Gauges

Two-gauge vs. three-gauge consoles
A two-gauge console includes a submersible pressure gauge (SPG) showing remaining tank pressure and a depth gauge showing current and maximum depth. A three-gauge console adds a compass. If you navigate by compass regularly — on wreck dives, drift dives, or low-visibility dives in Canadian lakes — a three-gauge console is worth the upgrade over buying a separate wrist compass. If you primarily dive guided sites or use a dive computer with a built-in digital compass, the two-gauge console is simpler and lighter.

Analog vs. digital gauges
Analog gauges use a mechanical bourdon tube to display pressure and depth — no battery required, no firmware to update, and extremely reliable over decades of use. Digital gauges display the same information electronically with a more precise numerical readout. The Cressi Digi2, for example, provides digital depth and pressure readings in a compact console format. Digital consoles offer greater readout precision and can display additional metrics like dive time and water temperature, making them a practical middle ground between a pure analog console and a full dive computer.

SPG as a backup to an air-integrated computer
Many divers who use air-integrated wrist computers still carry a console SPG as a backup. A wireless transmitter can fail, lose signal, or run out of battery — leaving you without a tank pressure reading at a moment when you need it most. An analog SPG on a high-pressure hose is a simple, reliable redundancy that requires no pairing, no battery, and has no electronics to fail. Technical divers and cave divers treat backup gauges as non-negotiable. For recreational divers, it is a personal preference based on risk tolerance.

Gauge keeper clips — keep your console streamlined
A gauge console that drags along the bottom on its hose is both a nuisance and an environmental hazard — it stirs up silt, damages coral, and can snag on wrecks. A gauge keeper clip attaches between your console and a BCD D-ring, holding the console close to your body until you need to read it. When you reach for it, the quick-release bungee allows it to extend easily, then snaps back when released. Our Divemasters use these on every dive and consider them an essential accessory for anyone diving with a console.