Scubapro has announced the latest addition to its computer lineup: the Galileo 3 (G3). The wrist-watch style computer has an extensive range of features including colour display, multiple algorithms, and support for mixed gas/CCR diving. The G3 comes in at the top of Scubapro’s range of computers. Unusually for modern dive equipment, it actually looks pretty cool.
It’s impressive they’ve managed to fit all the necessary hardware into a classic dive watch chassis.
I’m surprised it has taken so long for a manufacturer to lean on this classic style in a computer. The other manufacturers’ computers are almost identical at a glance. So it’s great to see some retro diving styling being used in a modern computer.
There’s plenty of iconic kit in the diving archives that deserve a remake (a digital Nikonos anyone!?). The last big attempt I can remember of a manufacturer trying to go full retro was Aqualung’s attempt to revive the iconic twin-hose Mistral regulator. You’ve probably never seen one because no one bought it.
This is all subjective but across the dive industry you can see a clear push to make things look serious and ‘technical’. This has culminated in the fairly recent description of kit as ‘tech-recreational’. Everything is black, metallic and definitely serious. I know equipment shouldn’t be form over function but scuba diving could definitely do with a bit more form…
Nearly everything is black and boring. This is most prevalent in wetsuit design – it’s hard to find a new wetsuit with more than a stripe of colour on top the regulation black. The fluorescent reds, yellows and pinks of 90s wetsuits are long gone but surely due a comeback? It was a funner, simpler, time.
In reality I’m sure if there was real demand today a manufacturer would be making them. It might just be me wanting to enter the water looking like a glow stick.
The G3 has also been released in a limited edition 60th Anniversary model with a distinctive red bezel and red screen accents. Scubapro seem to enjoy celebrating their birthday having previously released a limited edition gold version of the M25/S600 regulator back on their 50th.
It will undoubtedly be a well made and capable bit of kit, nearly all dive equipment is today. It’s similarly price to competing top-end watch computers from other manufactures, such as Garmin and Shearwater, but its USP may just be that classic ascetic.
Specifications
RRP: £1,130 (computer only)
Full-colour TFT LCD display
Rotating Bezel
Two algorithms: Predictive Multi-Gas Buhlmann ZHL-16 ADT PMG or ZHL-16 GF
Modes: Scuba, CCR, Freediving, Gauge
Number of gases: 8
Max Depth: 300m
Options: Wireless tanks transmitter, heart rate monitor
Further information on the Scubapro Galileo 3 can be found here
