Aqualung i200C Dive Computer

The Aqualung i200C is a solid mid-range dive computer that gets the fundamentals right — readable colour display, reliable algorithms, and Bluetooth log downloads — without overcomplicating things for recreational divers.

At $500, it sits in a competitive space between budget computers like the Cressi Leonardo ($250) and premium units like the Shearwater Peregrine ($650). It's aimed squarely at Open Water through Advanced divers who want more than a basic display but don't need air integration or trimix support. For Australian divers doing regular weekend dives from Coffs Harbour to the Mornington Peninsula, the i200C offers the right balance of features, readability, and value.

## Overview

The i200C is a wrist-mount dive computer with a colour LCD display, four diving modes (air, nitrox, gauge, and freedive), Bluetooth connectivity for logbook downloads, and a depth rating of 100 metres. It runs on Aqualung's proprietary algorithm with user-adjustable conservatism settings, tracks up to two nitrox mixes simultaneously, and stores data for approximately 24 dives.

The colour display is the i200C's most immediately impressive feature. Depth, time, no-decompression limit, and ascent rate are rendered in distinct colours that remain readable across a wide range of conditions. On a bright, shallow dive at Shelly Beach, the screen is visible without cupping your hand over it. On a deeper, darker dive at the Navy wrecks off Terrigal, the backlight illuminates clearly. The colour coding — green for safe parameters, yellow for caution, red for warnings — communicates status at a glance without requiring you to read numbers in detail. This matters when you're distracted by a grey nurse shark circling overhead.

The four-mode capability covers the range of recreational diving most Australian divers do. Air mode handles standard tank diving. Nitrox mode supports mixes up to 100% O2 with adjustable PO2 limits, useful for enriched air diving on the GBR or at dive resorts. Gauge mode turns the computer into a bottom timer for technical divers who run tables or redundant computers. Freedive mode tracks depth and surface intervals for the growing number of Australians getting into apnea diving at places like Gordon's Bay and Manly.

Bluetooth connectivity pairs the i200C with Aqualung's DiverLog+ app on iOS and Android. Dive profiles, temperatures, depth graphs, and surface interval data transfer wirelessly after each dive day. The app is functional if unremarkable — it does the job of maintaining a digital logbook and displaying dive profiles, but it lacks the polish and community features of apps like Subsurface or Shearwater Cloud.

The algorithm is conservative by default, which suits the cautious approach most Australian dive operators encourage. Adjustable conservatism settings allow experienced divers to relax the limits slightly, but even at the most liberal setting, the i200C runs more conservatively than Suunto's equivalent models. This means slightly shorter no-decompression limits on repetitive dives — a minor frustration on multi-dive days, but a reasonable trade-off for safety.

Compared to the Cressi Leonardo, the i200C offers a colour display, Bluetooth, and freedive mode — significant upgrades that justify the price difference. Against the Shearwater Peregrine, the i200C gives up screen quality, algorithm flexibility, and overall build quality, but saves $150. For divers who don't need the Peregrine's advanced features, that saving funds a lot of boat dives.

## Key Features

- Colour LCD display with automatic backlight - Four modes: air, nitrox (up to 100% O2), gauge, and freedive - Bluetooth connectivity for logbook transfer via DiverLog+ app - Depth rating: 100 metres - Dual nitrox mix tracking (switch between two programmed mixes) - User-adjustable conservatism (three levels) - Audible and visual alarms for depth, time, ascent rate, and deco - User-replaceable CR2450 battery - Stores approximately 24 dive profiles - Water activation with manual override - Safety stop countdown timer - Weight: approximately 110 g

## The Good

- **Colour display is genuinely readable in all Australian diving conditions**: From bright tropical shallows to dark temperate depths, the screen delivers critical information clearly. Colour-coded warnings communicate urgency without requiring you to parse numbers under stress. - **Bluetooth log downloads eliminate the cable-and-computer ritual**: Pairing with your phone after a dive takes seconds, and profiles transfer wirelessly while you're packing gear. Over a year of diving, the time saved versus USB cable downloads adds up meaningfully. - **Freedive mode is a useful addition for versatile water users**: Australian divers increasingly combine scuba and freediving. Having both modes in one wrist computer means you don't need separate devices for a morning scuba dive and an afternoon freedive session. - **User-replaceable battery saves money and downtime**: A CR2450 battery costs under $10 and takes two minutes to replace. No need to send the computer to a service centre, no waiting weeks for a battery change. Essential for divers who can't afford to be without their computer during the season. - **Conservative algorithm provides a genuine safety margin for recreational divers**: The default conservatism settings prioritise safety in a way that benefits the majority of recreational divers. On repetitive dive days — common on liveaboard trips to the Coral Sea — the conservative limits provide reassurance. - **Nitrox support up to 100% O2 covers deco gas for advancing divers**: While primarily a recreational computer, the 100% O2 nitrox support means divers beginning to explore enriched air and basic decompression procedures have room to grow.

## The Bad

- **No air integration at this price is a notable omission**: The Mares Genius and Suunto D5, both in a similar price range, offer optional wireless transmitter connectivity. The i200C requires you to monitor tank pressure on a separate SPG — one more thing to check during a dive. - **DiverLog+ app is functional but lacks refinement**: The app works for basic logbook keeping but feels dated compared to Shearwater Cloud or the Garmin Dive app. Data export options are limited, and the interface could be more intuitive. Occasional Bluetooth pairing issues are reported. - **Screen is difficult to read at extreme angles**: The colour LCD washes out when viewed at sharp angles — more than about 30 degrees off perpendicular. This matters when the computer is on your wrist and you're in a horizontal trim position; you need to rotate your wrist to read it directly. - **24-dive log memory is shallow by modern standards**: Computers at this price increasingly store hundreds of dives onboard. Twenty-four dives means you need to download regularly or risk overwriting older profiles. On a week-long liveaboard doing four dives a day, the log fills in six days.

## Verdict

The Aqualung i200C is a well-executed mid-range dive computer that covers recreational diving comprehensively. The colour display, Bluetooth connectivity, and four operating modes give it genuine versatility, and the user-replaceable battery keeps ongoing costs low. Australian divers doing regular recreational diving — weekend shore dives, boat trips, annual liveaboard holidays — will find it does everything they need without unnecessary complexity. The lack of air integration is the most significant gap at this price, and divers who value having tank pressure on their wrist display should look at the Suunto D5 instead. For everyone else, the i200C delivers reliable performance, clear information, and the convenience of wireless log transfers at a price that leaves room in the budget for actual diving. A sensible, no-drama computer for divers who want to focus on the dive rather than the technology.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)