it has recorded after you’ve finished diving many times over. Dive profiles allow for individually tailored management of all aspects of your dive before you even hit the water.
Design Quality 3/5
This model isn’t intended to be worn as a watch of any sort, and is instead a part of the diving gear itself, making it somewhat limited in the way of convenience and portability. The three-button menu navigation is effective enough, but perhaps even this technique complicates things a bit more than necessary.
Warranty 4/5
The manufacturer covers this dive computer with a limited warranty for 24 months after purchase.
PROS
- Impressive functionality
- Automatically adjusts for changes in elevation
- Audio and visual alerts
CONS
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Costly model
Suunto Zoop Novo Dive Computer Wrist Watch
[amazon box=”B01LFL1LZK”]
This relatively stylish dive computer/wristwatch has many features found only in higher-end dive computers. It packs quite a bit of punch into a compact design that could easily pass as an ordinary wristwatch. This device sports five dive modes: air, Nitrox, gauge, free, and off. There is a full RGBM continuous decompression algorithm to help you avoid decompression sickness. Menu navigation is handled by a full four buttons, and the display is brighter than most other models.
This dive computer from Suunto also features a dive planner, plus logs and dive data that can be viewed on an external device using specially designed PC/Mac compatible software. A feature unique to this model is an apnea timer designed specifically for free diving. This dive computer’s maximum depth is 262 ft. (80m), and its maximum dive time is 999 minutes. It’s capable of adjusting to three different altitude settings, and it works with one gas only (oxygen) at a saturation setting of 21% to 50%.
This model offers a few interesting twists on dive computer tech and styling compared to the Cressi Leonardo dive computer we feature in this article, and yet you only have to spend about another 100 dollars for all it delivers. It’s beginner-friendly and offers a uniquely appealing design. However, in order to connect the watch to an external device, an auxiliary item must be purchased.
Ease of Use 3/5 Stars
This dive computer was created with both beginners in mind and succeeds on this front. However, the sheer number of buttons on the device aren’t intuitive to use.
Features 3/5
Limited maximum dive depth, limited altitude adjustment, and limited gas related control will likely not make the grade for advanced divers looking for a deeply detailed experience. However, for beginners or hobbyists looking for a unique and attractively designed dive computer, this model fits the bill well.
Design Quality 4/5
One of this model’s most immediately noticeable features is its attractive and thoughtfully executed design. It doubles effectively as both an on-land wristwatch and a highly functional undersea dive computer. Extra-bright backlighting of the display is an extremely welcome, often neglected feature.
Warranty 5/5
This dive computer is covered by the manufacturer with a limited warranty of 24 months after purchase. Buyers also receive 5 years of protection for depth measurement sensor-related failures.
PROS
- Unique, attractive wristwatch-style design
- Great for beginners
- Extra-bright backlighting
CONS
- Lots of menu buttons can add up to confusion
- Limited dive depth, elevation adjustment, and gas management
- Accessory for communicating with external devices not included
[amazon link=”B01CPNFYJQ” title=”Aqua Lung i450t Hoseless Air Integrated Wrist Watch Dive Computer” /]
[amazon box=”B01CPNFYJQ”]
As the most expensive model on this list, this powerful dive computer packs a ton of functionality into a durable, sporty wristwatch-style design. It’s made to work well with a diver’s existing, high-level gear, as with its ability to connect independently to up to 3 different transmitters and gas mixes at once. The display is large and easy to read. You can receive both audio and visual alerts, with a high-visibility LED warning light bolstering noticeability and related safety measures even more.
Automatic altitude adjustments are implemented, along with watch functions like time zone alternation, stopwatch, lap timer, alarms, and a countdown timer to ensure the model’s usefulness both on and off the land. Dive planning is included, along with the ability to output data to an external device so you can conveniently review and archive that data.
The battery is user-changeable and data is preserved between changes. Saltwater and freshwater dive selections are available, along with such conveniences as a digital compass. Although the price is high for this category, Aqua Lung has managed yet again to provide a top-of-the-line product.
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars
With a streamlined and easy-to-read interface, along with the capacity for simple and hoseless gas information communication to transponders, this model makes organizing complex setups a one-time affair.
Features 5/5
Nearly every dive-related convenience, technical sensor, and management option is accounted for on this Aqua Lung device. Even features related to timekeeping and other watch functionality are fleshed out to their fullest.
Design Quality 5/5
This model’s sporty wristwatch design allows it to work well as an accessory or traditional watch in addition to your go-to dive tracker.
Warranty 4/5
This dive computer is covered by the manufacturer with a limited warranty that lasts 24 months after purchase.
PROS
- Wealth of features
- Connectivity-related accessories included with the device
- Versatile wristwatch design
CONS
- The most expensive model we considered
- Only allows three simultaneous gas connections
Conclusion
Since the dive computer is the “second brain” controlling your dive operation, choosing a model that offers the specific features you know you’ll get the most out of is crucial. While less expensive models are beginner-friendly, they often lack the deep customization and automatic functionality of the more expensive models.
Nonetheless, buying a more expensive model simply for the sake of it opens you up to a potentially overwhelming excess of features you may not want or need. We hope that, by going into detail on each of these models, we’ve given you a greater understanding of the differences between price grades and manufacturers when it comes to dive computers. With this information on hand, you can make your dive computer purchasing decision with confidence.
