As one of the biggest names in dive products, Mares has a great range of computers to suit divers of different levels and abilities. We’ve reviewed all of their current catalog offerings below and answered some frequently asked questions that buyers have about their products. We’ve looked at what algorithms Mares uses for their computers and which features, functions and styles are available. Mares dive computers are suitable for everyone from beginners and children through to advanced technical divers. We’ve covered the pros and cons of each model below. The information provided will help you decide which Mares dive computer is best for your needs.
BEST MARES DIVE COMPUTERS IN 2023
Popular Choice
Smart Computer MARES
★★★★★
Top PickMost Popular
Quad Computer MARES
★★★★★
Best Value
Puck Pro Plus MARES
★★★★★
ALL THE MARES DIVE COMPUTERS THAT WE TESTED
MARES Quad
General Impression
The Quad Mares dive computer is our top pick in the Mares dive computer product line. This wrist watch style dive computer comes in four color options and features a large easy to read screen. The four-button user interface is intuitive and easy to use for recreational or advanced recreational divers. Users can easily switch between air, nitrox, and bottom timer modes, and the flexible strap fits comfortably over a wetsuit or drysuit.
Specifications
MODEL: Quad
BATTERY: User-replaceable Lithium Metal
MEASUREMENTS: 6” x 5” x 5”
SCREEN SIZE : 2.25”
BEST FOR : Recreational Divers/Advanced Recreational Divers
WEIGHT: 19.2 ounces
PROS
- Air, Nitrox, and Bottom time settings
- Four-button user interface
- Large display
- Flexible strap
- Four color choice
CONS
- Bulky on small wrists
- Screen glare in the sun
MARES Puck Pro Plus
General Impression
The Mares Puck Pro Plus is our choice for the best value in the product line of Mares dive computers. This wristwatch style Mares dive computer has a sleek, slim design with an adjustable strap making it easy to fit on any size wrist. The Puck Pro Plus Mares dive computer can store up to 35 hours in the dive log, and the battery is user-replaceable. The one-button menu is intuitive and easy to understand, even for entry-level divers. This dive computer comes in seven color options for the stylish-minded diver.
Specifications
MODEL: Puck Pro +
BATTERY: User-replaceable Lithium Metal
MEASUREMENTS: 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.9”
SCREEN SIZE : 2.5”
BEST FOR : Entry Level/Recreational Divers
WEIGHT: 8.8 ounces
PROS
- One button intuitive menu
- Compact design
- Air, Nitrox, and stopwatch modes
- Average depth settings
CONS
- The strap is not flexible
- Screen glare in the sun
MARES Smart
General Impression
Featuring an intuitive user interface, the Smart wristwatch Mares dive computer is an excellent choice for entry-level and recreational divers. The compact design and seven color choices make it perfect to use as an everyday watch or to match your scuba kit. The Mares Smart two-color wrist strap design is unique. This Mares dive computer can be used in Air or Nitrox mode and fits easily on any size wrist. The mineral glass display prevents scratching during use.
Specifications
MODEL: Smart
BATTERY: Replaceable 3 Volt battery
MEASUREMENTS: 6” x 6” x 6”
SCREEN SIZE : 1.5”
BEST FOR : Entry Level/Recreational Divers
WEIGHT: 3.5 ounces
PROS
- Seven color options
- Intiutive user interface
- Ergonomic design
- Mineral glass display
- Air and Nitrox modes
CONS
- Strap breaks easily
- Buttons stick
MARES Quad Air
General Impression
The Quad Air Mares dive computer features a large easy to read display and an intuitive four-button user interface. The three-row layout makes it easy for divers to keep track of their dive profile underwater or on the surface, and the (optional) hoseless tank data integration, monitors the amount of Air or Nitrox in the scuba cylinder. The user-replaceable battery lasts for up to 150 dives, making it a perfect choice for advanced and technical divers spending a lot of time underwater.
Specifications
MODEL: Quad Air
BATTERY: Replaceable Lithium Metal
MEASUREMENTS: 7” x 5.5” x 5.5”
SCREEN SIZE : 2.75”
BEST FOR : Advanced Recreational Divers/Technical Divers
WEIGHT: 15.8 ounces
PROS
- Optional hoseless tank data integration
- Large clear display
- Four-button user interface
- Three-row layout
- Scratch-resistant display
- Air and Nitrox modes
CONS
- Menu navigation is difficult
- Alarms are not loud enough
MARES Mission Puck 3
General Impression
The Mission Puck 3 Mares dive computer features an ergonomic console design and a single-button intuitive interface. This console-style Mares dive computer includes a compass for navigating with ease underwater and multiple attachment loops for gear streamlining. The Mission Puck 3 Mares dive computer can be easily switched between Air, Nitrox, and bottom timer modes. This Mares dive computer is an excellent choice for recreational divers or as a backup dive computer.
Specifications
MODEL: Mission Puck 3
BATTERY: Replaceable CR2450
MEASUREMENTS: 12” x 6” x 8”
SCREEN SIZE : 2.5”
BEST FOR : Backup/Recreational Divers
WEIGHT: 35 ounces
PROS
- Ergonomic Console
- Single-button intuitive interface
- Air, Nitrox, and bottom timer modes
- Multiple attachment loops for gear configuration
- Compact compass
CONS
- Hard to understand manual
- Bulky size
MARES Smart Air
General Impression
The Smart Mares dive computer is an excellent choice for divers wanting a Mares dive computer that can also be worn as an everyday watch- both stylish and functional. This Mares dive computer features an intuitive user interface for dive settings along with full watch functions, including a wake-up alarm, a second timezone, date settings, and a stopwatch function. The Mares Smart also comes with the option to use a LED transmitter for air integration so that divers can easily track the amount of air in their cylinders without having to use a submersible pressure gauge.
Specifications
MODEL: Smart Air
BATTERY: Lithium metal
MEASUREMENTS: 7” x 5” x 3”
SCREEN SIZE : 1.25″
BEST FOR : Recreational Divers/Advanced Recreational Divers
WEIGHT: 19.2 ounces
PROS
- Intuitive user interface
- Slim design
- Programmable alarms
- Air and Nitrox settings
- Everyday watch style
- Air-integrated LED Transmitter
CONS
- Strap breaks frequently
- Battery compartment sealing issues
MARES Matrix
General Impression
The Matrix Mares dive computer is compact in size but boasts robust features and functionality. The full dot, matrix display is easy to read underwater and on the surface, and the integrated digital compass keeps divers on track. The Matrix Mares dive computer comes in two different color options and can be worn as an everyday watch. The PC interface for the dive log is included, and the digital logbook includes a dive graph to keep track of dive profiles.
Specifications
MODEL: Matrix
BATTERY: Replaceable 3 Volt battery
MEASUREMENTS: 7” x 5.5” x 5.5”
SCREEN SIZE : 2.5”
BEST FOR : Recreational Divers/Advanced Recreational Divers
WEIGHT: 7 ounces
PROS
- Full dot matrix display
- PC Interface included
- Air, Nitrox, and bottom time modes
- Digital Compass
- Logbook with dive graph
CONS
- Compass is glitchy
- Battery failure issues
MARES Genius
General Impression
The Genius Mares dive computer is a robust air integrated wrist dive computer perfect for advanced recreational divers and experienced technical divers. The display is high-resolution and full color with color-coded tank pressure readings, making it easy to read underwater. The hoseless tank data integration can be paired to up to five transmitters, and the settings support Air, Nitrox, and Trimix modes. Dive log data is easily transferable to a smartphone using the Bluetooth connection capability.
Specifications
MODEL: Genius
BATTERY: Replaceable lithium metal
MEASUREMENTS: 9” x 6” x 8”
SCREEN SIZE : 2.7”
BEST FOR : Advanced Recreational Divers/Technical Divers
WEIGHT: 28 ounces
PROS
- Full-color high-resolution display
- Hoseless tank data integration
- Bluetooth compatible
- Color-coded tank pressure
- Air, Nitrox, and Trimix modes
CONS
- Screen glare in the sun
- Bulky wrist strap
BEST MARES DIVE COMPUTERS
Buyer's Guide
Mares, which is a manufacturer of scuba equipment, was founded in 1949 by Ludovico Mares. Based in Rapallo, Italy, Mares got its start by making diving masks and spearguns. Mares is a worldwide company still headquartered in Italy and has now merged with Dacor, another popular scuba diving equipment manufacturer that was based in the United States. The parent company of Mares is Head, which is part of the sportswear and sports equipment industry.
Over the years, Mares has expanded its product offerings and now manufactures a variety of equipment for snorkeling, spearfishing, and scuba diving. Mares products are designed, researched, and field-tested to ensure the highest quality possible. The Mares product line includes scuba BCD’s (buoyancy control device), regulators, wetsuits, rash guards, pressure gauges, masks with snorkels, fins, and dive computers.
Mares designs some of the most highly rated mask and snorkel sets for adults and children, as well as some of the highest-rated and user-friendly computers for scuba diving. The Mares Puck Pro Plus is a prevalent and reasonably priced dive computer that is great for entry-level divers or the more experienced open water certified scuba diver. This wristwatch style dive computer comes in seven color options, and the one-button menu is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Mares also produces the Mares Genius, which is designed for more advanced divers and technical divers. The Mares Genius is an air integrated computer that offers enhanced functionality and the option to connect up to five wireless air transmitters. This dive computer uses a new algorithm that takes into account the use of Trimix gas called the ZH-L16C algorithm.
BEST MARES DIVE COMPUTER
FAQs
1. Mares Puck Pro vs. Puck Pro Plus – How do they compare? Which one has Bluetooth?
The Mares Puck Pro Plus is an updated version of the Mares Puck Pro. The functionality is very similar, and there are only a few visual changes to the design. However, the Puck Pro Plus features a new Bluetooth uplink interface that was not included in the previous model. Both of these dive computers have a slim design and a one-button user interface used to navigate through the settings menu. Both the Mares Puck Pro and the Mares Puck Pro Plus come in a variety of colors and are an excellent choice for beginner divers diving with Air or Nitrox.
2. What Algorithms do the Mares Puck Pro, Mares Quad, Mares Smart, Mares Genius and Mares Matrix use?
Most of the dive computers in the Mares product line use the Mares-Wienke RGBM algorithm model. This algorithm is also known as the reduced gradient bubble model and was developed by Dr. Bruce Wienke for the calculation of crucial decompression stops needed for different dive profiles. The Mares Matrix, Mares Smart, Mares Quad, and Mares Puck Pro dive computers all use this RGBM model, which is known to be somewhat conservative. The Mares Genius uses a newly developed algorithm called ZH-L16C. This algorithm supports diving with different gases like Trimix, and this dive computer gives users the ability to dive with up to five different gases.
3. Mares Puck Pro Plus vs. Suunto Zoop Novo – How do they compare?
The Mares Puck Pro Plus and the Suunto Zoop Novo are two extremely popular wrist dive computers for entry-level scuba divers. They are similar in size and design, but they do have discerning features that make them different from one another. The Mares Puck Pro Plus has a segment display while the Suunto Zoop Novo has a partial dot matrix display. Neither dive watch is air integrated, but the Puck Pro Plus has the ability to switch between two mixes. The Zoop Novo has 140 hours of dive log memory, while the Puck Pro Plus only has 35 hours. The Mares Puck Pro Plus has both USB and Bluetooth connection for downloading dive log records; the Suunto Zoop Novo only offers the USB connection.
REACH OUT
As always, we create our content with you, fellow adventurers, in mind. So, how’d we do? Did you find this informative? Did it help you make a decision? Did we miss anything? We’d love to hear from you below. Thanks for reading and we hope your next adventure is a great one!