Released in 2017, the G2 is an updated version of Scubapro’s popular Galileo Sol, the first – and, until the G2 – only computer that can incorporate the wearer’s personal physiology into their decompression profile by measuring heart rate and skin temperature through the use of an optional transmitter.
Along with measuring breathing rate through gas consumption, the G2 continuously adjusts its algorithm to best suit the diver’s workload and is compatible with everything from basic recreational diving to full trimix tech, sidemount and CCR.
First impression
Scubapro sent us the full suite of computer, air-integrated wireless transmitter, heart rate and skin temperature monitor plus the associated LogTRAK software and charging cable, although the computer is available separately without all the extras.
First impression is that the G2 is a solid bit of kit. The look and feel of the computer is very robust, and the three buttons are located along the top of the computer, easily accessible regardless of which wrist the diver chooses to wear the computer on, and give a very clear impression that they would be useable wearing even the thickest of gloves. The screen can be rotated through 180 degrees so that the buttons are on the bottom of the computer, should the diver prefer.
Accessing the menu system is simple and intuitive, with clear graphics labelling what each button does on each screen (scroll up, down, enter, return, etc.) The action required to push the buttons is very deliberate – an especially useful design bonus for technical diving, where accurate switching between gases and other factors is not just useful, but potentially life-saving.
There are a lot of menu options, however. Out of the box, the G2 comes with a standard ‘recreational’ mode activated, and advanced features such as Apnea, CCR, Trimix and sidemount are disabled. Activating them is straightforward enough, but goes some way to ensuring a user is not overwhelmed with settings for dive practices they haven’t yet learned.
The G2 comes with a strap as standard, although mounting points are built into the case for optional bungee straps
Display
The most obvious update to the Galileo Sol is the colour TFT screen with its 320×240 resolution. There are four modes of operation: light, which displays the most basic dive time, depth, time to NDL and tank pressure (if using the air integrated transmitter); classic, which includes the most important information; full, which displays all the information that the G2 monitors, and graphical, which displays the current dive profile alongside numerical information.
Each of the modes displays extra information which is not already on the main screen via a sequence of menu-accessible pages. Long-pressing the menu button brings up even more information, including profile and current tissue compartment loading graphs.
At the surface, I thought that the ‘full’ mode was too much for the display, however, I was pleasantly surprised underwater. The information all reads very clearly indeed; there was no reflection from the screen and the various displays change colour when limits are approaching (yellow) or violated (red).
The labels for each section of the screen are very small and not easy to read in ‘full’ mode, but then this is often the case with dive computers in general – knowing what each section represents, however, is straightforward and basic.
If I had to venture an opinion, I think most divers would prefer to use the ‘classic’ mode and check extra information through the menu system, which is exactly what I did after a single dive in ‘full’ mode.
Algorithm
The Bühlmann decompression algorithms have always been the preference of the technical diving community, and Scubapro’s ‘predictive Multi-Gas ZHL-16 ADT MB’ is the latest evolution of an algorithm that stretches back to 1987 and Uwatec’s original Aladin.
In the recreational environment in which we were diving, it, therefore, did exactly what it was supposed to, with significant extensions to second-dive no-deco limits over the other computer I was diving with.
Where Scubapro and the G2 have a significant departure from other computers is the ability (through the use of the optional chest strap monitor) to adapt the algorithm to the diver’s workload by taking into account heart-rate, breathing rate, skin temperature and water temperature to adjust the decompression profile during the dive.
For most recreational, no-stop diving this is not really an issue, but in the realms of technical diving where an unplanned increase in workload may lead to a significant increase in gas absorption and change in dive plan, it may well reduce the risk of a serious DCS hit.
Other features
The G2 will handle up to eight different gas mixtures during a dive, which is probably more than most people will ever need, and the Predictive Multi-Gas (PMG) feature will automatically alert the diver when it is time to switch, and will also take into account unplanned (or failed) gas switches and will display predicted decompression stops based on which mixture is current and which have already been used.
PDIS – Profile Dependent Intermediate Stops – alerts the diver to appropriate ‘deep stops’ based on their profile and gas consumption, rather than a single, planned stop at a specific depth.
Pictures – you can upload pictures to the computer for reference during a dive, such as a dive map or particular object of interest, or a favourite pet, if you get separation anxiety.
LOGTRAK
There seemed to be some initial faffage getting the accompanying LogTrak software installed and it wasn’t super-intuitive to start with (anytime I have to read the manual for something computer-related I get a bit stroppy) but once it was all up-and running, it provides a useful dive log reference. The graphical log which you can read on the G2 itself gives an overview of sorts, and it’s inevitably much more readable on a PC screen. Personally, I think it could use a bit of updating to add in alarms and warnings and other information, but otherwise, it does what it says on the tin.
Conclusion
The G2 is a great computer, of that there is no doubt, but although it can be adapted to advance with a diver throughout their career, it may be a little to much for the once-a-year, shallow water recreational diver. The holistic approach to decompression profiles through wearable tech, and its ability to re-write those profiles ‘on the fly’, however, is sure to give active and technical divers pause for thought when it comes to choosing a computer.
Specifications
- Intuitive menu structure, simple three-button control system, and diver-friendly functions as the original Galileo
- Full colour TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) 2.2in/5.6cm LCD display screen (320x240p).
- Choice of screen display configurations: Light, Classic, Full or Graphical
- Customised menu listings.
- Multiple language choices. Select from more than 19 languages for receiving dive data.
- Predictive Multi-Gas ZHL-16 ADT MB algorithm. Advanced Uwatec algorithm programs up to eight nitrox/trimix mixes to handle any recreational or technical diving scenario.
- Integrated heart rate monitor. Measures heartbeat and skin temperature and incorporates both into the workload calculations – exclusive to Scubapro
- Heart rate monitor also lets you visually track your heart rate ‘real time’ to ensure you stay in your individual target zone to maximise your fun and safety at depth.
- Hoseless air integration. Monitors tank pressure plus provides true remaining bottom time (RBT) and allows air consumption to be factored into the decompression calculation. Provides support for up to 11 transmitters when all features are activated.
- Improved, full tilt digital compass.Includes half-compass rose and bearing memory
- Rechargeable battery provides up to 50 hours of dive time per charge.
- 485MB memory. Stores pictures, tables, tissue loading status, and 1,000 hours of dive profiles.
- USB cable or Bluetooth interface to download data to smartphones, or PC/Mac using LogTRAK software.
- Fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic slimline casing. Ultra-durable & UV resistant.
- Curved ergonomic low-profile shape. Sits comfortably on the arm and resists rotating (integrated bungee mounts are provided for tech divers)
- Rugged TR 55 transparent thermoplastic lens protects the full-colour dot matrix TFT display. Features a backlight to enhance low-light readability.
- Three stainless-steel control buttons easy to use wearing gloves.
- Multiple dive modes. Scuba, Freediving, Gauge, CCR and Sidemount
- Special apnea logbook. Stores repetitive dives sequentially under the same apnea session.
- Maximum operating depth. 394ft/120m.
MSRP:
G2 With Heart Rate Belt and transmitter: £899
G2 With transmitter only: £829
G2 (Standalone): £665
