Audible Alarm — What It Is and Why It Matters
An audible alarm is a piezoelectric buzzer or speaker in a dive computer that produces warning tones when critical thresholds are reached — such as exceeding a safe ascent rate, approaching no-decompression limits, hitting a low-battery condition, or going deeper than a pre-set maximum depth. Audible alarms are especially important because visual alerts on a screen can be missed during task-loaded situations.
Most dive computers allow you to enable or disable specific alarms and adjust trigger thresholds in the settings menu. The effectiveness of audible alarms depends on hood thickness and ambient noise, so they are typically paired with visual alerts like flashing icons or screen color changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hear a dive computer alarm underwater?
Usually yes, though a thick neoprene hood can muffle the sound. Piezo buzzers transmit well through water. For critical safety alerts, most computers pair audible alarms with visual warnings on the screen.
Should I turn off dive computer alarms?
Disabling safety alarms like ascent rate warnings is not recommended. You can typically disable non-critical alerts (like depth milestones) while keeping essential safety alarms active.
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