The BEST Air Integrated Dive Computers [2022]

Short on time? We consider the Shearwater Research Teric to be the best air integrated dive computer

The best air integrated dive computers are rugged, easy to use, and they provide you with essential information about your dive.

They also provide you with an added safety aspect over regular dive computers as they can calculate how much time you have remaining at your current depth and breathing rate.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current dive computer or you are exploring air integrated dive computers for the very first time – We’ve got you covered with the best air integrated dive computers on the market.

Check it out!

The BEST Air Integrated Dive Computer [2022]

1. Best Overall – Shearwater Research Teric Wrist Dive Computer with Transmitter
2. Best Budget – Suunto Cobra 3
3. Shearwater Research Perdix AI – w/ Transmitter
4. Suunto Eon Steel With Transmitter
5. Scubapro G2 Wrist Dive Computer W/Transmitter and HRM

The Best Air Integrated Dive Computers – Reviewed

Best Overall

Shearwater Teric – Best overall

The Shearwater Teric is a technical dive computer also built with the recreational diver in mind.

There are five dive modes to choose from, and the screen layouts and colors can be customised to suit your preferences. The five dive modes are: OC Rec (Nitrox to 99%), OC Tec (Trimix enabled), CC/BO, Gauge and Free-diving mode.

The Teric can support wireless air integration for monitoring of up to two tanks, and you can configure which information from the tank is displayed on the computer’s home screen.

The Teric has up to 500 hours of dive log capacity and dive logs are quickly and easily uploaded and accessed.

The Teric is nice and compact, with a 1.39” screen, and can easily double as an extremely stylish watch for day to day use. There are also customisable colors for the wristband

For the amount of features that are packed into the Teric, it is actually very intuitive and easy to use – Whether you’re a technical diver that needs the Teric’s functionality, or just a recreational diver with the money to spend. The Shearwater Teric is widely considered one of the best air integrated dive computers on the market today.

Suunto Cobra 3 –Best Budget Air Integrated Dive Computer

One of the best air integrated dive computers on a budget, the Suunto Cobra 3 is a popular option amongst recreational divers.

The display is easy to read for most users however as the display is a little on the smaller side some users may find it difficult.

The digital 3D compass means the console is small and compact, and the compass itself allows the user to tilt the compass as much as 45 degrees without losing the ability to clearly and accurately read it.

At an additional cost you can purchase the Suunto Cobra 3 with quick disconnect if you prefer to be able to disconnect it and travel with the Suunto Cobra on it’s own.

Shearwater Research Perdix AI – w/ Transmitter

The Perdix, as with the Teric, is suitable for technical divers and comes with a vast array of functions.

Recreational divers will still appreciate the Perdix however, especially those who favor a larger, brightly colored display.

The Perdix has a large 2.2” screen so unlike the Teric this isn’t the kind of thing that you would want to casually wear about the town, but divers who are serious about their gear will really appreciate the functionality along with the size, clarity and bright display which is very easily readable.

The Perdix operates on an AA battery which can easily be swapped out by the user, and it also has up to 1000 hours dive log capacity.

Suunto Eon Steel With Transmitter

Similar to the Perdix, the Suunto Eon Steel is designed for the technical diver, but is also appreciated by recreational divers alike.

The Eon Steel has the option for up to ten different dive modes – Good if you will be varying up the style of diving that you’re going to be doing as you can quickly and easily switch between the different modes.

As with the Shearwater the display screen is also fully customizable, so you can display the information that you deem most important/appropriate

The housing is rugged and will be able to withstand any harsh condition you wish to put it in

Scubapro G2 Wrist Dive Computer W/Transmitter and HRM

Scubapro’s dive computers are known for being easy to use, and that doesn’t end with the G2.

The G2 is intuitive and easy to use straight out of the box, but still comes packed with features – one of which being its unique use of a heart rate monitor in order to help calculate dive profiles.

The G2 is capable of transmitting your air pressure from up to nine tanks, and the transmitter will blink green, yellow or red to indicate your air level, and will handle up to eight different gas mixtures.

The full color display is easily customisable and in terms of both the layout and colors that are displayed so you have the option to display a minimal amount of information, to a vast array of information, including graphical info.

what is an air integrated dive computer

An Air Integrated (AI) dive computer provides all the features and benefits of a regular dive computer, but it will also provide accurate data regarding your tank pressure, breathing rate and how much time you have left at your current breathing rate.

This information is gathered and displayed for you in real time and the AI Dive Computer can replace your submersible pressure gauge (SPG).

An AI dive computer can be connected in one of two ways – Either it will connect to your tank at the first stage via a hose, or, a small wireless transmitter will be connected to the first stage, and this wirelessly transmits data to the dive computer on your wrist.

The data from your dive will be recorded to your logbook where you can go back and analyze it later from your laptop/PC. The analysis of this data can be used to help improve breathing rate and air consumption in future dives – thus increasing the amount of dive time you have.

Dive computer vs Air integrated dive computer

A dive computer is considered a vital piece of safety equipment, thus it is likely one of the first pieces of safety gear a diver will think about purchasing.

Dive computers range from the very basic level to the very technical, but basic functions you can expect to find in your dive computer are:

• Time
• Dive Depth
• Ascent Rate
• No stop limits
• No stop time remaining
• Emergency decompression
• Some kind of visual, audio or vibratory warning/alarm

Air integrated dive computers offer a functionality that regular dive computers do not which is that they accurately provide you with real time information on how much air you have left, at your current depth and current breathing rate.

As you ascend or descend or exert yourself more or less in ever changing conditions, you will constantly have a real time gauge of how much air is left in your tank, and how much time you have left remaining.

Do you NEED an air integrated dive computer

For most people, i.e recreational divers, no, you do not NEED an air integrated dive computer. But that isn’t to say you won’t find benefit in owning one.

Technical divers, who can dive much deeper will have a requirement for the many added features in their dive computer (such as being able to monitor multiple gas mixes), than a recreational diver, who can dive no deeper than 130ft.

Advantages of an air integrated dive computer

• Real time gauge of tank pressure, breathing rate, how much time you have left and decompression calculations
• Added safety aspect of knowing exactly how much time you have left, which updates in real time as you ascend/descend, and as your breathing rate changes
• Accuracy – An air integrated dive computer provides an accurate gauge of time remaining which a regular SPG cannot.
• The cost can often be split by purchasing your dive computer now, and the wireless transmitter at a later date.

How to choose the best air integrated dive computer

mounting

One of the main considerations to make is how you would prefer your dive computer to be mounted, and for that you have two different options:

Wrist Mounted/Hoseless

A wrist mounted air integrated dive computer will come with a wireless transmitter.

The transmitter will connect to the first stage where it gathers information from the tank, and wirelessly connects and sends this data to the dive computer on your wrist.

A wrist mounted dive air integrated computer is popular for eliminating the need for an extra hose, and for the ease of being able to simply look at your wrist.

Hose

A hose style mounted AI dive computer is connected via a hose to your first stage.

This type of console tends to be larger, but the screen will also be larger and more easily readable. The buttons will be larger also, which is beneficial if you are wearing thick gloves.

budget

A basic entry level air integrated dive computer can be purchased for around $400, but more advanced computers can be costly, and can reach up to $1,500.

AI dive computers are becoming more popular as their technology improves, and as technology advances and they become more popular the price of them should also start to decrease further.

If you are somewhat constrained by your budget you could purchase a dive computer capable of wireless integration now, and simply purchase the wireless transmitter at a later date.

readability

Needless to say the best air integrated dive computer for you is one which is easily readable and understandable.

Hose mounted consoles since they are larger, also have a larger display than a wrist mounted computer.

The large rectangular LCD screen such as can be found on the Shearwater Perdix, or the Eon Steel are good for displaying multiple gas mixes, and have colorful graphics, useful for technical divers.

lighting

Older dive computers, or SPG’s might require you to shine your dive torch onto it in order to read it’s display in low light, or water with poor visibility.

The LCD screens often found on dive computers now are brightly lit and colorful, and offer good backlighting.

Depending on the location of your dive, this may or may not be an issue for you. If you enjoy doing night dives, cavern diving or wreck diving – Then the display backlighting of your dive computer will be something to consider.

lighting

One of the many extra functions an air integrated dive computer may come with is a compass.

Having the compass integrated into your dive computer eliminates the need to carry a separate compass.

Having all of your vital information, including navigation on your wrist, and eliminating extra seperate pieces of bulky equipment is one of the main benefits of having a dive computer.

gas mix

Are you a more advanced technical diver? Or, are you considering training to be able to do this in future?

If you will be diving mixed gas dives or trimix either now or in the future then you will need to take this into consideration, as not all AI dive computers will accommodate this.

Ensure that you choose a computer that will handle these types of dives, and that the display of the gas information is clear and easy for you to monitor.

summary

From recreational divers to technical divers, the Shearwater Teric is quite simply one of the best and most popular air integrated dive computers.

It has the advanced functionalities needed for technical diving, is completely customisable to the user, and is built by one of the most highly regarded dive computer manufacturers out there today.

For those on more of a budget, or are simply happy with basic functionality without all the bells and whistles, then the Suunto Cobra 3 is an excellent option.

best air integrated dive computer