When it comes to non-air integrated wrist mounted dive computers the Mares Nemo is one product that has slowly achieved cult status and is among the few “classic” dive computers of recreational diving, like the Suunto Gekko. These dive computers are reliable, have simple and intuitive functions, are compact, can be used an everyday wristwatch, and most of all are reasonably priced “Mid-range” computers making them so popular.

featured above is the Mares Nemo (Steel Casing) available at leisurepro.com

The Mares Nemo comes in two forms, a more expensive but lightweight Titanium casing, or the more affordable but heavier brushed stainless Steel casing version. Both casings and mechanical components of the steel or titanium versions are Swiss-made offering maximum reliability and precision, while the watch itself is designed and assembled by Mares in Italy.

The Nemo is a great looking wristwatch/dive computer, and offers four dive modes, Air, nitrox, Bottom Time, and Free-Diving mode which should satisfy the diving needs of the most demanding diver.  Logging upto 50 dives and dive profiles in its internal log-book, the Nemo can also be paired with the optional IRIS (Infra-Red Interface System) PC Interface for downloading logbook dives to a PC. The buttons on the Nemo are nice and big, so they’re easy to use even if you’re wearing thick diving gloves, and the battery is user replaceable which means you won’t have to keep shipping it back to the manufacturer every time you need the battery replaced.  Audible Alarms, a powerful backlight, and temperature displays in both Celsius and Fahrenheit are huge plusses for and affordable dive computer.

During the dive in Dive mode the Nemo displays your current depth, the water temperature (C/F), your dive time and the remaining no-decompression time at the current depth, your ascent rate in metres/per min, and you can also check your maximum depth for the dive by pushing a button.

For Nitrox Divers, the Nemo supports setting of the percentage O2 from 21% to 50%, in increments of 1%, Setting of PPO2 max from 1.2 to 1.6 bar. And Free Diving mode is a great feature to have, and allows free divers to easily read the large bottom timer displays.

The Nemo dive computer uses the Mares-Wienke RGBM (Reduced Gradient Bubbles Model) algorithm which takes into account the phenomenon of micro-bubbles in order to prevent their formation to the greatest possible extent. In over 10,000 real dives monitored by Dr. Bruce Wienke in the Los Alamos laboratories, the formation of micro-bubbles has been studied and evaluated which resulted in the created of this algorithm. The algorithm includes the deep stop protocol which is a pause for 30 seconds to a minute at half of the maximum depth of the dive if necessary.

One of the drawbacks we found with the design of the Nemo is the rounded glass dome dial tends to jut out prominently, and would require the optional scratch guard sold as an accessory to prevent it from getting accidental scratches.

Overall however the Mares Nemo is perhaps one of the best wrist mounted dive computers out there, that provides a diver with all the bells & whistles of a more expensive dive computer in a more affordable package.

The Mares Nemo Reviewed was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Here is part 2 of our series, if you haven’t read part 1 yet click here

Clark’s Anemonefish
Clark’s anemonefish, Clarkii anemonefish or the Yellowtail clownfish is identifiable, by its vivid black, white and yellow stripes. It has a reddish-brown color with white stripes and an orange forehead, with a yellow tail with a white stripe on it. Clark’s anemonefish patterns vary from fish to fish and also juvenile fish are yellow in color. This variety of clownfish grows up to 6 inches in length and is easily confused with the Sebae anemonefish which has similar colorations.

Cinnamon Clownfish
Cinnamon clownfish,also known as the Black and Red Anemonefish or the Fire Clownfish grow till 4.7 inches and are mostly found in Indonesia, Micronesia and the Great Barrier Reef.  Identifiable by its dark red to orange color with a darker brown “saddle” on its back . The cinnamon clownfish also has a distinct white head band.

Sebae Clownfish
The Sebae Clownfish is a very rare clownfish found only in the northern Indian Ocean which grows up to 4.6 inches in length.  In appearance the Sebae looks very similar to the Clarks Anemonefish and is brown with wide white stripes and an orange head. The anal fin is yellow, and it has a white to yellow tail.

Red-Sea Clownfish
The Two Banded Clownfish more popularly known as the Red Sea Clownfish is recognizable by its two white with black edged saw like stripes on its yellow-orange colored body. These clownfish are predominately found in the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean.

Maldives Anemonefish
The Maldives Anemonefish is known as the Blackfinned anemonefish or the Blackfoot Clownfish characterized by its rusty orange red color with a single white stripe running vertically behind its eye. As its name suggests the Maldives anemonefish is found in the Western Indian Ocean around Maldives and Sri Lanka, and usually lives in small groups.

photos from flickr by: liljolj, alfonsator, mileswu, richard ling, ciamabue

Clownfish Identification Part 2/2 was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Pink Skunk Clownfish
Also known as the False Skunk-striped Anemonefish, the Pink Skunk Clownfish is instantly recognizable by its pink to peach-orange base color with one white stripe that runs from the nose and down the entire length of the back. Just behind its eyes it has another white stripe that runs vertically. The Pink Skunk Clownfish is generally a smaller variety of clownfish and grows to a length of around 3.9 inches. They are found primarily in the western pacific or eastern Indian Ocean.

Tomato Clownfish
Also known as the Red Clownfish or Bridled Clownfish, these fish are found throughout the Pacific and usually amongst the Bubbletip Sea Anemone which makes it easy to find. The Tomato Clownfish is a bright orange-red with one white vertical stripe behind the eye and can grow to 5 inches in length.

Ocellaris Clownfish
Known also as the False Percula Clown, these fish are often mistaken for the Percula Clownfish as the color pattern is similar but not as bright as the Percula.  The Ocellaris is perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable of clownfish the fish and featured in the animated film “Finding Nemo” as the lead character Nemo. It has an orange body color with three white vertical stripes on its body and black tips on the fins.  Ocellaris also come in a black variety with no orange which make a striking contrast against the white stripes.  Ocellaris can grow up to 8 inches in length.

Percula Clownfish
Also known as the true Percula Clownfish or Clown Anemonefish these fish are similar in appearance to the Ocellaris with its orange base and three white vertical stripes. However Percula Clownfish have a bright orange color, thicker black outlines, and do not exceed 4.5 inches in length. Percula’s are also distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific and are common residents of reefs in this region.

Part 2 of the article ‘Clown Fish Identification’ continued here.

photos from flickr by: Nemo’s great uncle, brian.gratwicke, Alan Ruben, ecatoncheires,

Clownfish Identification Part 1/2 was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

The 2003 Pixar CGI animated Film “Finding Nemo” was so popular when it first released, that even today most people look at the clownfish in an aquarium and identify  it as ‘Nemo ‘ and not as a Clownfish. At first people thought the phenomenon would pass, and the interest generated by the movie would fade away. However even today most Scuba diving instructors will tell you that their new students still recognize reef fish by their Nemo Names, and phrases like: “I saw two Dory’s and a whole bunch of Gills”, or “Did you see Nemo in that anemone?”, are not uncommon. So we at Aquaviews decided to help our Nemo crazed fans, find Nemo and his friends.

Nemo and Marlin: False Ocellaris Clown fish

False Ocellaris Clown fish are closely related to the true clownfish better known as the orange clown fish and are both species that are found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific. The Ocellaris can be recognized by its orange color with three white bars and black markings on the fins and you will almost always find them living in the protection of an anemone.

Dory : Regal Blue Tang

The Regal Blue Tang comes from the family of surgeon fish and can be identified by its royal blue body, yellow tail, and black ‘palette’ design. This species is relatively common in the reefs of the Indo-Pacific and lives of plankton. Tangs can grow up to a foot in length and due to their stunning color, are a real delight to spot while diving in a reef.

Tad : Tad Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish

The yellow long nose butterfly fish is one of the most common kinds of butterfly fish and is instantly recognized by its bright yellow body and tapering short black nose. The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish inhabits the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific and any scuba diver who has dived in Hawaii will instantly recognize this fish.  They commonly found on exposed seaward reefs and not very common in lagoon reefs.

Gill : Moorish Idol

Another really popular character from the Movie, Gill is a Moorish idol which is often mistakenly identified as a butterflyfish, Angelfish, bannerfish or pennant fish which appear in similar colors. The Pennant Coral fish closely resembles the Moorish idol, which can be distinguished from the pennant by the black band that goes over its eye and its distinctive tubular snout that sets it apart. The Moorish Idol however belongs to the Surgeonfish family and grows to a length of 8-10 inches.

Bloat : Puffer Fish

Pufferfish are by far one of the most extraordinary fish of the reef. When stressed pufferfish can puff up to 2 or 3 times their normal size. They are slow swimming fish, and swim rather awkwardly in the water. There are also several kinds of pufferfish, like boxfish, cowfish, porcupine, burrfish, stars and stripes puffer, the dog faced puffer, the figure eight puffer, etc. Bloat in Finding Nemo is a Porcupine Pufferfish recognizable by its yellow color and long spines which sticks out when it inflates.

Finding Nemo and His Friends was written by Nevin for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World