Personal experience with Shearwater Petrel

[Zeeb]

My teenage kids and I have been diving for a few years now on Suunto computers. One of our three computers have lost its marbles and thinks I'm still at depth, although time seems to have stopped at 999 minutes. I need a new computer. My daughter and I are both very interested in stepping into technical diving and are particularly interested in closed circuit rebreathers in order to eliminate bubbles and extend bottom time so I would like the next computer to be able to handle closed circuit rebreather diving, support multiple gas mixes, and yet at the same time serve my current simple needs of open circuit single nitrox tank dives. I have heard some very positive reviews of the Shearwater Petrel, with the only drawback mentioned that it does not record temperature (a minor drawback for the types of waters we dive). I am interested in its AI feature in order to enhance my dive log with air consumption profile, not to replace the analog gauge that will remain an integral part of my dive gear.

I'd like to hear from some people who have used the Petrel and have personal experience with this computer, both the good and the bad. I am particularly interested in the ease of use of the computer for a presently non-technical diver, the reliability of the AI transmitter and complications arising from its failure (other than having to fall back on the analog and have this function become unavailable on the computer itself), and any limitations that would prevent me from using it for certain types of technical dives in the future, or with certain equipment configurations.

Many thanks in advance for your comments

 

[a878bob]

Just got out the water with my predator and petrel backup mounted to my slate. As now my suunto's stay in the case. The suunto algorithm not suitable for tech/ deco diving. I've dove with my predator and vytec for backup for awhile. Would always bonk my suunto, had to put it in gauge mode.

Predator green numbers is the best to see. Really sticks out. The petrel white numbers seem to take on a purplish hue at depth. Both seem a little blurry to me. Not sure if it's my near vision or the angle. Never noticed this with my suunto's.

Saying that I can't imagine diving without both predator and petrel. Predator is bigger, petrel small enough to mount on my slate. Great way to dive them. Never going back.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Shearwater computers do not have air integration. No transmitter to worry about screwing up. If you want to track your air consumption just do it using your SAC rate. The Petrel (and Predator) is designed to take a diver through tech levels. As such they don't incorporate gimmicks like AI.

I dive a Predator. Shearwater's support is second to none. Manuals easy to read and use. Bluetooth hook up for downloading dives to your computer and updates from Shearwater to the dive computer are easy and fast. There is virtually no tech level diving that it will not work for.

Petrel OC/CC Standalone | Trimix Dive Computer for Tech DivingShearwater Research

 

[a878bob]

Buttons are big and responsive. Layout is intuitive. Easy to switch gas's on the fly. Use it for deep and recreational dives. No transmitter. And I don't miss it. Always loved that about my vytec for recreational dives. Just easy to find both gauges now that I'm in sidemount.

 

[Nirvana]

I have been using a Petrel since May this year and I really like it. As Jim noted above, however, Petrels do not offer air integration. On the other hand, they do record temperature. If you really want to go into rebreather diving and decide to buy a Petrel, you may want the more expensive version that contains extra features for rebreather use.

 

[a878bob]

Temperature is nicely laid out in the dive graph once downloaded into the shearwater desktop. As is all the other info from the dive.

 

[bubbasbaitshop]

Just got my petrel this week. Been diving an Uwatec since I started. Really like the user interface on the petrel. Easy to use and easy to modify during the dive. Also found the app to upload dives to my smart phone. Says it is for the predator but works with petrel as well.

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[tstormdiver]

I have had (or have) 3 Predators & 2 Petrels. I currently own a Predator (main CCR controlling computer) & 2 Petrels (1 for just Rec & Tech diving & 1 with a Fischer connector to eventually hook up to the rebreather as a back- up monitor & as a back- up to the other Petrel). In many ways I really liked the screen of the Predator. very easy to read with the color contrasts. The Petrel, while easy enough to read, isn't as easy as the predator. As the others have mentioned, there is no air integration. The only other issue I've had with my Predators (not the Petrels) was a battery connectivity issue that seems to have been resolved.

 

[Peter69_56]

I find the Petrel a great computer (see http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/465214-need-new-dive-computer-4.html)

Like the display which is very clear for visually limited people (glasses). Easy enough to use and love that it doesn't lock up if you blow a deco stop. It keeps on trying to tell you how to stay alive.

What's the app for the smart phone?

 

[Zeeb]

Thank you for all the responses! One other question, in regards to the less expensive ("standalone"?) vs more expensive ("EXT"?) version to support "extra features for rebreather use" as Nirvana recommended. My apologies for being naïve on the subject but my understanding is that it is recommended if not indeed required in rebreather diving to have two computers, one integrated with the rebreather and the other as backup? If this is true then my intention for the computer I am buying now would be to eventually become a backup for the one that would be integrated with the rebreather. I am thinking that the Standalone / EXT pair would do well in this setup and so I should be good with buying a standalone as the first on my shopping list? Please let me know if my understanding here is incorrect.

Again, many thanks!