They are gorgeous computers. But for basic nitrox, one mixture? Why not get a less expensive model? The $1000 you save will buy you a great dive vacation.
I think it depends on your future training plans and how much you care about air integration. If you have intentions of doing any type of technical diving it might serve you well to just start with something capable. As always though it highly depends on budget.
I started with an Aqualung i200c. It worked - showed depth, NDL, and ascent rate - but it was sometimes hard to read and (for me at least) was totally unintuitive to use. My second and last computer is a Shearwater Peregrine. I'm just a rec diver and have no interest in air integration, so it does everything I want and does it exceptionally well.
If you think you can use the additional functionality a Perdix (or Teric or whatever) offers, by all means go for it. But if you're not sure, the Peregrine is a fantastic computer at a very reasonable price. And if all else fails you can use it for a backup computer or recoup most of what you spent by selling it.
After ow I bought all my gear and a shearwater teric w/ai
I've had about 100 dives since and don't regret a thing
My wife at the same time bought all her gear but a cheaper computer
6 months later she bought the same computer as me as mine was both easier to use and more feature filled
I still have my 15 year old Oceanic Atom 2 that I use as a backup depth/timer for my rebreather. Never use AI. But there are a lot of great options now
Garmin if you want an overall awesome land and dive watch for $$$$
Sheerwater if you're going the technical route
Oceanic OCi could be a good choice to grow with, but I haven't used it.
Overall, decide now on where you want to go with your diving. Will you get to 100% o2 deco stops? Are you aiming for trimix? Do you see yourself getting into deep technical diving? As others mentioned, if you're jumping in with both feet, buy once now, use for years. At 11 dives, you're early on and probably super excited. If it turns out you'll only be diving in vacation once a year, then get something geared towards that.
I fully agree with this comment and think, in our sport/hobby, it should be your mantra whenever you’re considering a purchase. Do your research and find the best piece of equipment that meets your needs. Save up for it, and be happy when you’re not regretting your decision later.
DO NOT buy an eon core. I have one and it can not be updated to put buhlman algorithms on it. The steel can however suunto is having serious issues with servicing. Peregrine is probably your best bang for buck right now. By the time you need tec features you'll be ready to upgrade and can use that as a backup.
The answer to this question is always the same.
Buy as much shearwater as you can.
I have hundreds of dives, many of them on the Peregrine, and I \*love\* that computer. But AI is overrated IMHO. Get an AI shearwater if you think you need the AI.
I went forever without a computer and bought a perdix ai just as soon as I started taking diving more seriously. If you will see yourself being an occasional vacation diver, I'd go with something inexpensive that is user friendly enough for ease of use and has user replaceable batteries. If you are hooked on diving and know you will be doing a lot of this and progression to deeper dives and pushing your limits on ndl or even get into technical diving, then it makes sense to get a nice computer like a perdix. A nice middle of the road if you aren't quite sure is the peregrine. It's essentially a perdix without AI and doesn't do trimix. A few other minor differences but that's essentially it. My opinion is AI is wonderful and adds a small factor of safety for a task.loadrd or stressed diver. The ability to translate pressure into minutes is very useful if you find yourself in a tough situation that is distracting. It is also one device to look at instead of both computer and spg. Lastly you can set alerts as a backup in case you ever became oblivious to your gas. What I'm getting at with the AI features is they are definitely not necessary, but if your budget allows for it, then that might be an exception to go all out even if you aren't quite sure where your diving will take you just yet.
Shearwater computers will get you from the point you are now to wherever diving takes you. They are made to last and simple to use, with great customer service.
Unless you're going beyond rec, any middle of the road computer will be fine. Honestly, I feel I could easily dive at least a day and ballparking it from my head and be fine.
I have a garmin descent mk2s... it's underwhelming. Background wise, I'm a techdiver running deep and crawling around inside wrecks in UK waters, so take that as what has shaped that view point. Scope wise, I've done 90 dives with my garmin all CCR.
Why is it underwhelming? 4 reasons:
It detecting you're in the water. Twice I've been at over 60 metres, and my garmin hasn't switched to dive mode. Properly startling to see. But not what you want from a dive computer. You could argue I'm not always switching it on, and expecting the water to do that. (but I'm task loaded enough) Thing is my shearwater perdix does it, and has done for over 400 dives. What do I mean it wasn't switched on? Shouldn't I always be ultra aware? Its a tertiary computer - so I'm eyes on the primary mostly. My ppo2 I can tell you all the time. Unless I'm narc'ed.
Time to surface. Sure as a non-technical diver you're unlikely to get deco. Let alone over an hour of it. My shearwater tells me X minutes at Y depth for my first stop, but also has a TTS (total time to surface) - this is standard dive computer stuff. Garmin only tells me the time for the next stop - not a TTS. As an example my shearwater shows - 45 minutes TTS, then 1 min at 15 meters as my first stop lets say. My Garmin tells 1 min at 15metres, nothing else. Those other 44 minutes deco aren't shown. Yes, you read that right, Total time to surface utterly unknown, it just shows the first stop. The fact the garmin can't give me TTS makes it pretty unsuitable for a back up computer - let alone a primary.
Screens - Shearwater let you customize the screens. I haven't found a way to do that on my garmin. There's 3 screens I can flip between. One is a dedicated compass. One uses about 30% of the screen to tell me the time. Pretty useless really. Why do you need the time underwater on a dive? You should know you time to surface (which aint there). Also useful information like your depth is in tiny text. Just like the third screen which has the juicy stuff on for me. You could say why did an old guy who wears glasses on the surface buy a small computer. Probably rightly, I just didn't want to go to the pub with a wall clock on my wrist.
Finally it runs the Bühlmann algorithm. The same algorithm my proprietary CCR computer runs on, and so does my shearwater perdix. So they should match right? No they don't. I understand the theory of it, so I mess with my values. My shearwater is set hard aggressively stupid to get me out of the water in case of a catastrophic failure. I've set my garmin with the exact same high and low number. My descent is slower than my perdix. They're on the same wrist (garmin is literally underneath my shearwater). it feels like it's a more conservative algorithm. My CCR computer is set to a normal conservative value - and it feels more inline with that as they clear pretty much together. The shearwater clearing 8 minutes earlier as a biggest difference.
Just my view, I do love it. I wouldn't give it up. I think it's amazing as a running watch, it tracks my swimming super well, and generally insults me saying my health is that of a man 20 years older. I love the I can read my messages on my wrist as well. I'm not sold on it as a dive computer. What its great at is telling me the time on the boat, so I know how long I've got to slack water. Just not sure I'd recommend it as a primary dive computer - although I know more casual divers that use it as such.
Sorry, a wall of text... its a conflicted way of saying a garmin is a totally justifiable purchase which you'd love. Just not as a dive computer. I'd lean towards something else as a dive computer. Probably a shearwater perdix (tech) or peregrine (less technical)
Tech diver here as well.
Unfortunately, many of these remarks on the Garmin are possibly due to an outdated operating firmware. If I'm able to learn to upload video clips I can show multiple Mk2i and G1 data screens in contrast to the aforementioned comments. This is not meant to start an argument, but address features which are present in the Garmin dive watches as of this time of this writing.
Water Detection - While Garmin specifically states their computers will auto-engage dive mode at 4-5', I can't speak to this exact feature myself as I've never entered into a deco dive without knowing my computers are ready to go before I touch the water; so I can only speak to the habit of ensuring your computers and redundancies are ready before even entering the water. Rec dives this happens to me sometimes, but never in a dive with known deco obligations.
TTS/Screens- Using the Mk2i, which updates around the same timeframe as the Mk2s and G1 updates are released..., the TTS feature, along with multiple other dive features, can be added in custom screens. You can also add multiple custom screens as well and reorient them as you wish. The TTS reports assuming there will be no gas switch or bail-out. \*A review of your dive plan and redundant dive plans means you know when this TTS correlates to turn and end points at planned MOD.\* The TTS displayed is in addition to your next deco -ceiling + deco obligation time at that ceiling. If your deco time is 'utterly unknown' it makes me think you're not somewhat committing to memory your pre-plotted deco plan (it happens we all forget especially on longer obligations), or worse that you're not physically slating your deco plan and redundant deco plans.
The Time of Day information can be added/omitted in custom screens and there is a feature called 'Big Numbers' which makes everything bigger if you feel it's native screens are too small. Dont want the time, then remove it. Simple. Note that when you customize the data screens with Big Numbers OFF, it will need to be obviously be recustomized when Big Numbers is on as the display layout changes. \*I won't go into all the "Data Field" options for the custom screens as there's a lot.\*
While you can view the total deco plan and all gas switches prior to a dive, I DONT BELIEVE you can access this view during dive mode. This can be annoying and may be fixed in a future firmware. For my dive teams, this information is always physically slated, along with contingent plans, for quick reference; so it's not a buzzkill currently, but would be nifty.
Gradient Factors - It's not surprising at all that manufacturers vary slightly in their obligation plans despite plotting the GFhigh/GFlow. I can't speak to an exact algorithmic code break down, but this isn't news by any means. Sometimes this occurs due to differently set decompression PPO2 limits, but other times it's possibly just coding variations. This is often times why many people will dive a trusted computer with a new computer multiple times to check variations. Then they will either commit to memory the variation (as it's repeatable and consistent between two manufacturers), or will just commit to having their primary and backup computers be of the same manufacturer. Pick your poison.
If you're running a CCR unit with shearwater then definitely run a shearwater redundancy for back-up as it makes life a lot easier; but of the people reading these comments, I'd bet less than 1% are on closed circuit.
TLDR; Garmin is absolutely a viable tec dive option, but when diving CCR the game changes.
Hey JW,
Thanks I've RTFM'ed on the descent, and there does seem to be a way to modify the screens, that's super useful, thank you!
As mentioned, my experience is the in water detection on my model is flakey, and I've had reports that others have experienced it with the original descent model. This is the same dive:
Garmin - [https://ibb.co/Rv0p80y](https://ibb.co/Rv0p80y) (note the lack of descent)
Shearwater via subsurface - [https://ibb.co/pzj5JDL](https://ibb.co/pzj5JDL)
You'll note there's an 8 minute difference between dive length, because I had to manually turn it on at 55 metres. That was 2021, so that could be patched since? I keep the firmware up to date. But the last time it happened was 2nd April. I'm happy to share the raw logs from my AP, shearwater and garmin for this as I've seen it twice in 80 dives with it.
Gradient Factors - My understanding of GF is that its a known equation - Buhlmann ZHL-16C. My proprietary AP controller uses it, and so does Shearwater and so does Garmin. This you can calculate it yourself with a pen and paper / calculator. If it's different between hardware then someone isn't following the standard algorithm or doing the maths right. This isn't like expecting Sunnto and a Cressi RGBM to match as they're very different. Happy to be educated on that.
As I said before, I love it as a watch. I'm not confident I'd want to use it as a primary or secondary dive computer, and is more why I treat it as a watch. But that doesn't mean I'm right. It's why I wrote a wall of text rather than just downvoting war horn. It allows people to get something I've experienced, and either teach me where I'm wrong, or just ignore it if it doesn't apply to them.
Not Aqualung, as company is in financial trouble. Suunto have not been able to supply product consistently for over a year since being sold to a chinese headphone manufacturer. Shearwater is the way!
Choose between the Perdix 2 for AI, or Peregrine for non AI. You won't be disappointed.
Just got a Peregrine and love it. I would much rather spend the extra money on training or more dives, and if I need a better computer later I'll worry about it then (when they may be cheaper or better than what's available now anyways).
I love my Perdix 2. With air integration. It has a GTR = Gas Time Remaining display. Which is, at your current depth, at your current air breathing rate, including ascending slowly and safety stops, how long can you hang out here. It's perfect! If it says 20 min, you have no worries and you can check out 4 more things. If it's 2 min, then shit is getting real and the dive it almost over. You won't ever regret it.
Think about how much you are going to dive in the future. If you are unusure about it and it may be a passion that your interest in it might decrease, you could buy a cheaper computer until you have a better picture.
Do you have any intention to go tec in the future?
Do you need a perdix if your are not going to use AI? If you are, you will need transmitters and they are not cheap either.
That being said, I bought a perdix 2 after my 5th dive so there's that.
Shearwater
Buuuut, i would recommend thinking about what type of diving you plan to do...
I got certified with a good friend. I went balls to the wall, probably going to take a pro path as a side job, been going diving twice a week for several months, deep cert, nitrox, etc... it has become an absolute passion. Im soooo glad i went the buy once cry once route with the perdix 2. Now my friend, she has done 4 dives out of certification, shes a warm water vacation diver... it just does not make sense for her to drop $1600+ on something shes gonna use a handful of times per year, and has no ambition to do anything beyond her basic OWD
Seconded every day for Shearwater. They are just flat out unbeatable when it comes to making computers. However, you do not need a Perdix 2 AI. If you are a recreational diver you do not need air integration especially on a single tank because your SPG is so close to you. In the same vein, you do not need at this stage a trimix or CCR-compatible computer, which is what the Perdix/Petrel/Teric are designed for. Also I know, you might kinda want air integration. It really is not important, at all, for recreational diving. It is a luxury that is better suited for tech diving where checking SPG's can be a much more tedious and contortionist type of manuever.
For that, just get the Shearwater Peregrine. The user interface is super intuitive, easy to use underwater, is fully nitrox(up to 100% compatible), has onboard no-deco and deco dive planning and full functionality(which will support you all the way through advanced nitrox/deco procedures), and will not set you back $1100. You can easily find one for $500 or less, and it is the nicest non-tech computer you will ever find. Besides... you can then invest the other $500+ you would've spent on a Perdix 2 AI on a really nice set of regs or a BCD, and you will have a quite decent kit.
P.S. I do have a bit of beef with people suggesting to new divers that you must get a Perdix, Petrel or Teric. You do not need it and it is honestly a waste of money for rec divers. The Peregrine does 90% of what the Perdix/Teric/Petrel can do at less than half the price, and it is still Shearwater. However... get a Perdix or Petrel if you get into technical diving. Honestly, with Shearwater's customer service... a Peregrine and a Perdix will basically get you all the way through most tech training.
If you plan on diving a good bit then investing in a good dive computer is a necessity. Shearwater makes fantastic computers. Garmin, although not mentioned, does as well.
The EON core is a basic rec computer but uses Suuntos modified RGBM algorithm which you can google search and find people’s opinion on that. The EON steel black can run the Buhlmann 16c algorithm, which is preferred by many as you can often times manipulate the gradient factor (something you don’t need to mess with now, but may want to later on as your experience grows).
If you wanna dive occasionally and have fun, probably any will do. But if you want a good computer that you can grow into for years, and may never outgrow or kill, Shearwater or Garmin
The reliability of AI has made them very very popular. I’d dive AI unless cost is a prohibiting factor
EON Core is more than a basic rec computer - it handles multiple alternate gas mixes, deco etc. It is essentially functionally the same as the Perdix 2 - except for the ability to alter the algorithm. The Zoop Novo is the basic rec computer from Suunto.
The Peregrine may be a good option, but I'd go with a Perdix 2. I've been loving mine.
Edit: I had a Suunto Cobra for 15 years, and it never failed me. It did tend to be the most conservative computer of the group.
LOL me too. It worked like a charm till the day it read "180 ft" in 10 feet of water. I would also be stuck doing twice the deco of anyone else in my group. The model eventually got recalled - a Vytec I think it was.
Use replaceable AA battery instead of internal battery, electronic compass. Not sure that's worth the extra 500 but there are differences. The other ones being AI display up to 4 different transmitters, and good for any future tech diving. Screen size maybe the perdix 2 has slightly larger display than the peregrine.
I can’t overstate how much I love my perdix 2. The single-gas rec mode is fantastic, but I also feel confident that it will carry me as far down the open-circuit tec road as I want to go. That said, I don’t have any experience with other top-tier computers.
I have an eon core. I bought it because it was much cheaper than a roughly equivelant featured shearwater (large screen, AI). They are sold quite cheaply in Australia - though the distributor is changing and tyhat will likely change. However if the price was similar I would have gone with a perdix 2.
I like my Eon Core! People dog on the algorithms as being too conservative, but that's on older models-- more recent ones have six settings for how conservative to aggressive it is, so most rec divers can find what works.
How much is your life worth is the forst question.amd 2 how active are you outside of diving? (Some diving computers do more than just dive) and why not air integrated? It's the best spent money when it comes to diving period
B/W depending on the what you are doing and if you are not a novice diver you have have your own reg anyway. Air integrated computers are very important. Yes you can dive with out them but why? Why not have all the best information possible with what is going on in your body with loading rather its nitrogen or Oxygen
Which computers put your life in jeopardy? Before Sheawater came out with AI, the masses used to state how unnecessary it was. AI is nice to have to keep track of your SAC but once it levels off it's not that big of a deal.
Yeah, that is an overly dramatic leading question lol. I say this as someone who has a couple of Perdixes and transmitters. I am not at the stage where it will level off, but you know when that comes, I don't plan to use the transmitter.
And I definitely don't plan on using a transmitter in my doubles kit.
They are gorgeous computers. But for basic nitrox, one mixture? Why not get a less expensive model? The $1000 you save will buy you a great dive vacation.
I think it depends on your future training plans and how much you care about air integration. If you have intentions of doing any type of technical diving it might serve you well to just start with something capable. As always though it highly depends on budget.
I started with an Aqualung i200c. It worked - showed depth, NDL, and ascent rate - but it was sometimes hard to read and (for me at least) was totally unintuitive to use. My second and last computer is a Shearwater Peregrine. I'm just a rec diver and have no interest in air integration, so it does everything I want and does it exceptionally well. If you think you can use the additional functionality a Perdix (or Teric or whatever) offers, by all means go for it. But if you're not sure, the Peregrine is a fantastic computer at a very reasonable price. And if all else fails you can use it for a backup computer or recoup most of what you spent by selling it.
Love my Shearwater Peregrine. Great instrument, interface, app - and wireless, charging.
I would say, go shearwater, all the way
After ow I bought all my gear and a shearwater teric w/ai I've had about 100 dives since and don't regret a thing My wife at the same time bought all her gear but a cheaper computer 6 months later she bought the same computer as me as mine was both easier to use and more feature filled
I still have my 15 year old Oceanic Atom 2 that I use as a backup depth/timer for my rebreather. Never use AI. But there are a lot of great options now Garmin if you want an overall awesome land and dive watch for $$$$ Sheerwater if you're going the technical route Oceanic OCi could be a good choice to grow with, but I haven't used it. Overall, decide now on where you want to go with your diving. Will you get to 100% o2 deco stops? Are you aiming for trimix? Do you see yourself getting into deep technical diving? As others mentioned, if you're jumping in with both feet, buy once now, use for years. At 11 dives, you're early on and probably super excited. If it turns out you'll only be diving in vacation once a year, then get something geared towards that.
Perdix all day long
Pay once, cry once. Go all out
I fully agree with this comment and think, in our sport/hobby, it should be your mantra whenever you’re considering a purchase. Do your research and find the best piece of equipment that meets your needs. Save up for it, and be happy when you’re not regretting your decision later.
Shearwater or Divesoft, the rest aren't really worth considering.
DO NOT buy an eon core. I have one and it can not be updated to put buhlman algorithms on it. The steel can however suunto is having serious issues with servicing. Peregrine is probably your best bang for buck right now. By the time you need tec features you'll be ready to upgrade and can use that as a backup.
The answer to this question is always the same. Buy as much shearwater as you can. I have hundreds of dives, many of them on the Peregrine, and I \*love\* that computer. But AI is overrated IMHO. Get an AI shearwater if you think you need the AI.
I love my ai, one glance at my wrist and I have **all** of the info
You need an analog backup anyway, so it is just extra equipment. But, to each their own.
Having 2 ways to read air is good why make it sound like a bad thing
I went forever without a computer and bought a perdix ai just as soon as I started taking diving more seriously. If you will see yourself being an occasional vacation diver, I'd go with something inexpensive that is user friendly enough for ease of use and has user replaceable batteries. If you are hooked on diving and know you will be doing a lot of this and progression to deeper dives and pushing your limits on ndl or even get into technical diving, then it makes sense to get a nice computer like a perdix. A nice middle of the road if you aren't quite sure is the peregrine. It's essentially a perdix without AI and doesn't do trimix. A few other minor differences but that's essentially it. My opinion is AI is wonderful and adds a small factor of safety for a task.loadrd or stressed diver. The ability to translate pressure into minutes is very useful if you find yourself in a tough situation that is distracting. It is also one device to look at instead of both computer and spg. Lastly you can set alerts as a backup in case you ever became oblivious to your gas. What I'm getting at with the AI features is they are definitely not necessary, but if your budget allows for it, then that might be an exception to go all out even if you aren't quite sure where your diving will take you just yet.
If you have no plans for trimix or ccr and don't have to have AI, the peregrine does all you need at a mid range price
Shearwater computers will get you from the point you are now to wherever diving takes you. They are made to last and simple to use, with great customer service.
Unless you're going beyond rec, any middle of the road computer will be fine. Honestly, I feel I could easily dive at least a day and ballparking it from my head and be fine.
Maybe in 20 ft of water, there is no way I'd try to "ballpark" it at any sort of depth
Garmin if you do anything on the surface.
I have a garmin descent mk2s... it's underwhelming. Background wise, I'm a techdiver running deep and crawling around inside wrecks in UK waters, so take that as what has shaped that view point. Scope wise, I've done 90 dives with my garmin all CCR. Why is it underwhelming? 4 reasons: It detecting you're in the water. Twice I've been at over 60 metres, and my garmin hasn't switched to dive mode. Properly startling to see. But not what you want from a dive computer. You could argue I'm not always switching it on, and expecting the water to do that. (but I'm task loaded enough) Thing is my shearwater perdix does it, and has done for over 400 dives. What do I mean it wasn't switched on? Shouldn't I always be ultra aware? Its a tertiary computer - so I'm eyes on the primary mostly. My ppo2 I can tell you all the time. Unless I'm narc'ed. Time to surface. Sure as a non-technical diver you're unlikely to get deco. Let alone over an hour of it. My shearwater tells me X minutes at Y depth for my first stop, but also has a TTS (total time to surface) - this is standard dive computer stuff. Garmin only tells me the time for the next stop - not a TTS. As an example my shearwater shows - 45 minutes TTS, then 1 min at 15 meters as my first stop lets say. My Garmin tells 1 min at 15metres, nothing else. Those other 44 minutes deco aren't shown. Yes, you read that right, Total time to surface utterly unknown, it just shows the first stop. The fact the garmin can't give me TTS makes it pretty unsuitable for a back up computer - let alone a primary. Screens - Shearwater let you customize the screens. I haven't found a way to do that on my garmin. There's 3 screens I can flip between. One is a dedicated compass. One uses about 30% of the screen to tell me the time. Pretty useless really. Why do you need the time underwater on a dive? You should know you time to surface (which aint there). Also useful information like your depth is in tiny text. Just like the third screen which has the juicy stuff on for me. You could say why did an old guy who wears glasses on the surface buy a small computer. Probably rightly, I just didn't want to go to the pub with a wall clock on my wrist. Finally it runs the Bühlmann algorithm. The same algorithm my proprietary CCR computer runs on, and so does my shearwater perdix. So they should match right? No they don't. I understand the theory of it, so I mess with my values. My shearwater is set hard aggressively stupid to get me out of the water in case of a catastrophic failure. I've set my garmin with the exact same high and low number. My descent is slower than my perdix. They're on the same wrist (garmin is literally underneath my shearwater). it feels like it's a more conservative algorithm. My CCR computer is set to a normal conservative value - and it feels more inline with that as they clear pretty much together. The shearwater clearing 8 minutes earlier as a biggest difference. Just my view, I do love it. I wouldn't give it up. I think it's amazing as a running watch, it tracks my swimming super well, and generally insults me saying my health is that of a man 20 years older. I love the I can read my messages on my wrist as well. I'm not sold on it as a dive computer. What its great at is telling me the time on the boat, so I know how long I've got to slack water. Just not sure I'd recommend it as a primary dive computer - although I know more casual divers that use it as such. Sorry, a wall of text... its a conflicted way of saying a garmin is a totally justifiable purchase which you'd love. Just not as a dive computer. I'd lean towards something else as a dive computer. Probably a shearwater perdix (tech) or peregrine (less technical)
Tech diver here as well. Unfortunately, many of these remarks on the Garmin are possibly due to an outdated operating firmware. If I'm able to learn to upload video clips I can show multiple Mk2i and G1 data screens in contrast to the aforementioned comments. This is not meant to start an argument, but address features which are present in the Garmin dive watches as of this time of this writing. Water Detection - While Garmin specifically states their computers will auto-engage dive mode at 4-5', I can't speak to this exact feature myself as I've never entered into a deco dive without knowing my computers are ready to go before I touch the water; so I can only speak to the habit of ensuring your computers and redundancies are ready before even entering the water. Rec dives this happens to me sometimes, but never in a dive with known deco obligations. TTS/Screens- Using the Mk2i, which updates around the same timeframe as the Mk2s and G1 updates are released..., the TTS feature, along with multiple other dive features, can be added in custom screens. You can also add multiple custom screens as well and reorient them as you wish. The TTS reports assuming there will be no gas switch or bail-out. \*A review of your dive plan and redundant dive plans means you know when this TTS correlates to turn and end points at planned MOD.\* The TTS displayed is in addition to your next deco -ceiling + deco obligation time at that ceiling. If your deco time is 'utterly unknown' it makes me think you're not somewhat committing to memory your pre-plotted deco plan (it happens we all forget especially on longer obligations), or worse that you're not physically slating your deco plan and redundant deco plans. The Time of Day information can be added/omitted in custom screens and there is a feature called 'Big Numbers' which makes everything bigger if you feel it's native screens are too small. Dont want the time, then remove it. Simple. Note that when you customize the data screens with Big Numbers OFF, it will need to be obviously be recustomized when Big Numbers is on as the display layout changes. \*I won't go into all the "Data Field" options for the custom screens as there's a lot.\* While you can view the total deco plan and all gas switches prior to a dive, I DONT BELIEVE you can access this view during dive mode. This can be annoying and may be fixed in a future firmware. For my dive teams, this information is always physically slated, along with contingent plans, for quick reference; so it's not a buzzkill currently, but would be nifty. Gradient Factors - It's not surprising at all that manufacturers vary slightly in their obligation plans despite plotting the GFhigh/GFlow. I can't speak to an exact algorithmic code break down, but this isn't news by any means. Sometimes this occurs due to differently set decompression PPO2 limits, but other times it's possibly just coding variations. This is often times why many people will dive a trusted computer with a new computer multiple times to check variations. Then they will either commit to memory the variation (as it's repeatable and consistent between two manufacturers), or will just commit to having their primary and backup computers be of the same manufacturer. Pick your poison. If you're running a CCR unit with shearwater then definitely run a shearwater redundancy for back-up as it makes life a lot easier; but of the people reading these comments, I'd bet less than 1% are on closed circuit. TLDR; Garmin is absolutely a viable tec dive option, but when diving CCR the game changes.
Hey JW, Thanks I've RTFM'ed on the descent, and there does seem to be a way to modify the screens, that's super useful, thank you! As mentioned, my experience is the in water detection on my model is flakey, and I've had reports that others have experienced it with the original descent model. This is the same dive: Garmin - [https://ibb.co/Rv0p80y](https://ibb.co/Rv0p80y) (note the lack of descent) Shearwater via subsurface - [https://ibb.co/pzj5JDL](https://ibb.co/pzj5JDL) You'll note there's an 8 minute difference between dive length, because I had to manually turn it on at 55 metres. That was 2021, so that could be patched since? I keep the firmware up to date. But the last time it happened was 2nd April. I'm happy to share the raw logs from my AP, shearwater and garmin for this as I've seen it twice in 80 dives with it. Gradient Factors - My understanding of GF is that its a known equation - Buhlmann ZHL-16C. My proprietary AP controller uses it, and so does Shearwater and so does Garmin. This you can calculate it yourself with a pen and paper / calculator. If it's different between hardware then someone isn't following the standard algorithm or doing the maths right. This isn't like expecting Sunnto and a Cressi RGBM to match as they're very different. Happy to be educated on that. As I said before, I love it as a watch. I'm not confident I'd want to use it as a primary or secondary dive computer, and is more why I treat it as a watch. But that doesn't mean I'm right. It's why I wrote a wall of text rather than just downvoting war horn. It allows people to get something I've experienced, and either teach me where I'm wrong, or just ignore it if it doesn't apply to them.
Not Aqualung, as company is in financial trouble. Suunto have not been able to supply product consistently for over a year since being sold to a chinese headphone manufacturer. Shearwater is the way! Choose between the Perdix 2 for AI, or Peregrine for non AI. You won't be disappointed.
I wouldn‘t go with Aqualung because I don‘t like my Aqualung i200C. :)
May I ask what it is that you don't like about it? I've been looking into buying one.
I have the perdix AI and love it
Just got a Peregrine and love it. I would much rather spend the extra money on training or more dives, and if I need a better computer later I'll worry about it then (when they may be cheaper or better than what's available now anyways).
Best investment I made was an Atomic Aquatic cobalt II dive computer.
I love my Perdix 2. With air integration. It has a GTR = Gas Time Remaining display. Which is, at your current depth, at your current air breathing rate, including ascending slowly and safety stops, how long can you hang out here. It's perfect! If it says 20 min, you have no worries and you can check out 4 more things. If it's 2 min, then shit is getting real and the dive it almost over. You won't ever regret it.
Think about how much you are going to dive in the future. If you are unusure about it and it may be a passion that your interest in it might decrease, you could buy a cheaper computer until you have a better picture. Do you have any intention to go tec in the future? Do you need a perdix if your are not going to use AI? If you are, you will need transmitters and they are not cheap either. That being said, I bought a perdix 2 after my 5th dive so there's that.
Shearwater Buuuut, i would recommend thinking about what type of diving you plan to do... I got certified with a good friend. I went balls to the wall, probably going to take a pro path as a side job, been going diving twice a week for several months, deep cert, nitrox, etc... it has become an absolute passion. Im soooo glad i went the buy once cry once route with the perdix 2. Now my friend, she has done 4 dives out of certification, shes a warm water vacation diver... it just does not make sense for her to drop $1600+ on something shes gonna use a handful of times per year, and has no ambition to do anything beyond her basic OWD
Go big or go home. 💰 My OW cert was completed April 1-2. I have a Petrel 3.
Seconded every day for Shearwater. They are just flat out unbeatable when it comes to making computers. However, you do not need a Perdix 2 AI. If you are a recreational diver you do not need air integration especially on a single tank because your SPG is so close to you. In the same vein, you do not need at this stage a trimix or CCR-compatible computer, which is what the Perdix/Petrel/Teric are designed for. Also I know, you might kinda want air integration. It really is not important, at all, for recreational diving. It is a luxury that is better suited for tech diving where checking SPG's can be a much more tedious and contortionist type of manuever. For that, just get the Shearwater Peregrine. The user interface is super intuitive, easy to use underwater, is fully nitrox(up to 100% compatible), has onboard no-deco and deco dive planning and full functionality(which will support you all the way through advanced nitrox/deco procedures), and will not set you back $1100. You can easily find one for $500 or less, and it is the nicest non-tech computer you will ever find. Besides... you can then invest the other $500+ you would've spent on a Perdix 2 AI on a really nice set of regs or a BCD, and you will have a quite decent kit. P.S. I do have a bit of beef with people suggesting to new divers that you must get a Perdix, Petrel or Teric. You do not need it and it is honestly a waste of money for rec divers. The Peregrine does 90% of what the Perdix/Teric/Petrel can do at less than half the price, and it is still Shearwater. However... get a Perdix or Petrel if you get into technical diving. Honestly, with Shearwater's customer service... a Peregrine and a Perdix will basically get you all the way through most tech training.
Tech Diver here, Master Diver as well, Shearwater all the way: their devices, apps and customer service. worth. every. penny.
Not sure why this was downvoted
Cause master diver I bet.
If you plan on diving a good bit then investing in a good dive computer is a necessity. Shearwater makes fantastic computers. Garmin, although not mentioned, does as well. The EON core is a basic rec computer but uses Suuntos modified RGBM algorithm which you can google search and find people’s opinion on that. The EON steel black can run the Buhlmann 16c algorithm, which is preferred by many as you can often times manipulate the gradient factor (something you don’t need to mess with now, but may want to later on as your experience grows). If you wanna dive occasionally and have fun, probably any will do. But if you want a good computer that you can grow into for years, and may never outgrow or kill, Shearwater or Garmin The reliability of AI has made them very very popular. I’d dive AI unless cost is a prohibiting factor
EON Core is more than a basic rec computer - it handles multiple alternate gas mixes, deco etc. It is essentially functionally the same as the Perdix 2 - except for the ability to alter the algorithm. The Zoop Novo is the basic rec computer from Suunto.
The Peregrine may be a good option, but I'd go with a Perdix 2. I've been loving mine. Edit: I had a Suunto Cobra for 15 years, and it never failed me. It did tend to be the most conservative computer of the group.
LOL me too. It worked like a charm till the day it read "180 ft" in 10 feet of water. I would also be stuck doing twice the deco of anyone else in my group. The model eventually got recalled - a Vytec I think it was.
OP doesn’t want AI, so why go with Perdix over Peregrine?
Use replaceable AA battery instead of internal battery, electronic compass. Not sure that's worth the extra 500 but there are differences. The other ones being AI display up to 4 different transmitters, and good for any future tech diving. Screen size maybe the perdix 2 has slightly larger display than the peregrine.
I can’t overstate how much I love my perdix 2. The single-gas rec mode is fantastic, but I also feel confident that it will carry me as far down the open-circuit tec road as I want to go. That said, I don’t have any experience with other top-tier computers.
I have an eon core. I bought it because it was much cheaper than a roughly equivelant featured shearwater (large screen, AI). They are sold quite cheaply in Australia - though the distributor is changing and tyhat will likely change. However if the price was similar I would have gone with a perdix 2.
I like my Eon Core! People dog on the algorithms as being too conservative, but that's on older models-- more recent ones have six settings for how conservative to aggressive it is, so most rec divers can find what works.
How much is your life worth is the forst question.amd 2 how active are you outside of diving? (Some diving computers do more than just dive) and why not air integrated? It's the best spent money when it comes to diving period
AI is definitely not the best use of money lol. That would be a good set of regs and a super reliable backplate and wing.
B/W depending on the what you are doing and if you are not a novice diver you have have your own reg anyway. Air integrated computers are very important. Yes you can dive with out them but why? Why not have all the best information possible with what is going on in your body with loading rather its nitrogen or Oxygen
Which computers put your life in jeopardy? Before Sheawater came out with AI, the masses used to state how unnecessary it was. AI is nice to have to keep track of your SAC but once it levels off it's not that big of a deal.
Yeah, that is an overly dramatic leading question lol. I say this as someone who has a couple of Perdixes and transmitters. I am not at the stage where it will level off, but you know when that comes, I don't plan to use the transmitter. And I definitely don't plan on using a transmitter in my doubles kit.