- + Freedive-only: Free and Off modes, no scuba lockouts
- + Five depth notifications plus depth, dive time and surface timer alarms
- + Log interval of 1, 2 or 5 seconds
- + Water resistant to 100m (ISO 6425)
- − No scuba mode if you dive both disciplines
- − USB cable sold separately; no Bluetooth
- − About 3.5 hours of log memory at 2 seconds
- − Battery changes at an authorized Suunto service center
Overview
A freediving computer records what a breath-hold diver needs: current and maximum depth, dive time, and the surface interval since the last dive. A dedicated freedive mode adds session grouping, depth and rest alarms, and a log fine enough to show the bottom of a one-minute dive.
Not every computer sold for this job has that mode. Two of the six computers listed on this page, the Cressi Leonardo and the Mares Puck Pro+, are scuba computers that offer only a gauge or bottom timer mode for breath-hold diving. They stay on the list, last, with that limit stated.
Freediving Computer vs Dive Watch
A dive watch or a plain depth gauge shows depth and time. A computer with a freedive mode adds surface interval tracking, session dive counts, programmable alarms and a stored log. If you train repeated depth dives, those extras are what change how you manage rest between dives.
Freedive Mode or Gauge Mode: The Computers Compared
Full reviews cover the Cressi Nepto, with five depth alarms and a Taravana recovery countdown, and the Mares Smart Apnea, with six depth alarms and speed alarms. The current Garmin flagship is covered in the Garmin Descent Mk3i review. For what you give up with a gauge-only computer, see gauge mode vs freedive mode.
What the Metrics Mean
- Surface interval
- Time on the surface since the last dive. In DAN's Alert Diver, Neal Pollock writes that the surface interval should start at twice the dive time and increase with depth. A surface timer alarm turns that target into a prompt.
- Max depth log
- The deepest point of each dive, kept in the log. How accurately a short dive's bottom is captured depends on the log interval: a 1-second log stores 60 points for a one-minute dive, a 20-second log three.
- Dive count
- The number of dives in a session. Freedive modes count dives automatically; some scuba computers in gauge mode merge a dive that starts within 2 minutes of surfacing into the previous one.
For freediving-only use, the top pick is the Suunto D4f: a freedive-only computer with depth, dive time and surface timer alarms and no scuba lockouts. Divers who also scuba dive get both sports in one watch from the Garmin Descent line, at roughly three times the price.
Best Dedicated Freediving Computer
Suunto D4f
Suunto
$449.00
- Type
- Dedicated freediving computer
- Depth accuracy
- To 100m (EN 13319)
- Log interval
- 1, 2 or 5 s (default 2 s)
- Battery
- CR 2450, service center replacement
- Weight
- 85g
Suunto's freediving-only computer has two dive modes, Free and Off, and no scuba program. Free mode offers up to five depth notifications, a depth alarm, a dive time alarm and a surface timer, and logs every 1, 2 or 5 seconds (2 by default). Dives download over a USB cable, sold separately, to Suunto DM5; Suunto lists no Bluetooth. Suunto's US store lists it at $449.00 and showed it out of stock in October 2026.
- Freedive-only: Free and Off modes, no scuba lockouts
- Five depth notifications plus depth, dive time and surface timer alarms
- Log interval of 1, 2 or 5 seconds
- Water resistant to 100m (ISO 6425)
- No scuba mode if you dive both disciplines
- USB cable sold separately; no Bluetooth
- About 3.5 hours of log memory at 2 seconds
- Battery changes at an authorized Suunto service center
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Best Freedive Computer for Recovery Guidance
Cressi Nepto
Cressi
$399.95
- Type
- Freediving computer watch
- Depth range
- 0-120m
- Log interval
- 0.5, 1 or 2 s
- Battery
- CR 2450
- Case
- 48mm, mineral glass
Cressi's freediving watch has Free and Off modes and no scuba program. Its manual lists five depth alarms, dive time, surface time and depth-step alarms, a hydration reminder and a Taravana recovery countdown that recommends 2.0 to 5.0 times the dive time across eight levels. It samples every 0.5 seconds while diving and stores up to 32 hours at 2 seconds. Downloads need a Cressi USB or BT interface, sold separately. Cressi America lists it at $399.95.
- Freedive-only: Free and Off modes, no scuba lockouts
- Five depth alarms plus dive time, surface time and depth-step alarms
- Taravana recovery countdown with eight levels
- Log at 0.5, 1 or 2 seconds; up to 32 hours at 2 seconds
- Downloads need an interface sold separately ($79.95 for the BT Interface)
- Cressi America lists battery replacement at an authorized Cressi center
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Finest Log Interval: 0.25-Second Sampling
Mares Smart Apnea
Mares
See current price
- Type
- Freediving wrist computer
- Max displayed depth
- 150m
- Log interval
- 0.25, 0.5 or 1 s
- Battery
- CR2430, user-replaceable
- Water resistance
- 20 ATM
Mares' freediving-only computer has watch and free dive modes and no scuba program. It offers six depth alarms, a depth interval alarm, dive time and surface interval alarms, ascent and descent speed alarms and a minimum surface interval set as 1 to 7 times the previous dive, and logs every 0.25, 0.5 or 1 second with depth displayed to 150m. Downloads go over an optional USB clip; Mares documents no Bluetooth. Mares' US site did not list it in October 2026.
- Log interval down to 0.25 seconds
- Six depth alarms plus speed and minimum-rest alarms
- Water density adjustable from 1.000 to 1.050
- USB clip download only; no Bluetooth
- Not sold on Mares' US website
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Premium: Scuba and Apnea Modes in a Smartwatch
Garmin Descent Mk2i
Garmin
$1,299.99
- Type
- Dive computer and smartwatch
- Water rating
- 10 ATM (100m)
- Depth sensor
- Accurate 0-100m (EN 13319)
- Display
- Transflective memory-in-pixel
- Battery
- Built-in rechargeable, up to 16 days smartwatch
The Mk2i is the previous generation of Garmin's Descent Mk line, still listed on Garmin's US site at $1,299.99 to $1,499.99 by version in October 2026. It has Apnea and Apnea Hunt modes beside Single-Gas, Multi-Gas, CCR and Gauge, a 10 ATM rating with depth accuracy to 100m, and a sunlight-visible memory-in-pixel display. The newer Descent Mk3i, from $1,399.99, has a 20 ATM rating and an AMOLED touchscreen.
- Apnea and Apnea Hunt modes plus full scuba modes
- GPS smartwatch for daily wear
- Sunlight-visible transflective memory-in-pixel display
- Up to 16 days in smartwatch mode
- US list price from $1,299.99
- After a Gauge dive, only Gauge or Apnea modes for 24 hours
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- Superseded by the Descent Mk3 series
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Scuba Computer: Gauge Mode Only
Cressi Leonardo
Cressi
$399.95
- Type
- Scuba computer, wrist unit
- Modes
- Air, Nitrox, Gauge
- Depth range
- 0-120m
- Battery
- CR2430 coin cell
- Best for
- Scuba divers who freedive occasionally
The Leonardo, now sold as the Leonardo 2.0, is a scuba computer with Air, Nitrox and Gauge modes and no freediving mode. The original manual says its GAGE depth gauge and timer may be used by apnea divers; it logs a point every 20 seconds and stops decompression tracking for 48 hours after a GAGE dive. It suits scuba divers who freedive occasionally. Cressi America lists it at $399.95, the same price as Cressi's freedive-specific Nepto.
- Air, Nitrox and Gauge modes on a single button
- Gauge mode gives depth and dive time for occasional breath-hold dives
- CR2430 coin cell, so no charging
- No freedive mode, surface alarm or freediving depth alarms
- 20-second log interval
- No decompression tracking for 48 hours after a Gauge dive
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Discontinued Scuba Computer: Bottom Timer Only
Mares Puck Pro+
Mares
See current price
- Type
- Scuba computer (discontinued)
- Modes
- Air, Nitrox, bottom timer
- Max displayed depth
- 150m
- Battery
- CR2450, user-replaceable
- Log interval
- 5 s
Mares publishes one manual for the Puck Pro and Puck Pro+, and it lists Air, Nitrox and bottom timer modes; there is no apnea mode. In bottom timer mode it shows depth, time and temperature with every alarm off except low battery, and it logs every 5 seconds. Mares no longer sells it: the Pro+ product page returns an error and only the manual and firmware remain on Mares' site.
- Bottom timer mode with stopwatch and average depth
- CR2450 user-replaceable battery
- About 35 hours of log at 5-second sampling
- No apnea mode
- All alarms off in bottom timer mode except low battery
- Discontinued
- Downloads by optional USB clip only
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What this article is based on
- Suunto D4f user guide: Dive modes
- Suunto D4f Black: Light-weight dedicated freediving computer
- Cressi Leonardo | Reliable Scuba Diving Computer
- Cressi Leonardo directions for use
- Puck Pro / Puck Pro + Manual | Mares
- Descent Mk2i Owner's Manual: Descent Mk2i Specifications
- Garmin Descent MK2i | Dive Computer | Dive Smartwatch
- Garmin Descent Mk3i | Watch-Style Dive Computer | 43 MM
- Cressi Nepto | Freediving Computer Watch
- Smart Apnea | Mares