Help me find a new Wrist Mount Computer

[Jim Lapenta]

Only thing better than a new Petrel if you are on a budget is a used Predator. Shearwater rocks. Big time. In musical terms Shearwater is the Rolling Stones. Everyone else? Junior High garage bands.

 

[Freewillow]

If you tell us about the diving you plan on doing with it, it would help a lot. Buying a shearwater product for ndl dives using one gas is a HUGE wast of monies IMHO.
YMMV
Eric

+1 for me.

Either you are doing very engaged dives and then I do not understand why you want air integretaion or you are planning easy dives and you REALLY have a lot of money to spend.

I have an OSTC Sport. A very good computor. 3 gazes for deco diving, huge possibilities for safety factors and, of course, no air intégration

 

[Aotus]

It's still a great computer during no deco dives, with a great display, programmable safety stops, super intuitive UI, and better low light performance than most of the competition. This last point really means a lot, whether you take an interest in tech diving someday, or even when you're just visiting a wreck at 70-90', especially in less than gin-like water. You buy a petrel ONCE, and then in five or ten years you won't remember the price you paid.

 

[scubadada]

Only thing better than a new Petrel if you are on a budget is a used Predator. Shearwater rocks. Big time. In musical terms Shearwater is the Rolling Stones. Everyone else? Junior High garage bands.

Wow, you've really dated yourself Jim, probably only a few years younger than me

 

[uncfnp]

It's still a great computer during no deco dives, with a great display, programmable safety stops, super intuitive UI, and better low light performance than most of the competition. This last point really means a lot, whether you take an interest in tech diving someday, or even when you're just visiting a wreck at 70-90', especially in less than gin-like water. You buy a petrel ONCE, and then in five or ten years you won't remember the price you paid.

All good points that seem to be overlooked in a lot of threads. Most people focus on deco or NDL as deciding factors. But this is really only one factor. Lets face it, you can do NDL diving or deco without any dive computer, just tables or decompression software and BT.

As mentioned by Aotus, other considers that are at least as improtant are personal preferences, type of screen, to some the algorithm, flexibility/programability and of course, customer service.

And sometimes we just want what we want. From the computers the op has listed, the best choice is the Petrel 2 for price and features.

 

[waterpirate]

Here is a bit of history for those interested. Shearwater is on top now. Remember before the petrel the predator? The x1, the nitek, the Cochran? The logic that the petrel will still be the top dog in 5 years is flawed at its core. You need to buy gear that fits your diving now, computer included. I promise you that in 5 years there will be a new puter on the block, or at the least shearwater will have made updates to make the petrel pale, or their business model logic is flawed.

Or you can drop the coin, cause you want what you want.
YMMV
Eric

 

[uncfnp]

Here is a bit of history for those interested. Shearwater is on top now. Remember before the petrel the predator? The x1, the nitek, the Cochran? The logic that the petrel will still be the top dog in 5 years is flawed at its core. You need to buy gear that fits your diving now, computer included. I promise you that in 5 years there will be a new puter on the block, or at the least shearwater will have made updates to make the petrel pale, or their business model logic is flawed.

Or you can drop the coin, cause you want what you want.
YMMV
Eric

Good point and very possible. Technology is constantly changing. But do you still own a rotary phone? A CRT TV? Commadore 64?

 

[Aotus]

Here is a bit of history for those interested. Shearwater is on top now. Remember before the petrel the predator? The x1, the nitek, the Cochran? The logic that the petrel will still be the top dog in 5 years is flawed at its core. You need to buy gear that fits your diving now, computer included. I promise you that in 5 years there will be a new puter on the block, or at the least shearwater will have made updates to make the petrel pale, or their business model logic

Check again. The predator was announced in 2009 and is still the favorite of many technical divers who have the funds to update to newer computers. Those who do, choose the petrel. But the point is, plenty are still happy with the idea that their 6 year old computer is the best there is. And, shearwater has not forgotten them - they enjoy regular firmware updates even with two new petrel versions coming out since.

Here's the announcement from 2009:
https://www.shearwater.com/news/introducing-the-shearwater-predator/

 

[vladodessit]

Just was at the SCUBA show yesterday. While Petrel is great, in that range i would prefer Liquivision, upgradable to RGBM if you need it to match your buddy or going to NAUI Tec. Subgear looks cool so far too but no transmitters yet. However, TS mentioned Hollis. I have Hollis DG03 (i think it is very similar to TX1 minus Trimix). I like my Hollis, i got couple of Aeris transmitters for it on local Facebook "diver exchange" group for $100 a piece and am very happy with it.

 

[Aotus]

Oh yeah, and the petrel can be updated to use VPM algorithm.

Oh, and the new one can upload logs to your smartphone. I can't keep up with all the new bells and whistles. At some point, you're choosing the company, and you eventually develop some faith that they're going to treat you right, and shearwater has only ever rewarded that faith.