We tested the Mares Quad Air dive computer. With advanced features, an easy operation and an attractive price, it was our Best Buy for dive computers.

We tested the Quad Air at the University of Southern California Hyperbaric Chamber on Catalina Island. We also tested it in the field at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Central Florida.

We put it through a series of simulated dives alongside other computers to gauge the performance of its decompression algorithm. We evaluated how easy it was to set up and use, how well we could see the screen in different conditions, and how well it presented important data during our dive.

See Complete ScubaLab Dive Computer Test Results

More than once we’ve seen a computer with a crystal-clear display become cluttered once tank data was squeezed in. That was no worry when the Quad got an upgrade to the Quad Air, thanks to its roomy 1 ½ x 2 ¼-inch screen. The Quad Air’s display was rearranged slightly to accommodate AI, but it retains the three-level layout and jumbo characters that make it, as one test diver said, “super-clear and easy to read.”

That earned it very good scores for readability at the surface and underwater (though some testers found the backlight just adequate). Basic data is clearly displayed and well-labelled. And more advanced info like the runaway deco feature, is displayed in simple, easily understood form. The 4-button operation is easy to master (though the buttons are a little plasticky). And despite its size, the Quad Air was surprisingly ergo-friendly even on smaller divers.

There’s no digital compass, and Bluetooth requires an optional clip-on interface. But the Quad Air delivers 3-gas air-integration with advanced features and an intuitive operation. The Quad Air is our Best Buy for dive computers.