Aqualung

Aqualung i550C

A console computer with real-time gas time remaining and Bluetooth log downloads.

Open BLE sync (libdivecomputer)

Syncs wirelessly with third-party apps (Subsurface, Currents, etc.), not just the manufacturer app.

Aqualung i550C
3.0Comparison Score
$759
Buy on AmazonBuy on Scuba.com
Released2018
Max depth rating100m
AlgorithmBühlmann ZHL-16C-based PZ+ (Pelagic Z+)
Air integrationhose
Wirelessbluetooth
DisplayLarge face screen with backlight
Batteryuser-replaceable
Digital compassNo
Gas typesair, nitrox
Gas switches3
CCR capableNo

"Gas switches" is how many different mixes this computer can be programmed to switch between mid-dive, mostly relevant for technical/staged-decompression diving. It doesn't tell you which gas types (air, nitrox, trimix) are supported. See Gas types and the product description above for that.

Pros
  • Real-time Gas Time Remaining calculation for accurate gas management
  • Bluetooth data transfer to Aqualung's companion app
  • Altitude adjustable to 14,000ft, user-changeable CR2450 battery
Cons
  • Hose-mounted console, not wireless or watch-style
  • Monochrome display only
  • No built-in digital compass on the base unit
Diver community sentiment
Mixed opinions

On Scubaboard, divers describe the i550C as functional and reasonably rugged when used correctly, with a moderate decompression algorithm, but recurring complaints center on its fully digital, battery-dependent pressure gauge, which some divers feel is risky as a sole air-integration source without a backup mechanical gauge or spare battery on hand (one diver had a low-battery warning mid-dive on a trip). Several threads discuss frustration around the computer's "Violation" mode, which locks the unit out for 24 hours after a missed decompression obligation; one poster reported total failure after 74 dives shortly before a trip. Divers also warn against letting a dive shop do the initial setup, since gas mixes are often configured incorrectly.

Scubaboard: i550C reliability/violation mode complaintsScubaboard: battery dependency discussion

Summarized from public forum discussion (Scubaboard, Reddit, and similar), not a survey we ran ourselves. See the linked threads for the original conversations.

The i550C is Aqualung’s mid-range console computer, pairing a hose-mounted pressure gauge with real-time gas time remaining and Bluetooth log sync. It’s a step up from the entry-level i200C/i300C wrist computers without the price of a wireless air-integrated model.