If you've been holding off on committing to a dive computer because your rebreather setup felt like an afterthought in most product lines, this update is for you. Suunto has just rolled out a significant software update to the Suunto Nautic, and the headline feature is one technical divers have been asking for since launch: a dedicated Suunto Nautic CCR mode.
This isn't a minor firmware tweak. It's a genuine expansion of what the Nautic can do underwater, built specifically for divers running closed circuit rebreathers who want their dive computer working with them, not just tolerating the setup.
What is Suunto Nautic CCR mode?
Suunto Nautic CCR mode is a new dive mode that lets you track CCR dives even while another dive computer is actively controlling your rebreather unit. In practice, that means the Nautic becomes a proper companion display for your CCR dive rather than a computer running in a workaround setting.
The mode takes clear inspiration from the CCR experience on Suunto's EON range, with adaptations made specifically for gas setup and bailout switching. It's worth being precise about what this update does and doesn't do: Suunto Nautic CCR mode is not designed to act as a backup controller for your rebreather. It's a tracking and monitoring layer, giving you a clearer, more complete picture of your CCR dive than relying on algorithm-off mode ever could.
For divers who've previously had to make do with generic settings to log a CCR dive on Nautic, this is a meaningful step up — and it puts Nautic on stronger footing against other computers competing for the technical diving market.
What's new in this update
The update brings a genuine list of features rather than a single toggle. Here's what's included:
- New dedicated CCR dive mode
- Ability to add CCR diluent and bailout gases
- Maximum allowed gases increased from 5 to 8
- CCR setpoint setting, with both automatic and manual options
- Heart rate belt pairing for additional dive data
- Support for starting a dive with a Trimix gas mix under 18% for the active gas, in both CCR and Multigas modes
That last point matters more than it might first appear. Being able to start a dive on a leaner Trimix blend in CCR and Multigas modes gives technical divers more flexibility in how they configure gases for deeper or more complex dives, without fighting the computer's default assumptions.
CCR functions during the dive
Once you're underwater, the new mode isn't just passively logging data — it's actively supporting how you manage your CCR dive in real time. During-dive functionality includes:
- Automatic or manual setpoint changes, so you can switch on the fly or let the computer manage it
- Setpoint alarms, keeping you alerted if something drifts outside your planned range
- New CCR switch window elements, giving a clearer view of your current gas and setpoint status
- A new bailout TTS (time-to-surface) switch window item, so bailout planning is visible exactly when you need it
- CCR-specific items added to your dive summary, meaning your post-dive review actually reflects what you did on a rebreather dive, not a generic open-circuit log
This is where the update earns its keep. A dive computer that only logs data after the fact is useful; one that actively surfaces setpoint alarms and bailout information mid-dive is doing real work for your safety margin.
Who this update is really for
It would be easy to assume this is a niche update that only matters to a small slice of divers, but it's worth being clear-eyed about where it sits. The Suunto Nautic remains, first and foremost, a computer built for the full range of divers — from those working through their early certifications to seasoned wreck and reef explorers relying on its AMOLED display, wireless tank pressure monitoring and up to 120 hours of battery life. CCR mode doesn't change any of that.
What it does is close a gap for a specific group:
- Technical divers already running a rebreather who want a proper companion display, not a workaround
- CCR divers currently using algorithm-off mode who want their Nautic to actually reflect their dive
- Anyone considering Nautic as a long-term computer who wants confidence it will grow with their diving, from open water through to more advanced configurations
If you're a recreational diver reading this and wondering whether it's relevant to you: not directly, but it's a useful signal. It shows Suunto is actively developing the Nautic platform well beyond its initial launch feature set, which is exactly what you want from a computer you're planning to rely on for years.
How to get the update
The CCR mode update is delivered as a software update through the Suunto app, the same way Nautic normally receives new features and improvements. If you already own a Nautic, there's no new hardware required — this is a case of your existing computer simply doing more than it could before.
If you're new to the Nautic and considering it specifically for CCR diving, this update should make that decision easier. You're not buying into a computer that treats rebreather diving as an edge case; you're buying into one that's actively being built out to support it properly.
As always, if you're planning to switch to CCR diving on a Nautic for the first time, or you're unsure how the new setpoint and bailout gas settings apply to your specific rebreather setup, our team is happy to talk it through. You can reach us at support@mikesdivestore.com, book a video consultation, or come and see us in the Chiswick store.
FAQs
Does Suunto Nautic CCR mode replace my rebreather's primary controller?
No. Suunto Nautic CCR mode is explicitly not intended as a backup controller. It's designed to track and display your CCR dive while another computer controls the rebreather unit.
Do I need new hardware to get CCR mode on my Nautic?
No. This is a software update delivered through the Suunto app to existing Suunto Nautic units.
How many gases can I set up with the new update?
The update increases the maximum number of allowed gases from 5 to 8, including CCR diluent and bailout gases.
Can I switch setpoints manually during a dive?
Yes. The update supports both automatic and manual setpoint changes, along with setpoint alarms.
Is this update relevant to recreational divers?
Not directly — it's aimed at technical divers running CCR setups. Recreational divers using Nautic will still benefit from its existing dive computer features, such as the AMOLED display, wireless tank pressure monitoring and decompression planning.
Key Takeaways
Suunto Nautic CCR mode is a new software update adding dedicated CCR dive tracking to the Nautic
It supports diluent and bailout gases, with maximum gases increased from 5 to 8
Setpoint control is available in both automatic and manual modes, with alarms
New in-dive features include CCR switch window elements and a bailout TTS switch window item
CCR-specific data now appears in your dive summary
It also adds heart rate belt pairing and support for starting dives on under-18% Trimix in CCR and Multigas modes
It is not designed as a backup controller — it's a tracking and monitoring layer alongside your existing CCR setup
The update is delivered free via the Suunto app to existing Nautic owners
Author
Kasia
Our content and marketing assistant with a diver's eye for detail. Hooked since her first dive in 2023 and now a PADI Divemaster based in the Philippines, she splits her time between cruising reefs with thresher sharks and making sure our blogs and products help divers of all levels make the right choices. Always first in line to test new gear.
