Back in the day, tables were how everyone dived. Today, most divers wear a personal dive computer and for good reason.
Your computer monitors depth, bottom time, ascent rate, and NDL in real time. Dive tables are a fixed calculation. If you move between depths during a dive, a computer adjusts. Tables don't.
Wrist computers are the most common go for now. They're compact, readable underwater, and you can use them as a daily watch between dives. Console models are still around but not as many divers choose them now.
Entry-level computers start around $300-odd and do everything a look at this recreational diver needs. They give you depth tracking, dive time, NDL, dive logging, and sometimes a simple apnea mode. Mid-range adds wireless air monitoring, better displays, and more gas modes.
Something buyers forget is conservatism settings. Some algorithms are more conservative than others. A conservative computer results in less bottom time. More aggressive ones give more time but with less margin. Neither is wrong. It just personal preference and experience level.
Talk to people at a dive shop who dives with various models before buying. They'll give you real-world feedback on which ones hold up versus what's just marketing. Most good dive stores have gear reviews and comparisons online too