Mares Quad Air Instruction Manual

Instruction Manual

Quad Air Dive Computer

Quad Air Dive Computer

2

• TABLE OF CONTENTS

IMPORTANT WARNINGS 3

DISCLAIMER 3

1. INTRODUCTION 3

1.1. GLOSSARY 3

1.2. OPERATING MODES 4

1.3. USERREPLACEABLE BATTERY 4

1.4. CONNECTING QUAD AIR TO A PC OR MAC 4

1.5. BUTTON OPERATION 4

1.6. MOUNTING AND PAIRING OF THE TANK MODULE OPTIONAL 6

2. MENUS, SETTINGS AND FUNCTIONS 7

2.1. MODE 7

2.2. SET 8

2.2.1. SET DIVE 8

2.2.1.1. LGHT BACKLIGHT 8

2.2.1.2. P FACT P FACTOR 8

2.2.1.3. ALT ALTITUDE 9

2.2.1.4. WATR WATER 9

2.2.1.5. UNITS 9

2.2.1.6. GAS INTEGR GAS INTEGRATION 9

2.2.1.7. FAST FAST ASCENT 10

2.2.1.8. ALRM ALARMS 10

2.2.1.9. ERASE ERASE DESATURATION 10

2.2.1.10. RUN AWAY DECO 10

2.2.2. SET TIME 10

2.3. LOG LOGBOOK 10

2.4. PLAN DIVE PLANNER 11

2.5. PC 11

2.6. INFO 11

3. DIVING WITH QUAD AIR 11

3.1. A FEW WORDS ABOUT NITROX 11

3.2. ALARMS 12

3.2.1. ASCENT RATE 12

3.2.2. MOD/PPO2 12

3.2.3. CNS = 100% 12

3.2.4. MISSED DECOMPRESSION STOP 13

3.2.4.1. MISSED DECO STOP MODE 13

3.2.5. LOW TANK PRESSURE IF OPTIONAL TANK MODULE IS
USED 13

3.2.6. LOW BATTERY 13

3.3. DISPLAY INFORMATION 13

3.3.1. RUNAWAY DECO 14

3.4. AFTER THE DIVE 15

3.5. DIVING WITH MORE THAN ONE GAS MIXTURE 15

3.5.1. SETTING MORE THAN ONE GAS 15

3.5.2. SWITCHING GAS 16

3.5.3. SPECIAL SITUATIONS 16

3.5.3.1. SWITCHING BACK TO A GAS MIXTURE WITH
LOWER OXYGEN CONCENTRATION 16

3.5.3.2. SUBMERGING BELOW THE MOD AFTER A GAS
SWITCH 16

3.6. BOTTOM TIMER MODE BT 16

3.6.1. DIVE VIOLATION INDUCED BOTTOM TIMER MODE 17

4. TAKING CARE OF QUAD AIR 17

4.1. TECHNICAL INFORMATION 17

4.2. MAINTENANCE 17

4.2.1. REPLACING THE BATTERY IN QUAD AIR 17

4.3. WARRANTY 18

4.4. WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS 18

4.5. HOW TO FIND THE PRODUCT SERIAL NUMBER 18

5. DISPOSAL OF THE DEVICE 18

3

• 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. GLOSSARY

AIR:

Air dive

:

Symbolizes decompression stop violation.

:

Symbolizes uncontrolled ascent and uncontrolled ascent violation

ASC:

Total ascent time, the time it takes to perform the ascent from your current depth to the surface in a decompression dive,
including all decompression stops and assuming an ascent rate of 10m/min or 33ft/min.

ASC + 5:

The overall ascent time inclusive of all decompression stops if the dive is extended by 5 minutes at the current depth.

AVG:

Average depth, calculated from the beginning of the dive.

CNS:

Central Nervous System. CNS% is used to quantify toxic effects of oxygen.

DESAT:

Desaturation time. The time needed for the body to eliminate the nitrogen taken up during diving.

Gas integration:

The feature in Quad Air to include tank pressure information in its calculations and to display it on the computer screen.

Gas switching:

The act of changing from one breathing gas to another.

Max depth:

Maximum depth attained during the dive.

MOD:

Maximum Operating Depth. This is the depth at which the partial pressure of oxygen (ppO

2

) reaches the maximum allowed

level (ppO2max). Diving deeper than the MOD will expose the diver to unsafe ppO2 levels.

Multigas:

Refers to a dive in which more than one breathing gas is used (air and/or Nitrox).

Nitrox:

A breathing mix made of oxygen and nitrogen, with the oxygen concentration being 22% or higher.

NO FLY:

Minimum amount of time the diver should wait before taking a plane.

No deco time:

This is the time that you can stay at the current depth and still make a direct ascent to the surface without having to perform
mandatory decompression stops.

O

2

:

Oxygen.

O

2

%:

Oxygen concentration used by the computer in all calculations.

P Factor:

Personalization factors, which allow the user to select between the standard decompression algorithm (P0) and an
increasingly more conservative one (P1, P2).

Pairing:

The act of establishing a coded RF communication between Quad Air and a tank module.

ppO

2

:

Partial pressure of oxygen. This is the pressure of the oxygen in the breathing mix. It is a function of depth and oxygen
concentration. A ppO2 higher than 1.6bar is considered dangerous.

ppO

2

max:

The maximum allowed value for ppO2. Together with the oxygen concentration it defines the MOD.

Switch depth:

The depth at which the diver plans to switch to a higher oxygen concentration mix while using the multigas option.

S.I.:

Surface interval.

TTR:

Time To Reserve, it is the time that a diver can spend at the current depth and current breathing rate before reaching the
tank reserve.

• IMPORTANT WARNINGS

No part of this document may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form without the written permission of Mares S.p.A.

Mares adopts a policy of continuing improvement,
and therefore reserves the right to make changes
and enhancements to any of the products
described in this manual without notice.

Under no circumstances shall Mares be held
responsible for any loss or damage sustained
by third parties deriving from the use of this
instrument.



WARNING

A dive computer is an electronic
instrument and as such it is not immune
to failure. To protect yourself against the
unlikely event of a failure, in addition to the
dive computer, also use a depth gauge, a
submersible pressure gauge, a timer or
watch, and dive tables.



WARNING

Do not dive if the display appears unusual
or unclear.



WARNING

The dive computer must not be used in
conditions that preclude its use (e.g.: low
or no visibility, making it impossible to
read the gauge).



WARNING

The dive computer cannot ensure against
possible decompression sickness.

DISCLAIMER

This manual describes how to operate an
instrument and it describes the information
provided by the instrument during a dive.

Neither this manual nor the instrument are a
substitute for dive training, common sense and
good diving practices.

How the information provided by the
instrument is interpreted and put to use by
the diver is not the responsibility of Mares.
Read the manual carefully and make sure you
understand completely how the instrument
works and the information it provides during
a dive, including information on depth, time,
decompression obligations and all warnings
and alarms. Unless you fully understand how
the instrument works and the information
it displays and unless you accept full
responsibility for using this instrument, do not
dive with it.

Quad Air Dive Computer

4

1.2. OPERATING MODES

The functions of the Quad Air computer
can be grouped into three categories, each
corresponding to a specific mode of operation:

• surface mode: Quad Air is dry on the
surface. You can change settings, review
your logbook, use the dive planner, see
remaining desaturation after a dive,
download to PC and much more;

• dive mode: Quad Air monitors depth, time,
tank pressure, temperature and performs
all decompression calculations; dive
mode itself can be broken down into 4 sub
categories:

- pre-dive (Quad Air is on the surface but

actively monitoring ambient pressure, so
that it can begin to calculate a dive the
instant it is submerged below 1.2m/4ft);

- dive

- surfacing (Quad Air is on the surface at

the end of a dive; dive time calculation
is halted but if the diver submerges
within three minutes the dive is resumed
including the time spent on the surface);

- post-dive (after the three minutes of

surfacing mode, Quad Air closes the
logbook and reverts to a display showing
desaturation time, no-fly time and surface
interval; this lasts until the desaturation
and the no-fly time both have been
reduced to zero).

• sleep mode: the computer is on the
surface after 1 minute without operation
(3 minutes from pre-dive mode). Though
the computer appears to be turned off
completely, it is still active. Quad Air
computes tissue desaturation and checks
the ambient pressure once every 20
seconds for uninterrupted monitoring of the
environment.

1.3. USERREPLACEABLE BATTERY

Quad Air uses a CR2450 user-replaceable
battery. See section 4.2.1 for instructions on
how to replace it. Good quality batteries should
suffice for approx 100-150 dives, depending on
the usage of the backlight and the temperature
of the water. Diving in cold water, usage of the
backlight and of the beeper increases battery
consumption.

The display alerts you of the status of the
battery. The three possible situations are
described as follows:

- battery symbol not visible: the remaining
battery charge is adequate for diving;

- steady battery symbol on the display: there
is enough charge for a few more dives, but
you should consider replacing the battery at
the next opportunity;

- blinking battery symbol on the display
(surface only): the battery is too weak for
diving. Quad Air will not function as a dive
computer and will not turn on if submerged.

The level of the battery charge can also be
found on the “INFO” page (see section 2.6).

1.4. CONNECTING QUAD AIR TO A PC

OR MAC

To connect Quad Air to a PC or Macintosh
computer, use the optional clip and the USB
cable and Dive Organizer to download your
dives to a PC or Divers’ Diary to download your
dives to a Mac. Both software programs can be
downloaded from www.mares.com.

1.5. BUTTON OPERATION

Quad Air has 4 buttons, labelled UP, DOWN,
ESC and ENTER. On the surface, ENTER allows

you to enter a menu and confirm a setting, ESC
exits a menu and goes up one level, UP and
DOWN increase/decrease the value of a setting
or move to the next item in a list.

During the dive, there is no distinction between
left side and right side buttons, so that both
upper buttons become the UP button and both
lower buttons become the DOWN button. This
is called Specular Button Arrangement and
it simplifies the use of the computer. The UP
button modifies the top row (depth information)
whereas the DOWN button modifies the lower
right corner of the display. Press and hold the
UP button to activate the backlight.

An overview of the button function both in
surface mode and during a dive is presented in
the next figures.

5

SURFACE MODE

POST-DIVE

only when desat and no fly > 0

PRE-DIVE MODE SETTINGS

SET DIVE

SET TIME

STATISTICS

ADD

SURF INTERVAL

NO DECO

DECO

PC

READY TO CONNECT

SOFTWARE /

HARDWARE

VERSION

DIVE 1

DIVE 2

AIR

EAN

BOTTOM TIMER

LOGBOOK PLANNER PC INFO

ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTER ENTERESC ESC ESC ESC

ENTER ESC

ENTER ESC

ESC ESC

DIVE MODE

press

press and hold

NITROX ONLY NITROX ONLY IF DEEP STOP ON

NITROX ONLY NITROX ONLY NITROX ONLY

SPECULAR BUTTON ARRANGEMENT

SPECULAR BUTTON ARRANGEMENT

4s TIME OUT

Quad Air Dive Computer

6

1.6. MOUNTING AND PAIRING OF
THE TANK MODULE OPTIONAL

Quad Air can communicate with up to 3 tank
modules regarding tank pressure and gas
consumption information. Each tank module
needs to be mounted on a high pressure port
of a first stage regulator.

HP

HP

HP

HP

HP

HP

In order for Quad Air to display tank pressure
and gas consumption information, you must first
establish a channel of communication between
the tank module and Quad Air. This is called
pairing. This operation needs to be performed
only once and ensures a permanent and
interference-free link between the two devices.

NOTE

To perform the pairing operation, the tank
module must be pressurized to at least
15bar/220psi. Hence it must be mounted
on a first stage regulator, which is itself
mounted on a full scuba tank and the valve
opened.

To mount the tank module on the first stage
regulator, first remove the high pressure port
plug, then screw in the tank module gently by
hand until you feel a minimum of resistance,
then use a 19mm wrench to tighten it.

NOTE

- Do not force the tank module while
holding it by the plastic cap.

- Do not overtorque while using the
wrench: the o-ring seal is assured as
soon as you feel the first resistance. The
only reason for using a wrench to tighten
a bit more is to prevent the tank module
from unscrewing itself over time.

The Mares tank module communicates via radio
frequency with Quad Air. For best transmission,
we recommend positioning the tank module as
described in the next figures.

To pair the tank module with the Quad Air,
proceed as follows:

- Open the tank valve to pressurize the tank
module. You now have two minutes to

perform all steps listed below;

- Go into SET/SET DIVE/GAS INTEGR/
PAIRING.

- The display will show G1 in the lower right
corner and the word PAIR in the middle. The
top left corner shows the letters nP (Not
Paired) or P (Paired) to indicate the current
status of that channel. Use the UP and
DOWN buttons in case you are trying to pair
channel G2 or G3.

- Place Quad Air at about 15 cm / 6 inches
from the tank module as shown in figure 9.

HP

15

cm

- Press ENTER and wait until either OK or
NOT OK appear on the display.

In the first case you have successfully
established a connection, in the second you
need to repeat the operation, but you must

turn off the valve and depressurize the
first stage completely, then wait 5 minutes
before attempting again.

NOTE

- When diving with more than one gas
mixture, tanks G1, G2 and G3 must be
set to increasing oxygen levels. Refer
to section 3.5 for more information on
multigas diving.

- A tank module can only be paired to one
channel on one Quad Air. If you pair the
same tank module to a second channel
on the same Quad Air or to a second
Quad Air, the first one will be erased.

After a successful pairing of G1 to Quad Air, the
pre-dive display will show the tank pressure
in either bar or psi upon pressing and holding
the lower left button. If tank G1 has not been
paired, Quad Air will show nP instead of a
pressure value. If G1 has been paired but Quad
Air is not receiving any signal, it will show - - ­instead of a pressure value.

7

NOTE

- The Mares tank module has a range of
approximately 1.5m/5ft.

- The tank module remains on whenever
it senses a pressure above 15bar/220psi.
In order to maximize the life of the
battery, after a dive close the tank valve
and purge the second stage completely.

- If a tank module battery is weak, Quad
Air alerts you by blinking the battery
symbol together with G1 (or G2 or G3) in
the upper right corner.

Refer to the dedicated tank module manual for
information on how to replace the battery in
the tank module.

NOTE

- You do NOT need to repeat the pairing
procedure after a battery replacement in
the tank module.

- You do NOT need to repeat the pairing
procedure after a battery replacement in
Quad Air.

- You do NOT need to repeat the pairing
procedure after upgrading the firmware
in your Quad Air.

• 2. MENUS, SETTINGS AND
FUNCTIONS

This chapter describes in detail all menus,
setting and functions of the Quad Air dive
computer.

Quad Air always switches on in pre-dive mode.
From here, pressing the UP or DOWN button
allows you to scroll through the following
sequence of menus:

- MOdE: allows you to set the computer to air,
nitrox or bottom timer mode;

- SEt: allows you to view and change all
settings relative to the dive computer;

- LOG: allows you to access the detailed
history of the dives performed;

- PLAN: allows you to plan dives as a function
of depth based on your current nitrogen load;

- PC: allows you to download dives to a PC or
Mac

- INFO: allows you to view information about
software and hardware of your Quad Air.

The pre-dive mode puts the computer in a
ready-to-dive mode and ensures that Quad Air
starts to monitor the dive as soon as a depth
of 1.2m/4ft is reached. If you start the dive
without putting Quad Air into pre-dive mode,
it will start to monitor the dive automatically
but with a delay of up to 20 seconds from
immersion.

The pre-dive display shows p factor and
altitude settings, time of day, surface interval
since the last dive and tank pressure (when
available and upon having activated the

communication by pressing and holding the
lower left button). If Nitrox is set, it will show

the O

2

percentage and the corresponding MOD.

NOTE

- In order to preserve battery life, the tank
data is not automatically shown in pre­dive. You must press and hold the lower
left button to activate the communication.
Hence upon first entering into pre-dive,
the bottom left corner will show P 1s,
indicating that you must press the button
for 1 second before you can see the tank
pressure.

- If you remain in pre-dive for longer than 3
minutes without pressing any button, Quad
Air will switch off.

- It is recommended to put Quad Air into
pre-dive before submerging. Not doing
so can lead to a delay of up to 20s in
Quad Air monitoring the dive.

2.1. MOdE

Here you can define the type of gas you will be
breathing during the dive (air or enriched air
nitrox, including multigas). You can also set
Quad Air to bottom timer, in which case Quad
Air will show only time, depth, tank pressure
and temperature: it will not carry out any
decompression calculation and it will not show
any warnings and alarms.

Press the UP or DOWN button to scroll through
the three possible options (AIR, EAN or bottom

timer), then press the ENTER button to select it.

AIR is the equivalent of setting EAN to 21%

and a ppO2max of 1.4bar, but simplifies the
display a bit by not showing the CNS (its value
however is calculated in the background and if
needed the 75% warning and the 100% alarm
are triggered).

When selecting EAN, you are taken to
a submenu in which you can define the
percentage of oxygen in the mixture (%O

2

) and
the maximum value of oxygen partial pressure
(ppO2max) for up to three breathing mixes.
The maximum possible value for the ppO2max
is 1.6bar. Most training agencies recommend
not to exceed a value of 1.4bar. A “P” in the
upper left corner indicates that a tank module
has been paired to this channel (G1). Likewise,
“nP” would indicated that no pairing to a tank
module exists for this channel.

Once inside this menu, press the UP or DOWN
button to change the O2% and observe how
this affects the maximum operating depth
(MOD). Then press the ENTER button to move
on to the ppO

2

max and use the UP or DOWN
button to change the value, again noticing how
this affects the MOD. Press the ENTER button
again to save the setting.

This leads you to the G2 OFF screen. Press
ESC to exit the menu or go to section 3.5 to
read about diving with more than one gas.

Quad Air Dive Computer

8



WARNING

- Diving with Nitrox may only be
attempted by experienced divers after
proper training from an internationally
recognized agency.

- Before every dive and after changing
the tank, you must make sure that the
set oxygen concentration in Quad Air
corresponds to the oxygen concentration
in the tank. Setting the wrong oxygen
concentration can lead to serious injury
or death.

2.2. SEt

Quad Air’s SEt menu allows you to change
settings. Once inside this menu, press the
UP or DOWN button to scroll between two
submenus: SEt dIVE, where you can set
parameters pertaining to the dive, and SEt
tIME, where you can set parameters pertaining
to time and date.

Press the ENTER button to enter a menu, press
the UP or DOWN button to scroll up and down
between available options or to increase or
decrease the value of a setting. Then press the
ENTER button to confirm the change in setting.
Press the ESC button to go up one level in the
menu tree.

MENU Description

SEt dIVE

- LGHt

Allows you to set the duration
after which the backlight turns
off automatically. You can set
this between 1 and 10 seconds.

- P FACt

Allows you to choose between
the standard algorithm (P0)
and an increasingly more
conservative one (P1, P2).

- ALt

Allows you to set the algorithm
into altitude mode when diving
in mountain lakes.

- WAtR

Allows you to choose between
salt (1.025kg/l) and fresh
(1.000kg/l) water or EN13
(1.0197kg/l), corresponding
to the water density used in
European Norm 13319.

- UNItS

Allows you to choose between
metric (m, °C, bar) and
imperial (ft, °F, psi) units.

- GAS INT
EGR

Allows you to pair your Quad
Air with optional tank modules
and to define all parameters
concerning gas integration
(tank volume, half tank
pressure and tank reserve).

- FASt

Allows you to turn off the dive
violation due to uncontrolled
ascent. This is for dive
instructors only, who may
find themselves in such a
situation because of their
teaching requirements.

- DEEp

Allows you to activate or
deactivate the visualization of
deep stops.

- tEMp

Allows you to define whether
the temperature is displayed
in the top right or bottom
right corner of the display.

- ASC 5

Allows you to define whether
the projected ascent time is
displayed in the top right or
bottom right corner of the
display.

- ALRM

Allows you to turn on or off all
audible alarms of Quad Air.

- ErASE

Allows you to reset the
nitrogen saturation to zero,
thereby erasing the effects of
a previous dive. This is only for
people who plan to lend their
computer to another diver
who has not performed a dive
within the last 24hours.

- run AWAy
dECO

Allows you to set the runaway
deco alarm. Please refer to
section 3.3.1 for more details
on this.

SEt tIME

Allows you to set the time.

2.2.1. SEt dIVE

2.2.1.1. LGHt (BACKLIGHT)

Quad Air has a backlight which can be
activated in case of low ambient light. The
backlight is activated by pressing and holding
either of the upper buttons. During a dive, the
backlight will stay on for the duration defined
in this menu. You can choose between 1 and 10
seconds.

NOTE

- The backlight consumes battery energy:
the longer the backlight stays on, the
less your battery will last.

- If the low battery warning is activated,
the backlight will be disabled.

In surface mode, the backlight can be activated
by pressing and holding either of the upper
buttons. The backlight will stay on for 6
seconds, unless you go into any menu, in which
case it will stay on until you return to the pre­dive display or after one minute of no button
operation (at which point Quad Air turns off).

2.2.1.2. P FACt (P FACTOR)

Quad Air allows you to set an additional
personal safety factor for those circumstances
in which you want to be especially cautious,
such as after a long period of inactivity or
when planning a strenuous dive. In this
menu you can choose between the standard
algorithm (P0), a more conservative version
(P2) or an intermediate one (P1). On the pre­dive, post-dive, logbook and planner displays,

9

P1 is displayed with p+, P2 with p++ and P0 is
indicated by the absence of symbols.

NOTE

The choice of p factor will be reflected in
the dive planner.

2.2.1.3. ALt (ALTITUDE)

Atmospheric pressure is a function of altitude
and of weather conditions. This is an important
aspect to consider for diving, because the
atmospheric pressure surrounding you has an
influence on uptake and subsequent release
of nitrogen. Above a certain altitude, the
decompression algorithm has to change in
order to account for the effect of the change
in atmospheric pressure. When diving in a
mountain lake, find out what the altitude is and
choose the altitude range in Quad Air within
the four available options:

- A0: from sea level to approximately
700m/2300ft;

- A1: from approximately 700m/2300ft to
approximately 1500m/4900ft ;

- A2: from approximately 1500m/4900ft to
approximately 2400m/7900ft;

- A3: from approximately 2400m/7900ft to
approximately 3700m/12100ft;

- We do not recommend diving at altitudes
above 3700m / 12100ft. If you do, set Quad
Air to bottom timer and find appropriate
altitude dive tables.

On the pre-dive, post-dive, logbook and
planner displays, A1 through A3 are indicated
with the mountain symbol filled with 1, 2 or 3
segments while A0 is indicated by the absence
of symbols.



WARNING

Diving in mountain lakes without first
setting Quad Air to the proper altitude
setting can cause severe injury or death.

2.2.1.4. WAtR (WATER)

You can set the computer for FRSH water, SALt
water or EN13 calibration, depending on where
you intend to dive. Setting the wrong water

type entails an error in depth measurement of
1-3% (e.g. at a depth of 30m/100ft, a computer
set to salt water will show 29m/97ft in fresh
water whereas a computer set to fresh water
will show 31m/103ft in salt water). Note that
this does not affect the proper functioning of
the computer, since the computer performs all
of the calculations based purely on pressure
measurements.

2.2.1.5. UNItS

You can choose between metric (depth in
meters, temperature in °C, tank pressure
in bar) and imperial units. (depth in feet,
temperature in °F, tank pressure in psi).

2.2.1.6. GAS INTEGR (GAS INTEGRATION)

This menu contains six submenus. The first
one allows you to pair the tank modules to
Quad Air. Please refer to section 1.6 for the
description of the pairing process.

The second menu, tANK VOLM, allows you
to set the size of the volume of the tank,
individually for G1, G2 and G3. This parameter
is important for a correct evaluation of your
gas consumption in l/min or cu ft /min. Default
setting is 12l for metric system and 80 cubic
feet in imperial. For the imperial setting it
is paramount that you also set the correct
operating tank pressure, since the size of the
tank is referenced to this pressure.

The third menu, OP. tANK PRSS is where you
define the nominal fill pressure of your tanks.
This can be set individually for each tank (G1,
G2 or G3). When the units are set to ft/°F/psi,
this value is important because together with
the tank volume it allows Quad Air to correctly
evaluate your gas consumption in cu ft/min.
Default values are 200bar and 3000psi.

The fourth menu, tANK WARN, is the value at
which Quad Air triggers a half tank warning.
This can be set individually for each tank (G1,

G2 or G3). Default values are 100bar and 1500
psi.

The fifth menu, tANK RSRV, is the value
at which an alarm is triggered because
you should always be at the surface before
reaching this level. Furthermore, this value is
used to calculate the TTR value (see section

3.2.5 and 3.3). This can be set individually for
each tank (G1, G2 or G3). Default values are
50bar and 750psi.

The sixth and last menu is called AUtOZErO
RSt and it allows you to set the ambient
pressure reading on the tank module in the
unlikely event of a drift of the zero value. You
would perform this operation if you noticed a
significant difference between the read-out of
Quad Air and a calibrated pressure gauge also
connected to the same first stage.

Due to the potential of introducing an error in
the tank module measurement, please contact

Quad Air Dive Computer

10

your Mares Authorized Service Center before
performing this operation.

2.2.1.7. FASt (FAST ASCENT)

A fast (uncontrolled) ascent is defined as one in
which a speed of 12 m/min / 40ft/min or higher
was maintained over more than two thirds
of the way up. This applies to dives deeper
than 12m/40ft only. In such an event, due to
the potential of harmful bubble formation,
Quad Air locks the computer for 24hours in
order to discourage you from diving again. In
this menu, you have the option to disable the
locking up of the computer in the event of an
uncontrolled ascent.



WARNING

- An uncontrolled ascent increases your
risk of decompression sickness (DCS)

- This feature is intended for very
experienced divers only, such as dive
instructors, who take full responsibility
for the consequences of turning off this
function.

2.2.1.8. ALRM (ALARMS)

In this menu you can disable audible alarms.



WARNING

Disabling audible alarms can lead you into
potentially dangerous situation and could
result in serious injury or death.

2.2.1.9. ErASE (ERASE DESATURATION)

Quad Air allows you to reset the desaturation
in the computer. Any tissue saturation
information from a recent dive will be reset to
zero and the computer treats the next dive as
a non-repetitive dive. This is useful when the
computer is loaned to another diver who has
not dived in the last 24hours.



WARNING

Diving after having reset the desaturation
is extremely dangerous and is very likely to
cause serious injury or death. Do not reset
the desaturation unless you have a valid
reason to do so.

In order to prevent accidental desaturation
reset, you must enter the security code once
you decide to proceed with the reset. The
security code is 1234.

After entering the security code you will get a
confirmation of the successful completion of
the operation.

2.2.1.10. run AWAy dECO

In this menu you can define the runaway
deco alarm. The possible settings are OFF,
10, 15 and 20. Refer to section 3.3.1 for more
information.

2.2.2. SEt tIME

This menu allows you to set the time and date.
Press the ENTER button and 24h or ampm will
start to blink. Press the UP or DOWN button
to switch between the two and/or press the
ENTER button to confirm and move on to set
the hour, the minutes and the date.

2.3. LOG LOGBOOK

Quad Air can record the profiles of
approximately 35hours of diving, at a sampling
rate of 5 seconds. The information can be
transferred using the optional USB clip to PC
via the Dive Organizer software or to a Mac via
the Divers’ Diary software. In addition, Quad
Air can show most of the information directly
on the display.

When you first enter the logbook menu, you
will see a summary of all dives performed to
date. In particular, the maximum depth ever
reached, the total number of dives, the total
number of hours spent underwater and the
coldest water temperature recorded.

From here, press the UP or DOWN button to
scroll through all dives in the memory of the
computer. Each dive has two or more pages
of data. Page 1 has maximum depth of the
dive in the upper left corner while minimum

11

temperature and average depth alternate
every 2s in the upper right corner. The dive
time is displayed in its usual location, next to it
there is a sequential dive counter (1 being the
most recent dive) followed by alternating time
in and time out information. In the bottom left
corner is the date of the dive and next to it the
oxygen concentration of G1.

Press ENTER to view the next page of the
dive log, which shows the surface interval
prior to the dive instead of the dive time, the
tank pressure (alternating starting, ending
and differential value every 2s) and CNS
(alternating between start and end value) in
the bottom row. In case more than one gas was
used in the dive, there is an additional page for
G2 and G3, if applicable.

Press the UP or DOWN button to scroll
between the pages of information, press the
ESC button to return to the list of the main
logbook menu.

2.4. PLAN DIVE PLANNER

This function allows you to plan your next
dive. Upon entering this menu, the display lists

the settings used for the calculation: P Factor
and Altitude selections. The middle row shows
a surface interval of 0:00: in case you dived
recently, you can enter an additional surface
interval between now and when you intend to
dive by pushing the UP button; the residual
nitrogen load will be adapted accordingly. Next
press the ENTER button to enter the actual
dive plan: Quad Air displays a depth and the
corresponding no deco time.

In the bottom row it lists the oxygen
concentration of G1. Use the UP and DOWN
buttons to increase/decrease the depth in 3m
/ 10ft increments (limited to the MOD of G1)
and view the related no deco time. Press the
ENTER button to enter deco planning: Quad Air
will add one minute to the no deco time and
show the corresponding deco obligation. Now
use the UP and DOWN buttons to modify the
dive time and view how this affects the deco
calculation. Press the ESC button to return
to the no deco dive planner. From here either
choose a different depth and repeat a deco
plan or press the ESC button to exit the dive
planner.

NOTE

The dive planner is enabled only if either
air or nitrox mode is set

2.5. PC

This submenu allows you to download
your dive data to a PC or Mac. Press the

ENTER button and the display will show PC
ready, symbolizing that Quad Air is ready to

communicate.

2.6. INFO

This submenu provides information about the
hardware and software of your Quad Air and
about the status of the battery: OK means the
battery is good, LOW means the battery is
weak but you can still do a few more dives, and
KO means the battery is very low and Quad Air
won’t function as a dive computer.

• 3. DIVING WITH QUAD AIR

3.1. A FEW WORDS ABOUT NITROX

Nitrox is the term used to describe breathing
gases made of oxygen-nitrogen mixes with
an oxygen percentage higher than 21% (air).
Because Nitrox contains less nitrogen than
air, there is less nitrogen loading on the
diver’s body at the same depth as compared to
breathing air.

However, the increase in oxygen concentration
in Nitrox implies an increase in oxygen partial
pressure in the breathing mix at the same
depth. At higher than atmospheric partial
pressures, oxygen can have toxic effects on the
human body. These can be lumped into two
categories:

- Sudden effects due to oxygen partial
pressure over 1.4bar. These are not related
to the length of the exposure to high partial
pressure oxygen, and can vary in terms
of the exact level of partial pressure they

Quad Air Dive Computer

12

happen at. It is commonly accepted that
partial pressures up to 1.4bar are tolerable,
and several training agencies advocate
maximum oxygen partial pressures up to

1.6bar.

- Long exposure effects to oxygen partial
pressures over 0.5bar due to repeated and/
or long dives. These can affect the central
nervous system, cause damage to lungs or
to other vital organs.

Quad Air keeps you safe with respect to these
two effects in the following ways (as long as it
is set to either air or nitrox):

• Against sudden effects: Quad Air has
an MOD alarm set for a user-defined
ppO2max. As you enter the oxygen
concentration for the dive, Quad Air shows
you the corresponding MOD for the defined
ppO2max. The default value of ppO2max
from the factory is 1.4bar. This can be
adjusted to your preference between 1.2 and

1.6bar. Please refer to section 2.1 for more
information on how to change this setting. If
Quad Air is set to air, the ppO2max is set to

1.4bar by default.

• Against long exposure effects: Quad Air
“tracks” the exposure by means of the
CNS% (Central Nervous System). At levels
of 100% and higher there is risk of long
exposure effects, and consequently Quad
Air will activate an alarm when this level of
CNS% is reached. Quad Air also warns you
when the CNS level reaches 75%. Note that
the CNS% is independent of the value of
ppO2max set by the user.

3.2. ALARMS

Quad Air can alert you of potentially dangerous
situations. There are six different alarms:

- Ascent rate alarm;

- Exceeding a safe ppO

2

/MOD;

- CNS =100%;

- Missed decompression stop;

- Low tank pressure;

- Low battery during the dive



WARNING

When in bottom timer mode, all warnings
and all alarms are OFF aside for the low
battery alarm and tank reserve alarm.

NOTE

- Alarms are both visual and audible, as
described in detail below.

- Ascent rate alarm has priority over
other alarms if they are triggered
simultaneously.

3.2.1. ASCENT RATE

As soon as depth decreases by more than
80cm / 3ft Quad Air activates the ascent rate
control algorithm and displays the calculated
value. This is shown in lieu of the dive time.



WARNING

A rapid ascent increases the risk of
decompression sickness.

If Quad Air determines an ascent rate of 10m/
min / 30ft/min or higher, the fast ascent alarm
is triggered: an audible alarm goes off and
SLOW appears blinking on the display. This

persists until the ascent rate is reduced to
10m/min / 30ft/min or less.

If the ascent rate exceeds 12m/min / 40ft/min
at a depth below 12m / 40ft,

blinks as well.
If a speed in excess of 12m/min / 40ft/min is
maintained for two thirds or more of the depth
at which the alarm was first triggered, Quad
Air considers it a dive violation and the display

will show the steady

.

In this case, if the diver attempts a repetitive
dive after surfacing, Quad Air will only function
as a depth gauge and timer (bottom timer

mode), and will display

on the screen

throughout the dive.

3.2.2. MOD/ppO

2



WARNING

- The MOD should not be exceeded.
Disregarding the alarm can lead to
serious injury or death.

- Exceeding a ppO

2

of 1.6bar can lead to
sudden convulsions resulting in serious
injury or death.

When the diver reaches a depth at which the
ppO

2

of the inspired gas exceeds the maximum

limit entered in the corresponding setting (from

1.2 to 1.6bar), an audible alarm goes off, the
current depth starts to blink and the value of the
MOD is shown to the right of the current depth,
also blinking.

The alarm persists until the diver has
ascended enough for the ppO

2

to return within

the set limit.



WARNING

When the

MOD

alarm is triggered, ascend
immediately until the alarm stops. Failure to
do so could result in serious injury or death

.

3.2.3. CNS = 100%



WARNING

When the CNS reaches 100% there is
danger of oxygen toxicity. Start procedure
to terminate the dive.

Oxygen toxicity exposure is tracked on Quad
Air by means of the CNS% based on currently
accepted recommendations for exposure limits.
This toxicity is expressed as a percentage value
which ranges from 0% to 100%. When the value
reaches 75%, an alarm goes off and the CNS
value blinks on the screen. Additionally the
CNS becomes the default item in the lower
right corner: if you call up other information
after 8 seconds the CNS appears again. Ascend
to shallower depth to decrease oxygen loading
and consider terminating the dive.

When the oxygen toxicity level reaches 100%
the alarm is repeated for 5 seconds in one­minute intervals after the first occurrence
and for as long as the value of CNS stays at
or above 100%. Consider terminating the dive
immediately!



WARNING

Diving with oxygen toxicity at levels of 75%
or greater may put you into a potentially
hazardous situation, which could result in
serious injury or death.

13

3.2.4. MISSED DECOMPRESSION STOP



WARNING

Violating a mandatory decompression
obligation may result in serious injury or
death.

If you ascend above the decompression stop
depth by more than 0.3m (1ft), a downward
pointing triangle appears, an audible alarm
goes off and both the current depth and the
depth of the deco stop start blinking. This
alarm remains active until you return to the
correct depth.



WARNING

- When the missed deco stop alarm is
triggered, desaturation of the simulated
tissue compartments is halted and
resumes only when the diver returns to
the correct stop depth.

- Never ascend above the displayed
decompression stop depth.

3.2.4.1. MISSED DECO STOP MODE

If the stop depth is exceeded by more than 1m
(3ft) for more than three minutes, Quad Air
considers it a dive violation and the display will

show

.

In this case, if the diver attempts a repetitive dive
after surfacing, Quad Air will function only as a
depth gauge and timer (bottom timer mode), and

it will display

on the screen.

3.2.5. LOW TANK PRESSURE IF OPTIONAL
TANK MODULE IS USED

When Quad Air is used in conjunction with
a tank module, you will not only have tank
pressure information clearly visible on the
display, but also an estimate of the time you
can still spend at the depth you are at, based
on the current gas consumption, before
reaching the tank reserve. This is called TTR –
Time To Reserve.

When during a decompression dive Quad Air
calculates a TTR which is inferior to the total

ascent time, the TTR value starts to blink and
an audible alarm goes off. Press any button to
acknowledge the alarm and it will turn off. We
strongly suggest initiating an ascent when this
situation arises, in order to avoid running out of
breathing gas during the decompression stop.

Additionally, when the tank pressure reaches
the value specified under tANK RSRV, the tank
pressure starts to blink and an audible alarm
goes off. Press any button to acknowledge the
alarm and silence it, though the tank pressure
will continue to blink.

NOTE

For metric setting only: if the tank reserve
is set to a value below 50bar, the alarm
will go off at 50bar and the value defined
as tank reserve will be used for TTR
calculation only.

Quad Air features also a half tank alarm, which
goes off when the pressure defined in the
tANK WARN menu is reached. The pressure
will blink and an audible alarm goes off: press
any button to acknowledge the alarm and to
turn it off.

NOTE

If you set the tANK WARN value to the
same value as tANK RSRV, you will
eliminate the half tank alarm.

3.2.6. LOW BATTERY

If Quad Air detects that the battery power level
is safe for diving but without much reserve left,
it will show the steady battery symbol on the
display.

3.3. DISPLAY INFORMATION

Upon immersion, if Quad Air was set to pre­dive, it will immediately start monitoring the
dive. Otherwise, it will turn on automatically
within 20 seconds of having reached a depth of

1.2m/4ft.

The following information is shown:

- current depth

- temperature

- no deco time (or depth and duration of
deepest stop and total ascent time in case of
decompression dives)

- dive time

- tank pressure

- TTR

- nitrogen saturation bar graph

By pressing either of the upper buttons, you
can modify the information displayed in the
upper row. At each button press, the screen
cycles through temperature, max depth,
average depth, MOD (nitrox only), deep stop (if
activated and if calculated to be present), and
an empty field.

By pressing either of the lower buttons,
you can modify the information displayed in
the bottom row. At each button press, the
screen cycles through time to reserve, gas

Quad Air Dive Computer

14

consumption, oxygen percentage, CNS, ppO

2

,

ASC+5 (projected ascent time, see section

3.3.1) and time of day (in lieu of decompression
information; the latter has a 4-second time out
after which the decompression information is
displayed again).

NOTE

The position on the display of the
temperature and the projected ascent time
can be customized in the SEt DIVE menu.

In case of an ascent, the speed in m/min or ft/
min is displayed in lieu of the dive time.

The depth is given in 10cm resolution until

99.9 meters, after which it is given in 1m
resolution. When the depth is displayed in
feet, the resolution is always 1 foot. At a depth
shallower than 1.2m/4ft, the display shows ---.
Maximum possible depth is 150m/492ft.

The dive time is displayed in minutes. If during
the dive you ascend to the surface, the time
spent on the surface will only be counted
if you descend again below 1.2m/4ft within
3 minutes. This allows for brief periods of
orientation. While on the surface, the time will
not show as progressing but it is running in
the background. As soon as you submerge, the
time will resume, including the time spent on
the surface.

The no deco time is calculated in real time and
updated continuously. Maximum displayed no
deco time is 99 minutes. If you remain at depth
beyond a no deco time of zero minutes, you will
enter into decompression: you can no longer
make a direct ascent to the surface and Quad
Air displays a MANDATORY decompression
stop. Instead of a no deco time, it shows you
the depth and duration of the deepest stop and
the total ascent time (ASC), which includes
each decompression stop and the time
required to travel the vertical distance to the
surface at a rate of 10m/min / 33ft/min. ASC
does not include the duration of deep stops.

DEEP, DECO and SAFETY stops:

- DEEP stops are generated as you approach
the no deco limit. You can either have one
2-minute stop or two 1-minute stops. DEEP
stops are NOT mandatory. Deep stops are
displayed to the right of the current depth.

Upon reaching the optimum range for

carrying out a deep stop (+/- 1m /3ft of the
displayed depth), the deep stop itself will
be shown in the top right corner with the
label DEEP blinking, and a countdown timer
appears to indicate the progress of the stop.

Deep stops can be deactivated in a dedicated

settings menu.

- DECO stops are generated progressively
as you stay down beyond the no deco time.
DECO stops are MANDATORY. For DECO
stops, since the duration is a function of the
exact depth, only the minutes are shown.
During a decompression stop, the following
symbols may appear:

: optimal range for the decompression

stop;

: above decompression stop depth,

descend immediately!

- A SAFETY stop is generated as soon as the
depth of the dive exceeds 10m / 33ft. It has
a duration of 3 minutes and it is carried
out between depths of 6m / 20ft and 3m /
10ft at the end of a dive prior to surfacing.
Such stop is NOT mandatory but HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED.



WARNING

During all dives, perform a safety stop
between 3 and 6 meters/10 and 20 feet for
3 minutes, even if no decompression stop
is required.

The tank pressure is based on the signal from
the tank module. The tank module has a range
of 1.5m/5ft.



WARNING

- If Quad Air receives no signal from
the tank module for 45 seconds, the
pressure value is replaced by ---. Check
the position of Quad Air with respect to
the tank module. Start ascending if you
don’t get a tank pressure reading unless
you have a spare pressure gauge.

- If the tank pressure reaches
15bar/220psi, the tank module will turn
off and Quad Air will not show tank
pressure any longer.

The TTR (time to reserve) is the time you can
spend at the current depth breathing at the
current rate before reaching the user defined
tank reserve.

NOTE

Quad Air needs approximately 2 minutes
to analyze your breathing pattern, thus the
TTR is not displayed at the very beginning
of the dive.

The nitrogen bar graph is on the left side of
the display. It represents nitrogen saturation
in the leading tissue compartment. The bar
graph is made of ten segments, which gradually
fill during the dive. The more black segments
you see, the closer to the no deco limits you
are. As you enter a situation of mandatory
decompression stop, all segments will be black.

During a surface interval, the segments will
gradually turn off as Quad Air tracks the
offgassing of your tissues.

Ascent rate: in presence of a depth change in
excess of 80cm / 3ft, Quad Air calculates the
corresponding ascent speed and displays in
place of the dive time, for the duration of the
ascent.

3.3.1. RUNAWAY DECO

In case of a decompression dive, the DOWN
(or UP, if changed by the user) sequence also
features ASC+5. The value shown represents
the total ascent time if you were to remain at
the current depth for an additional 5 minutes.
This is very useful since it allows you to
estimate how your decompression will be
affected by remaining at the current depth a
while longer.

It is also very useful because, as the slower
tissues start accumulating nitrogen, you
could find yourself in a situation in which
the decompression time grows very quickly,
so much so that you may find yourself with
insufficient gas to finish the dive.

15

NOTE

Associated to a large difference between
the current ASC and the ASC+5 value,
Quad Air will alert you with the RUNAWAY
DECO warning: since the ASC+5 calculation
runs in the background and is continuously
updated, Quad Air monitors this value and,
if it is calculated to be greater than 10
minutes beyond the current ASC, Quad Air
will trigger the alarm with the ASC+5 value
blinking and blinking in the
middle row. Press any button to
acknowledge the alarm and turn it off.

NOTE

The trigger point of the RUNAWAY DECO
alarm can be set to 10, 15, 20 or it can
be turned OFF. As an example, if you set
RUNAWAY DECO to 15, the alarm will be
triggered when the difference between
the current ASC and the predicted one 5
minutes later is 15 minutes or greater.

3.4. AFTER THE DIVE

Upon returning to the surface, Quad Air first
goes into the so-called surfacing mode. This
mode allows you to resume your dive after a
brief period of orientation. The screen shows a
3-minute countdown.

If you submerge again before the 3-minute
countdown is over, the dive time will resume
from where it left off, including the time spent
on the surface. If you do not submerge before
the end of the countdown, Quad Air considers
the dive finished, records the data to the
logbook and reverts to the so-called post-dive
mode.

The post-dive screen shows two sets of
information, alternating in 4s intervals. One
contains:

- The remaining desaturation time (DESAT):
this is calculated by the decompression
model in the computer. Any dive started
while there is remaining desaturation on
your computer is considered a repetitive
dive, meaning that Quad Air accounts for the

pre-existing nitrogen load in your body.

- The no-fly time (NO FLY): this is the time
during which an exposure to the reduced
pressure inside the cabin of an airplane
could cause decompression sickness. Quad
Air employs, as recommended by NOAA,
DAN and other agencies, a standard 12-hour
(no-deco non-repetitive dives) or 24-hour
(deco and/or repetitive dives) countdown.
Hence you may find a situation in which
the desaturation time is shorter than the
no-fly time. This is simply the consequence
of the desaturation time being calculated
by the algorithm based on the actual dive
profile, while the no-fly time is an accepted
standard in the diving industry. Since the
real effect of flying after diving has never
been fully investigated, this approach fits
with our philosophy.



WARNING

Flying while Quad Air displays NO FLY can
result in serious injury or death.

- The surface interval (S.I.): this is displayed
from the moment the dive is closed (3
minutes after surfacing) for as long as there
is remaining desaturation or no-fly time on
the computer.

- In case of a dive violation, the corresponding
symbol (

, ) is shown.

The other contains a condensed log of the
last dive: maximum and average depth in the
top row, dive time in the middle row to the
left, final tank pressure and set O2% in the
bottom row. In addition, the bar graph shows
the calculated nitrogen load in the leading
tissue. You can use this to gauge your progress
in getting rid of nitrogen as the surface
interval grows. Quad Air continues to perform
decompression-related calculations (nitrogen
release), for as long as there is desaturation
time left.

3.5. DIVING WITH MORE THAN ONE
GAS MIXTURE



WARNING

- Diving with more than one gas mixture
represents a much higher risk than
diving with a single gas mixture, and
mistakes by the diver may lead to
serious injury or death.

- During dives with more than one gas
mixture, always make sure you are
breathing from the tank that you intend
to breathe from. Breathing from a high
oxygen concentration mix at the wrong
depth can kill you instantly.

- Mark all your regulators and tanks so
that you cannot confuse them under any
circumstance.

- Before each dive and after changing
a tank, ensure that each gas mixture
is set to the correct value for the
corresponding tank.

Quad Air enables you to use up to three gas
mixtures during the dive (air and Nitrox
only). The three mixtures are labeled G1, G2
and G3 and must be in ascending order of
oxygen content, i.e. G1 has the lowest oxygen
concentration, G2 an intermediate value, and
G3 has the highest oxygen concentration of the
three. If you are diving with only two mixtures,
you will be utilizing tanks G1 and G2.



WARNING

It is not possible to switch to a gas at a
depth at which the oxygen partial pressure
for that gas is greater than the set
maximum value.

NOTE

- If you dive using just one gas, select G1
and deselect the other two.

- For dives with two gases, select G1 and
G2 and deselect the third.

- When enabling G2 and G3, you must first
define G2 and then G3.

- You cannot activate G3 without first
having activated G2.

- G2 cannot have an oxygen percentage
higher than G3.

- If you set G2 to OFF, G3 will
automatically be set to OFF also.

- The MOD for G2 and G3 is the switch
depth for the corresponding gas. This is
what Quad Air uses for its calculation,
alarms and suggested switch points.

3.5.1. SETTING MORE THAN ONE GAS

The characteristics of the gases must be
entered in the computer before the dive. It will
then be your responsibility to tell Quad Air
which gas is currently being used during the
various phases of the dive.

To use multiple gases, you will need to enable
the gases and set the oxygen percentage and
the ppO

2

max for each one. This is done in the
same way as for G1, with the difference that
for G2 and G3 you can turn a gas ON or OFF.
Keep in mind that the MOD for G2 and G3 is
the depth at which Quad Air will prompt you
to perform the gas switch (see section 3.5.2
below). To enable G2 press the UP button from

Quad Air Dive Computer

16

the G2 OFF display. You will now see G2 ON, a
value of oxygen concentration, ppO2 and MOD.
Proceed as you would for G1 until you get to the
G3 OFF screen. Either press ESC if you have
finished setting gases, or press the

UP

button
to advance to the G3 ON display and setting of
G3. As already seen for G1, a “P” or an “

nP

” on
the display indicates whether a pairing to a tank
module exists or not for that channel.

3.5.2. SWITCHING GAS

Quad Air always begins the dive with G1,
which has the lowest percentage of oxygen.
When during the ascent you reach the depth
corresponding to the MOD of G2, Quad Air
sounds an audible signal and the oxygen
concentration of G1 together with the word
switch start to blink in the lower right corner.

Press either of the lower buttons while this
indication is blinking to initiate the gas switch:
the oxygen percentage of G2 starts to blink in
lieu of that of G1, and in the top right corner the
MOD of G2 is displayed, also blinking.

Press and hold either of the lower buttons
to confirm the switch to G2: the set oxygen
concentration will be displayed steadily in the
lower right corner of the screen, and within
20 seconds the ascent time is updated to
reflect the higher oxygen concentration in the
breathing gas.

If you press either of the lower buttons while
G2 is blinking, the next available gas in the list
will be displayed instead. This will be G1 if only
two gases are set or if you are deeper than the
MOD of G3, or G3 if you have set three gases
and are shallower than the MOD of G3.

NOTE

- Quad Air will allow the change only if
the depth is shallower than the MOD
corresponding to the set ppO2max.

- Quad Air will not allow the gas switch if
you are deeper.

- The automatic blinking of the oxygen
concentration of G1 lasts only for 20
seconds. You can however initiate the
gas switch at any time by pressing and
holding either of the lower buttons when
the oxygen concentration is displayed in
the lower right corner, then switch to G2
as long as your depth allows the gas to
be activated.

- The same process is repeated when
you approach the MOD for G3 with G2
blinking instead of G1

- If you have set G1, G2 and G3 and have not
switched from G1 to G2, once you reach
the MOD for G3 the oxygen concentration
of G1 will again blink to alert you of the
possibility of switching gas.

3.5.3. SPECIAL SITUATIONS

3.5.3.1. SWITCHING BACK TO A GAS MIXTURE
WITH LOWER OXYGEN CONCENTRATION

There may be situations in which you have
to switch back to a gas with lower oxygen
concentration than what you are currently
breathing. This can happen for instance if you
want to descend deeper than the MOD for the

current gas, or if for instance you have run out
of gas in G2 during the decompression. To do
so, simply press either of the lower buttons
until the oxygen concentration is displayed in
the lower right corner, then press and hold
either of the lower buttons to initiate the gas
switch. From here on the procedure is the
same as described in 3.5.2.

3.5.3.2. SUBMERGING BELOW THE MOD
AFTER A GAS SWITCH

If after having switched to a gas mixture with a
higher oxygen concentration you inadvertently
drop again below the MOD for that mixture,
the MOD alarm will immediately go off. Either
switch back to a gas mixture suited for that
depth, or ascend above the MOD for the gas
mixture you are breathing from.

3.6. BOTTOM TIMER MODE BT

When Quad Air is set to BT mode, it will
only monitor depth, time, tank pressure
and temperature, and will not carry out
any decompression calculation. Maximum
displayed dive time in gauge mode is 99
minutes. You can only switch to bottom
timer mode if the computer is completely
desaturated. All audible and visual alarms,
other than the low battery alarm and tank
reserve, are turned off.



WARNING

Dives in bottom timer mode are performed
at your own risk. After a dive in bottom timer
mode you must wait at least 24hours before
diving using a decompression computer.

During a dive in bottom timer mode, the
following information is displayed:

- current depth

- temperature

- stopwatch

- dive time

- tank pressure

- TTR

- in case of an ascent: ascent speed
(in m/min or ft/min).

Press either of the upper buttons to toggle
between max depth, average depth,
temperature and an empty field. Press either
of the lower buttons to bring up the time of day
in lieu of the dive time (the display reverts back
to dive time after 4 seconds) If more than one
tank module has been paired, the lower button
sequence includes also the active tank module
(

, or ).

When this is displayed, press and hold either
of the lower buttons to start the manual gas
switching sequence. Since there is no MOD

17

associated to any tank module this can be done
at any depth.
From any other display, pressing and holding
either of the lower buttons restarts the
stopwatch.

If also the average depth is displayed, pressing
and holding either of the lower buttons resets
also the average depth.

3.6.1. DIVE VIOLATION INDUCED BOTTOM
TIMER MODE

The following violations can occur during an
Air or Nitrox dive:

- Uncontrolled ascent.

- Missed deco stop.
In case of a violation, Quad Air will restrict the
use of Air and Nitrox mode for 24hours, and
will only allow operation in bottom timer mode.

• 4. TAKING CARE OF QUAD AIR

4.1. TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Pressure gauge function
The pressure gauge integrated in the Quad Air

dive computer has been tested and CE certified
by RINA, notified body 0474, located in Genova,
Italy.

The pressure gauge is a Category III device as
defined under European Directive 89/686/ CEE,
and complies with the specifications set out in
the harmonized European Standard EN250 for
use with air compliant with Standard EN 12021
(oxygen content of 21%).

The EC certification process and verification
of the operating performance of the pressure
gauge in the Quad Air dive computer under
standards EN250 are understood to be
applicable to a maximum depth of 50 m below
the surface.

The Quad Air dive computer can be used in
cold water (water at temperatures below
10°C).

Marking
The instrument markings are located on the

tank module, and consist of the following:

• working pressure rating: 300 bar / 4,350 psi;

• reference standard: EN250;

• reference marking: CE 0474.
The conformity marking indicates compliance
with the essential health and safety
requirements as per attachment II D. and
89/686/EEC. The number alongside CE
identifies RINA, notified body 0474, located in
Genova, Italy, authorized to inspect the finished
product under art. 11 B D.e. 89/686/CEE.

Operating altitude:

- with decompression – sea level to
approximately 3700m/12100ft

- without decompression (gauge mode) – at
any altitude

Decompression model: RGBM Mares-Wienke
(10 tissues)

Depth measurement:

- Max displayed depth: 150m/492ft

- Resolution: 0.1m until 99.9m and 1m at
depth deeper than 100m. Resolution in ft is
always 1ft

- Temperature compensation of the
measurement between -10 °C to +50 °C /
14°F to 122 °F

- Accuracy from 0 to 80m/262ft: 1% ±0.2m/1ft

Temperature measurement:

- Measurement range: -10 °C to +50 °C /
14°F to 122 °F

- Resolution: 1 °C / 1 °F

- Accuracy: ± 2 °C / ± 4 °F

Clock: quartz clock, time, date, dive time
display up to 99 minutes

Oxygen concentration: adjustable between
21% and 99%, ppO

2

max range between 1.2 and

1.6bar

Logbook memory: 35hours of dive profile at
5-second sampling rate

Operating temperature: -10 °C to +50 °C /
14°F to 122 °F

Storage temperature: -20 to 70 °C / -4 to 158°F
Display:

- Diagonal: 70 mm / 2 3/4”

- Mineral glass

Power supply:

• Quad Air:

- CR2450 user-replaceable battery

- battery life: 100-150 dives. Actual battery
duration depends on the usage of the
backlight and the water temperature.

4.2. MAINTENANCE

The tank pressure gauge and the parts of this
product used to measure tank pressure should
be serviced by an authorized Mares dealer
every other year or after 200 dives (whichever
comes first). In addition, the depth accuracy
should be verified by an authorized Mares
dealer every two years Aside from that, Quad
Air is virtually maintenance free. All you need
to do is rinse it carefully with fresh water after
each dive (avoid any chemical products) and
replace the battery when needed. To avoid
possible problems with your Quad Air, the
following recommendations will help assure
years of trouble free service:

- avoid dropping or jarring your Quad Air;

- do not expose Quad Air to intense, direct
sunlight;

- do not store Quad Air in a sealed container,
always ensure free ventilation.

NOTE

If you notice signs of moisture on the inner
wall of the mineral glass, take your Quad
Air immediately to an authorized Mares
service center.



WARNING

The mineral glass is not exempt from
scratches resulting from improper use.



WARNING

Do not blow compressed air onto Quad
Air, because it could damage the pressure
sensor area.

4.2.1. REPLACING THE BATTERY IN QUAD AIR

Replacing the battery is a delicate operation,
and requires close attention. We suggest that
you visit an authorized Mares center. Mares
declines all responsibility for any damage
caused by replacing the battery.

NOTE

Do not discard the old battery in the
environment. Mares adopts a policy of respect
for the environment, and urges use of the
appropriate separated waste collection
service.



WARNING

Inspect the O-ring carefully, checking for
any signs of damage, tearing or warping. If
necessary, replace it with a new O-ring.

Unscrew the cover of the battery vane by using
a coin that best fits into the slot. Remove the
cover, remove the battery and insert the new
battery paying close attention to the polarity.
Check the o-ring and if needed replace it. Put
the cover back in place and turn clockwise
while pressing down until it’s tight, without
forcing too much.

NOTE

The battery compartment is sealed from the
electronics, so that in case of a flooding of
the battery compartment the dive computer
is unharmed. In such event, you will need to
rinse the compartment with fresh water, dry
it thoroughly, replace the o-ring and put in a
new battery.

Quad Air Dive Computer

18



WARNING

Mares reserves the right to refuse to
provide service under the warranty if the
maintenance instructions are not followed.

4.3. WARRANTY

Mares products are guaranteed for a period of
two years subject to the following limitations
and conditions:

The warranty is non-transferable and applies
strictly to the original purchaser.

Mares products are warranted free from
defects in materials and workmanship:
components that, upon technical inspection,
are found to be defective, will be replaced free
of charge.

Mares S.p.A. declines all responsibility
for accidents of any kind that result from
tampering or incorrect use of its products.

Any products returned for overhaul or repairs
under warranty, or for any other reason, must
be forwarded exclusively via the vendor and
accompanied with a proof of purchase slip.
Products travel at the risk of the sender.

4.4. WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS

Damage caused by water seepage resulting
from improper use (e.g. dirty seal, battery
compartment closed incorrectly, etc.).

Rupture or scratching of the case, glass or
strap as a result of violent impact or blows.

Damage resulting from excessive exposure to
elevated or low temperatures.

Damage caused by the use of compressed air
to clean the dive computer.

4.5. HOW TO FIND THE PRODUCT
SERIAL NUMBER

To see the product serial number, enter the
INFO submenu.

• 5. DISPOSAL OF THE DEVICE

Dispose of this device as electronic waste. Do
not throw it away with regular rubbish.

If you prefer, you can return the device to your
local Mares dealer.

19

Mares S.p.A. - Salita Bonsen, 4 - 16035 Rapallo (Ge) - ITALY - Tel. [phone] - Fax [phone]

www.mares.com

code 44201264 - 0.000- 02/17 - Artbook 11451/15

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