Diving equipment is composed of several diving instruments with measuring equipment. Although many divers use a dive computer today there are several disadvantages (in diving ‘Doing It Right’ a dive computer is not used and the use of it is discouraged). During the dive training, you will learn to work with some essential (analog) measuring instruments. Subsequently, the following diving instruments will be treated: the manometer, the depth gauge, the compass, and the diving console.
Essential diving instruments: The pressure gauge
A pressure gauge indicates the pressure remaining in the dive bottle. In fact, a pressure gauge is used during diving to see the amount of air available. The pressure gauge is connected through the high-pressure hose to the first stage of the diving bottle. See also the page on the regulator. The pressure gauge is used regularly during diving and for beginner divers even more. So you have to be able to read well and easily (using a glass screen instead of plastic!).
Essential diving instruments: The depth gauge
A depth gauge measures the depth at which the diver is. Previously all were analog but from the advance of advanced diving watches and diving computers, there are more and more digital depth meters. However, an analog counter is still more convenient (and cheap). The scale is often more accurate in shallow water. Most depth gauges also have a so-called drag needle, which is set at the beginning of the dive to zero and indicates at the end of the dive how deep it has reached.
The diving compass
A compass is perhaps not an essential part of diving equipment, but it can be very useful. In the water, it is difficult to be guided by the lack of light and landmarks. It’s nice to know in which direction you have to swim to get to a place and to return to the designated place. Obviously the compass must indicate the coordinates and must have a clearly visible needle (always points to the north). On the mobile thread located on the surface of the compass are the degrees to manually adjust its direction. The red heading line can also facilitate use.
Diving console
Actually the diving console is not a diving instrument, but it contains all the diving instruments mentioned above together. There are two or three-volume diving consoles. The three-volume ones have the compass added. You can buy the diving consoles separately but in general, you can buy everything already integrated. It often has the high-pressure hose which can be connected to the first stage of the diving bottle. Consider fixing your console and make sure it is easily accessible.
Technical divers often prefer the use of the compass and bottom timer (immersion timer) on the wrist. The pressure gauge is connected as a loose instrument to a short hose. A bottom timer is an instrument that indicates depth, time (elapsed), and possibly ascent rate.