Cressi Elettronica is one of the key assets of Cressi. It is specialized for the in-house design and production of all electronic instruments such as dive computers. This company permits deep research, development and testing, but also constant updating of all the diving computers. Such asset is indeed a point of absolute strength for Cressi against those companies who need instead to re-brand existing products. The latter often made in China. Let’s look at the new freediving and spearfishing jewel by the Italian Company, the Cressi King!
For freediving and spearfishing
Among the extremely wide offer of diving computers, the new Cressi King has been specifically designed for freediving and spearfishing. In particular, it has special sophisticated Cressi designed safety Algorithms. These are focused in particular to protection against Taravana and pulmonary Edema. Necessity to hydrate (drink) is also indicated.
Materials and dimensions
Materials
First of all, a general look at the new Cressi King gives us a clear indication of its quality. A heavy duty case in 30% glass loaded nylon and its steel crown show a really neat general design. The crown is painted in different colors that match the ones of the strap. These are black, blu and orange.
The connection between the case and the strap is obtained through a male and female stainless steel screw. This is extremely secure and, with two small flat screwdrivers, makes it really easy to dismantle the two halves of the strap. The match of the case with the strap is perfect.
One weak point of many watches with rubber/plastic straps is the fact that the latter have a short life. Wear and cracks require at times the substitution of the strap, even after only two years. Cressi has studied a special material, a mix of silicone and polyamide, that prevents tears and breakage.
The buckle is in stainless steel. The closing system, with includes the traditional band where to insert the strap, is extremely safe. The band, in fact, is complete with a special “tooth” that fits in the holes of the strap and so does not move during use.
Dimensions
The aim of Cressi was to design a high readability watch, with still a very compact shape. With the case diameter of only 48 mm and a high-contrast display of 35 mm (Cressi measures), the aim seems to have been achieved. The screen is in strong mineral glass. In addition, a special protective display in soft liquid silicone, also works as a lens and helps to easily read the information when in the water.
Apneapassion measures indicate a diameter if the case equal to 48.2 mm. The thickness of the case is 16.6 mm, including the crown and the battery cover. The diameter of the screen is 37 mm.
Functions and use
Main menu
The Cressi King utilizes the two buttons system on the right of the case to scroll the menu. Pressing one of the two buttons we scroll in each direction Time, Chrono, Timer, Dual-Time, Mode-S(elect), Log, Dive-S(elect), Time-S(et), System and Free. Keeping the button pressed makes you enter the specific function menu.
Apart from the obvious functions, let us see the most interesting ones.
Dive-S
Scroll to Dive-S with the top right button and keep it pressed to enter the function. This function includes all the safety alarm settings.
Taravana
You enter the Taravana alarm setting, which is set initially to L1. This is set to have a surface recovery time of twice the dive time. The setting can go up to L8, so more conservative, with the recovery time going up to 5 times the dive time. Still, the algorithm is much more evolved and takes into consideration also the depth and total time of the previous dive and the water temperature. The Taravana alarm setting can be also set to Off. Cressi indicates, as it is general medical knowledge, that there are no precise calculations possible to prevent Taravana. Still, it is known that deep dives, long dive times, insufficient recovery times and dehydration can increase the risk of Taravana.
Blood shift
Moving on we have the Blood Shift function setting. Here you set the maximum depth of your dive, and the watch sets the warm up dives. Such approach dives of an increasing depth must be performed before reaching the max depth. They help the body warming up and avoiding hemoptysis and pulmonary edema. It is thought clearly for freediving, as max depth goes from 30 to 120 meters. Still, it can be set also for spearfishing considering the maximum depth dive we plan to perform.
Scrolling on we find the Surface Time. This can be set from 30 seconds to 4 minutes. Once the time is reached an acoustic and visual (Surface Time will flicker) alarm will activate. The alarms indicates the next dive can be performed.
Max depth, time and hydration alarms
The Maximum Depth Alarm follows in the menu. It can be set from 10 meters to 120 meters.
Going on, the Dive Time Alarm can be set. From 10 seconds on, the Dive Time can be set. Once the maximum dive time is reached, the alarm will make an acoustic sound and the Dive Time will flicker.
The following setting is the regulation of the depth steps alarms. They can be set in a number of meters and its multiples. When each step is reach the Cressi King will beep.
Another alarm is the hydration alarm. By default it is set on 1 hour. It can be regulated in steps of 30 minutes up to 4 hours. When the time is reached, the “hydrate” symbol on the right of the screen will appear suggesting you to drink.
Logbook data acquisition frequency
Finally two non-safety settings. The first permits to choose between salt and fresh water. The second is the frequency of acquisition of data in the logbook. It can be set on 0.5, 1 and 2 seconds. This will determine the detail of the curve that will be visualized in the Cressi UCI (Underwater Computer Interface) graph on your PC, Mac, or Android and IOS mobile devices.
As safety measure, the Cressi King will also indicate the No Fly Time on the screen after your diving session.
Log book
Scrolling the menu the Log (book) function is the sixth. Its initial page shows the number of dive sessions registered.
Session general data
Entering the function by keeping the top button pressed, we will see the last session in chronological order. Keeping the button pressed once more we will see the general info of the session. On screen we will read page 1 (P1). This will indicate total duration, maximum depth, the number of dives and the minimum temperature of the session.
Quickly pressing the top button we will move to page 2 (P2). We will read the total surface time of the session and the total dive time. Maximum depth will still be indicated. Finally, the time of the best (B.) time of the session will be displayed.
Single dive data
Keeping the top button pressed will will read the details of each dive. Displayed will be the time between the last and the present dive, and the maximum speed descending and ascending (meters per minute). Centrally in big characters we will read the maximum depth of the dive and the total dive time. Finally, the number of the dive visualized and the minimum water temperature. Quickly pressing the top button we can scroll all the other dives, while we can shift back pressing the lower button.
When the symbol TRV (Time Ratio Violation) appears, it means the suggested minimum surface time has not been respected. Such time is linked to the algorithm for the Taravana protection.
Mode-S(et) & battery life
The Mode-S function permits to avoid the Cressi King to start measuring the dives. In fact, in the standard Free setting the watch from – 1 meter starts to measure the depth of the dive and to calculate all the other parameters. If we are in the pool or simply snorkeling, we will not need such measures. We can select Off instead of Free and the pressure sensor will be turned off. This will help save battery.
Regarding battery life and substitution Cressi gives precise indications, indicating it can last up to 4 years. “The battery capacity guarantees operation that goes far beyond the guarantee time. If the watch is opened before 2 years from the date of purchase, the warranty is void.”
Cressi UCI Software
First of all, it must be pointed out how easy it is to connect the Cressi King to PC and Mac with an USB cable, or via Bluetooth to Android or IOS devices. This is key as we have experienced computer watches of other brands giving us a really hard time.
On PC, Mac, Android and IOS
With the specific Cressi Interface you will connect to your PC or Mac. You will name your watch and the diver and then synchronize the logbook data. At that point on screen of the PC you will see on the left column all the sessions registered on your Cressi King. The date and starting time of the session and the name of the diver will be shown.
PC and Mac graphs
Centrally, the graphs of the entire session with all the single dives will appear. The graph shows the time (in hours, minutes and seconds) on the horizontal axis and the depth (in meters) on the vertical axis.
On the right column of the screen you will see the details of each dive. You will be able to scroll each dive clicking on the arrows at the right bottom corner of the screen. For each dive the data shown will be: descending speed and ascending speed in meters per second, maximum depth, minimum water temperature, duration of the dive and surface time before the dive.
Scrolling with the cursor along the graph, also the instant depth and total time since the start of the session will be shown. Selecting part of the graph will zoom the selected area.
At the bottom of the page the indication of the point of the dive, the logbook data acquisition frequency and the Taravana factor setting will be shown. In addition, the date, starting time, maximum depth, minimum water temperature, total duration and diver of the session will be shown.
Languages
The software on the PC and Mac can be set on different languages: English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Chinese and Italian. On Android and IOS the App automatically sets itself on the language of the phone.
App
On mobile devices with the App the information is the same as on PC and Mac. The zoom is evidently done on the mobile screen with the two fingers. Everything is extremely user friendly and complete. Selecting with the touch of the finger one can shift to the general data of the session to the data of the single dive.
