Oceanic Geo Air vs Shearwater Peregrine - Please help!

[lexvil]

Hi @PerthPom

A slightly different take.

In the US, the Peregrine goes for $550, your price of about $500 is a small savings. The Peregrine TX alone goes for $700. The Swift transmitter goes for $400. The bundle of the Peregrine TX and Swift saves you $100 at $1000.

In the US, the bundle of the Geo Air and transmitter goes for $800, a $150 savings over the computer, $550 and the transmitter, $400 alone. The price you quote for the bundle of $500 is a very significant savings.

With the Geo Air, you would have an AI computer. The MH8A transmitter is compatible with all the Shearwater computers for a future upgrade. Oceanic/Huish will replace the transmitter for $120 no matter how far out of warranty it is. The computer runs DSAT, approximately a GF high of 95 and PZ+, approximately a GF high of 85. Both also have a conservative factor if desired. Neither the Geo Air nor the Peregrine have a compass.

Good luck in your computer purchase

Peregrine TX has a compass, shop around and you can find a slight discount from many dealers but being an Australia maybe not. For overall usability look at the peregrine tx it’s worth the added cost.

 

[rongoodman]

It's kind of a no brainer. Look at the difference between the displays of the two, and then realize that the Shearwater comes with Buhlmannn GF and won't lock you out if you make it sad.

 

[GreggS]

I've used an Oceanic OCi as my primary for a few years and liked it. When the Peregrine TX was introduced this year, I tried the one the Shearwater rep had with her at the Invasion in Bonaire and really liked it. I ordered 2, one for me and one for my wife. Of course, since we both had the MH8A transmitters, we only had to buy the computer, so that was a plus.

As @rhwestfall said, even if you don't get the transmitter at first, the Peregrine TX is the one I would recommend. It's worth the $150.00 difference just for the onboard compass. Then keep an eye out for a good buy for a used MH8A transmitter.

 

[Rilelen]

I dove with an Oceanic Geo 2 for years, and loved it; I still have an old one I use as a backup or lend when folks forget theirs. But as soon as I went Shearwater, I realized I was never going back.

If the AI really matters to you, the Shearwater Tern (watch style rec computer) and Peregrine (rectangle style rec computer) both come with AI versions (Tern TX, Peregrine TX). There’s no question to me that Shearwater is the better computer.

 

[dmaziuk]

Hi all,

Brand new so please go easy...

Looking at purchasing my first computer. I can either go for an SW Peregrine, or for the same price I could get an Oceanic Geo Air with Transmitter that's currently on sale, both around $799AUD - $497US - $395GBP (apologies fellow UKers, no stirling sign on keyboard...)

I'm at a loss. The LDS that sells the Shearwater naturally says to avoid the Geo Air, but could give no reason other than he wants my money over someone else.

Any recommendations or input? They both seem like good long term computers to me, both run good algorithms and seem of good quality. Obviously, the Geo Air is AI too...

ScubaBoard is pretty much a Shearwater fanclub so... In reality all that Peregrine has is a bigger shiny screen (at the cost of non-replaceable battery -- Geo runs on CR2430) and the algorithm compatible with decompression planners.

 

[Blackcrusader]

. Neither the Geo Air nor the Peregrine have a compass.

Good luck in your computer purchase

This is why I recommended looking for a second hand Perdix AI. It has the compass. Problem is finding one before it's snapped up.

 

[Blackcrusader]

ScubaBoard is pretty much a Shearwater fanclub so...

Maybe that's because many of us have used other dive computers from other companies and found that damn. we all wish the perdix or peregrine was avaiable long ago.

Those of us that now use Shearwaters have a reason to promote them. My dive buddy that I dive with used Oceanic DC's for years.
He is now a Perdix AI user and could not be more happy. Only thing is he found out no audio alarms but on screen alerts.
We were diving Maldives going into deco and hearing the alarms on other divers DC for depth and deco.

Some of those divers asked why our computer alarms were beeping. They don't even know the sound of their own dive computer alarms. Was funny to see their faces when I told them the Perdix does not have audio alarms and it was their own dive computers giving warning alarms. Then they check and see they went into deco and didnt even know. Nor did they really understand their own dive computers which was more alarming.

 

[dmaziuk]

...He is now a Perdix AI user and could not be more happy.

Yes, I'd buy a Perdix AI myself if I were buying last year. Now there is a Garmin with built-in ultrasonic pinger, so maybe not.

However between Geo Air and Peregrine for no-stop diving in blue water I'd pick the Geo any day.

 

[NothingClever]

Shearwater’s after-sale support is superb.

 

[dmaziuk]

Shearwater’s after-sale support is superb.

Yeah, I hear it's great when your Birdic dies every 3 months and needs to be warranty-replaced. When you buy something that ain't broken in the first place, OTOH, who cares.