Pre-Dive Computer Checklist: Setup and Safety Verification
A glitchy dive computer at 60 feet turns a relaxing underwater adventure into a dangerous guessing game. In this episode, diving instructor Marcus Okafor walks through the exact pre-dive checklist he uses before every single dive—the same routine that's kept him and his students safe across thousands of dives in everything from tropical reefs to cold-water wrecks. Whether you're brand new to dive computers or you're a seasoned diver who wants to stop second-guessing yourself, this systematic approach covers everything from basic battery checks to algorithm settings so you can focus on enjoying the dive instead of worrying about your gear.
Key Takeaways
- Always check your battery before you suit up. Just like you wouldn't start a road trip with your phone at 5 percent, you shouldn't start a dive with a computer below 30 percent battery—because you can't exactly plug it in at 60 feet underwater.
- Test your screen in the conditions you'll actually dive in. A screen that looks fine indoors might wash out completely in bright sunlight or be impossible to read in dark water, so check the backlight and contrast before you ever get on the boat.
- Your gas settings must match what's actually in your tank. If you're breathing enriched air but your computer thinks you're on regular air, it's doing all its safety math wrong—like a GPS giving directions to the wrong city.
- Condensation inside your computer means don't dive with it. Even a tiny bit of fog behind the screen glass is a warning sign that water is already getting in, and pressure at depth will make the problem much worse.
- Make sure your dive mode matches your actual dive plan. Computers have different modes for different types of diving, and using the wrong one is like trying to navigate with a map of a completely different place—the information you're seeing won't help you stay safe.
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