If you’ve ever had to plan a dive using dive tables—or even learned them in the first place— during your entry-level scuba course, it’s no surprise that ditching them for a dive computer is a no-brainer. Nowadays, whether you’re fresh from your beginner course, about to start your divemaster training, or a seasoned instructor, dive computers are a necessity for all divers.
And, as with most scuba gear, there are tons of brands and models to choose from. A great way to navigate these rough seas is to select a brand that specializes solely in dive computers—enter Shearwater Research. Since 2004, Shearwater Research has been a leader in the dive computer industry, known for its simple user experience, tough design, and reliability.
In this guide, we will compare the four Shearwater dive computer core models: Peregrine, Tern/Tern TX, Teric, and Perdix 2. These computers range from recreational to technical and cater to many levels of diving. Dive in as we discuss their differences, their similarities and find out which is best for you.
Are you looking to buy a Shearwater computer?
Jump over to the updated store finder on the official Shearwater website.
Shearwater has service centers in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, to help you with quick service on your Shearwater products. To buy Shearwater dive computers, head to an authorized Shearwater dealer or buy online at Scuba.com.
Why choose a Shearwater?
Founded in 2004 by Canadian Bruce Patridge, Shearwater emerged from a desire to create a dependable dive computer for him and his tech buddies. Since these humble origins, Shearwater has exclusively developed and produced top-tier dive computers, gaining immense respect in the diving industry. The secret to their success lies in the simple user interfaces, intuitive menus, and robust designs, making them a top choice for demanding technical divers.
In recent years, Shearwater has expanded its expertise to offer more accessible and affordable recreational dive computers—without compromising quality. Their reputation for excellent customer support, regular firmware updates, and rich online resources has cemented Shearwater as an innovative and trustworthy brand in the diving community.
Which Shearwater model should I choose?
Shearwater computers can be split into two lines: recreational and technical. Due to the company’s technical roots, all its dive computers have the bare minimum modes of air, nitrox, and 3-gas nitrox (three 100% Nitrox switchable gasses), supporting decompression diving.
The recreational models are:
The technical models are:
- Teric
- Perdix 2
Recreational dive computers
The recreational dive computers include the Peregrine, Peregrine TX, Tern, and Tern TX. Shearwater Research has technical roots, so these computers are capable of some types of technical diving. Since all Shearwater computers support decompression diving, you can go beyond the recreational limit of 130 feet (40 m).
The Peregrine/Peregrine TX and Tern/Tern TX have the dive mode “3-gas nitrox,” so you can plan for decompression and create three programmable gasses for switching for up to 100% nitrox.
The brains behind the Peregrine and Tern computers are pretty much the same—their visual design sets them apart. The Peregrines have a medium 2.2-inch display that sits flat on the wrist, whereas the Terns are smaller 1.3-inch watch-style dive computers. The TX versions are transmitter-compatible and include a digital compass.
Technical dive computers
The technical dive computers include the Teric and Perdix 2. If you are serious about pursuing technical diving, we strongly recommend one of these two models. The Perdix 2 is the poster child for Shearwater and is loved by many divers.
Like the Peregrine/Peregrine TX and the Tern/Tern TX, the Perdix 2 and the Teric are essentially the same computer under the hood. The Perdix 2 has a medium 2.2-inch display that sits flat on the wrist, whereas the Teric is a smaller 1.4-inch watch-style dive computer. There is also the Petrel 3, a flat, wrist-style computer. It is Shearwater’s most extreme model, with a depth rating of 850 feet (260 m).
The Shearwater Family
These five dive computers are just like any family members and have many shared characteristics, internally and externally. To understand which Shearwater dive computer is best for you, assess your diving needs or potential future diving desires and which wearing style you prefer.
Here we’ll explore each of the four core models in depth to help you decide which best aligns with your diving journey.
Peregrine/Peregrine TX: best for recreational divers
Specs & Features
- Display type & size: LCD with LED backlight; 2.2 inches (5.6 cm)
- Screen resolution: 320 x 240
- Battery type & life: rechargeable Li-ion battery
- Depth rating: 395 feet (120 m)
- Number of gasses: 3 OC
- Dive modes: air, nitrox, 3-gas nitrox, gauge
- Transmitter compatible: The Peregrine TX is transmitter compatible; the Peregrine is not
The Perdix is often hailed as the industry’s best dive computer, so Shearwater took everything great about that model, stripped back its more advanced technical modes, removed some dive features, and introduced the Peregrine in 2020.
Riding the high of the Peregrine’s success, Shearwater released the Peregrine TX in 2024, which is transmitter-compatible and includes a digital compass.
Both the Peregrine/Peregrine TX have the same intuitive menu as the Perdix, and dive information is well-displayed on the medium screen. However, since it is limited in depth and dive modes, the Peregrines are much more accessible to the casual vacation diver, and at half the price of the Perdix.
Our favorite features of the Peregrine/Peregrine TX
Intuitive Menu
Many of us are probably familiar with getting out our dusty dive computer on a liveaboard, only to draw a blank on how we adjust the nitrox or time zones. Shearwater’s red thread in all their dive computers is their intuitive menu, and Peregrine’s two-button system makes it easy to scroll through and select/change the settings.
Strong Housing
The Peregrines are bulkier and heavier than comparable dive computers, but we think that’s an advantage. Divers are prone to bumps and bruises, and you want equipment that can handle the action. The straps are quite thick, but you can be sure that they won’t snap off on a dive or slip off your wetsuit.
Affordability
Whether we like to admit it or not, price makes a difference. The Peregrine is Shearwater’s most affordable dive computer at just over $500. Compared to similarly priced dive computers, such as AquaLung i470 TC, the Peregrine is the best value.
To make the Peregrine more affordable, Shearwater removed some technical dive modes and features, but the lack of extreme technical dive modes will not bother most recreational divers.
The Garmin G1 is a worthy competitor, with more dive and fitness modes and features, but its monochrome display is nothing compared to the Peregrine’s full-color LCD screen.
Pros of the Peregrine TX
Divers now have the opportunity to enhance their diving experience by pairing up to four Swift transmitters and having a digital compass.
Compass
After you’ve bought all the essential diving equipment, a compass is first on the list of nice-to-have gear. Handheld compasses can be bulky, so we love that the Peregrine TX has a digital compass. Although many vacation divers perhaps just follow a guide, we believe in keeping your underwater navigational skills sharp by regularly checking your compass.
Air Integration (AI)
The Peregrine TX can connect with four Swift transmitters. This means divers are not limited to single-tank diving with their Peregrine TX and can pair to multiple tanks. The Peregrine TX is not overly technical, and this middle ground is perfect for those who want to dip their diving toes into technical diving. Sidemount divers, who carry several tanks per dive, will like the option to customize their tank names for ease of use underwater.
Conclusion
If you’re a recreational diver who has heard great things about Shearwater but doesn’t need all those technical bells and whistles, then the Peregrine is a great choice. With its sturdy frame, clear display, and easy-to-understand menu, it will last you many years.
For a little extra, divers can opt for the TX version. If you’re not sure which to choose, we think it’s always best to go for an integrated version. It’s better to have the option for AI and never use it than to not have it and need it.
Tern/Tern TX: best for professional recreational divers
Specs & Features
- Display type & size: AMOLED screen; 1.3 inches (3.3 cm)
- Screen resolution: 360 x360
- Battery type & life: wireless rechargeable Li-ion battery
- Depth rating: 395 feet (120 m)
- Number of gasses: 3 OC
- Dive modes: air, nitrox, 3-gas nitrox, gauge, freedive
- Transmitter compatible: Yes, up to four Swift transmitters (only Tern TX)
Shearwater Peregrine isn’t for everyday wear and their classic watch-style Teric, with a whole host of tech features, can be too advanced for many divers. The Tern and Tern TX offer the best of both worlds, with the brains of a Peregrine inside the sexiness of a Teric wristwatch.
Our favorite features of the Tern and Tern TX
AMOLED screen
The most striking feature of the Tern and Tern TX is the stunning AMOLED 1.3-inch (33 mm) display. Divers can customize values, titles, units, the watch face, and more in a range of 15 colors, which are highly contrasted against a black background.
Great for everyday
The Tern and Tern TX are marketed as convenient dive computers to be worn every day. You can swap between “watch” and “dive” modes by pressing the bottom left and then the top right button. This is perhaps most appreciated by dive instructors who will always wear their Tern/Tern TX. Once the working day is over, the computer easily changes to a much more simplistic analog or digital watch face.
Customization
Gone are the days of exclusively stark black dive gear; now, dive brands have a full spectrum to suit your color schemes. Shearwater offers a variety of vibrant Remora straps that you can easily attach in seconds, so your Tern/Tern TX will match your outfit, in or out of the water.
Customization also applies to the settings, where divers can choose between a “standard” or “big” layout, which is either three or four lines of dive information. You also have 15 colors for data display.
Pros of the Tern TX
As with the Peregrine model, the Tern is available as a “standard” computer and as an air- integrated model.
Digital Compass
A dive compass can be cumbersome, and housing it within your dive computer is another way to enhance your trim. All digital compasses within Shearwater dive computers have tilt compensation, so they will work at any angle. Divers can also set headings or markers so that they can return to their starting point with ease.
Air Integration (AI)
Since they’re also recreational dive computers, with the same capabilities as the Peregrines, the Terns can pair with up to four Swift transmitters. Although a transmitter (or two) might be too much cash to splash on your initial dive computer purchase, there are always birthdays and holiday wish lists!
Conclusion
Wristwatch dive computers are becoming more popular and more competent by the day, and the Tern and Tern TX reflect this advancement well. Both are stylish instruments and offer an excellent display and intuitive usability. The Tern is great for every day, or at least throughout your next dive vacation. If you desire air integration or a digital compass, then the Tern TX is the way to go.
Teric: Best for professional technical divers
Specs & Features
- Display type & size: AMOLED screen; 1.4 inches (3.5 cm)
- Screen resolution: 400 x 400
- Battery type & life: wireless rechargeable Li-ion battery
- Depth rating: 660 feet (200 m)
- Number of gasses: 5 OC
- Dive modes: air, nitrox, 3-gas nitrox, trimix, OC tec, CC/BO, gauge, freedive
- Transmitter compatible: Yes, up to four Swift transmitters
When wristwatch computers first emerged in the dive industry, they were relatively simple and offered only recreational diving capabilities. Gone are the days of those clunky Suunto Zoops, and now sleek dive computers such as Garmin Mk2i are becoming the new norm. Teric was the first wristwatch from Shearwater, and with 100% the same brain as the legendary Perdix, it is both a superior and stylish dive computer.
Our favorite features of the Teric
Usability
The engineering feat that Shearwater managed by cramming the brains of the much-loved Perdix into this wristwatch is nothing short of a miracle. The Teric is air-integrated, as well as recreationally and technically capable with CCR-ready modes. So not only does this dive computer look impressive, it also really is.
What is perhaps most impressive is how Shearwater made a small and complicated dive computer easy to use. The device features four buttons, with their functions displayed on the screen. Each button serves multiple purposes without you ever getting lost in a complex menu.
Aesthetics
The Shearwater Teric boasts a classic design that is rugged yet visually appealing. The Teric is available in four different bezel colors – bronze, black, blue, and silver, and divers can buy a separate watch strap in a range of 10 solid colors. For professionals that tend to keep the computer on all day, being able to make it our own is very appealing.
Display
The screen is 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) with an AMOLED display of 400 x 400 resolution—the best display of any dive computer, even the Garmin Mk3i. The display provides exceptional clarity and brightness, making it easy to read in even the darkest wrecks or on the sunniest mornings.
Conclusion
The Teric is perfect for divers who want a tech-functional, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing watch-style computer. If you are an extreme technical diver, or aspiring to be, the Teric offers everything you will ever need from a dive computer as you progress deeper into diving.
All these capabilities cost a pretty penny but given its advanced features, quality construction, and easy usability, it’s a worthy investment.
Perdix 2: Best for tech divers
Specs & Features
- Display type & size: LCD with LED backlight; 2.2 inches (5.6 cm)
- Screen resolution: 320 x 240
- Battery type & life: Single AA battery
- Depth rating: 850 feet (260 m)
- Number of gasses: 5 OC/CC
- Dive modes: air, nitrox, 3-gas nitrox, trimix, OC Tec, CC/BO, gauge
- Transmitter compatible: Yes, up to four Swift transmitters
Chances are, if you’ve been searching for a new dive computer, the Perdix 2 has caught your attention—and for good reason. Widely acclaimed as one of the best dive computers available, the Perdix 2 is highly versatile. Building upon the original Perdix released in 2015, the Perdix 2 is now compatible with four transmitters and features a robust titanium housing, giving it a depth rating of 850 feet (260 m).
Our favorite features of the Perdix 2
Usability
We’re probably sounding a bit like a broken record, but we’re going to mention it one last time—the user experience and menu navigation of the Shearwaters, and especially the Perdix 2, is second to none. The Perdix 2 is easy to set up and understand, and in the universe of extreme tech diving, you need a capable dive computer that will help, not hinder.
Buttons
The Perdix 2’s buttons are uniquely controlled with piezoelectric controls, piezo for short. These piezo buttons, one on each side, sit flush with the case and protect the performance-enhanced electronics inside.
Piezo buttons are touch-based and work due to pressure changes when you touch the buttons, which produces an electrical charge. It’s a little odd at first, not having a feedback feeling, but we have tried the Perdix 2 with 5 mm gloves, and they work just fine.
Haptic Alarms
Something we’re glad is getting standardized across the Shearwater range is haptic or vibrational alarms—only the Teric has audible alarms as well. Extreme technical divers constantly check their dive computers, and any preset alarms are meant to be friendly reminders, not aggressive warnings. We were able to sense the vibrational alarms during our latest dry-suit diving experience in Malta.
Battery
It might be counterintuitive to use a single AA battery when, nowadays, rechargeable is commonplace. But there is a method to Shearwater’s madness. With a rechargeable battery, you have to connect it, wait for it to juice up, and maybe you’ll jump in forgetting that it was actually on charge.
With Perdix 2’s AA battery, you can swap to a full battery in less than a minute. Also, rechargeable batteries will, over time, lose their efficiency. So, by using an AA battery. Shearwater has removed this problem and indefinitely extended the computer’s life.
Conclusion
The Shearwater Perdix 2 is a top-tier dive computer, offering unparalleled usability, innovative piezo buttons for tactile control, and a strong build for extreme depths. Its reliability, exceptional quality, and dive modes make it a favorite among serious technical divers.
So, which Shearwater is right for you?
Shearwater Research boasts an impressive lineup of dive computers, and like any family, these computers have visual designs and similar characters, each designed to cater to slightly different needs or wants.
The Peregrine is the most basic of the pack, with essential recreational dive modes and a user-friendly format. Not quite as grown up as its siblings, it lacks a digital compass and air-integration capability. But for the recreational vacation diver who wants a computer to last many years, the Peregrine can do that.
The more grown-up twin is the Peregrine TX, with air integration for four transmitters and a digital compass. We do recommend the Peregrine TX over the standard version, as these extra features are always good to have.
Stepping up in sophistication, the Tern and Tern TX are sleek wristwatch-style computers with stunning AMOLED displays. The Tern offers recreational dive modes in a compact watch. The Tern TX enhances the experience with additional features like air integration and a digital compass, making it an excellent choice for dive instructors.
Combining the brains of Perdix 2 and the beauty of the Tern TX, the elegant wristwatch-style Teric offers the best of both worlds. This computer is a powerhouse and a great choice for anyone who wants to wear their tech gear all day every day.
For those getting into technical diving, the Perdix 2 is the go-to choice. It can handle complex dive profiles, multiple gas mixes, and rebreather operations, catering to the demands of experienced technical divers who require precision and reliability.
Shearwater dive computers are praised for their durability, user-friendly interfaces, and innovative features, ensuring that divers can focus on what’s important during their underwater adventure. Whether you’re embarking on your first dives or exploring challenging depths, Shearwater’s lineup offers a diverse selection of dive computers to meet the needs of any diver, at any depth.
Take a moment to look at this.
