TESTCENTRE
Genie in the machine
58
Aladin A2 Dive Computer
I
was asked recently which was the best type of dive computer for a new participant to the sport . There were two options , I replied . The first : purchase an inexpensive entry-level model then upgrade with experience : the second was to go for a more expensive , advanced device that would grow with you .
Both have their pros and cons : the former may require little initial investment , but may cost more in the long term . If you like to keep up with the latest technology , then the latter may well have been superseded by the time you reach your journey ' s end .
Scubapro ' s Aladin A2 appears to hit that sweet spot between the two . Its compact wristwatch-style design offers everything from bog-standard air diving through to nitrox , trimix and closed circuit modes , but at a price that won ' t break the bank .
At just under £ 450 it sits roughly midway between entry-level air / nitrox computers and the top-of-the-tree , £ 1,000-plus models .
The purchase price is reflected in the absence of such features as a full-colour OLED screen but the backlit monochrome XL dot matrix display is very clear and easy to read . While colour is certainly nice to have it ' s certainly not the be-all and end-all by any means as far as the feature-rich A2 is concerned .
Substance and style
First off , the A2 is an attractive-looking timepiece that understates , rather than shouts ' diver !' when worn as a day-today watch . The all-black case is fitted with a rubber strap which curves nicely around the wrist .
It ’ s not purely a dive instrument either . Its surface functions include a stopwatch , swim stroke / distance counter , a compass , altimeter plus a thermometer and barometer for keeping an eye on current weather conditions .
There ' s also a step counter / activity tracker and a heart-rate monitor function , which requires the addition of an optional chest band transmitter which may also be used underwater . Not quite in the league of Garmin ' s Descent range , but enough to keep those with a passing interest in their health stats happy .
Its four-button system is very simple and intuitive to use . Each button provides a variety of functions for surface and underwater modes using a series of long or short pushes .
In Compass mode