Shearwater Perdix Air Integrated...Opinions

[KevinNM]

Being able to track gas usage

The computer itself will not tell you your air consumption since it does not know the size of your tank, it will only tell you how many bar (well, psi for Americans and North Koreans) you used.

Apparently Canadians use PSI too. The two I had (well, technically they were German and American but had lived in Victoria for 10 years) in a fundamentals class couldn't explain how it worked out that way, but that was how it was.

 

[beester]

To be honest to me it looks like they've added pure recreational functionality (AI) to a very good technical diving computer.

It would be like adding Gradient Factor functionality to a suunto zoop.

I understand why shearwater does it of course, it's a demand from the recreational market and it can increase the appeal of this divecomputer to this market.

But of course to each his own... if recreational divers are now enticed to buy a advanced technical computer for their diving, because AI is included, so much the better for Shearwater, it's a much bigger market... These divers will buy an expensive computer and they will only use zoop functionality.

To be honest I do the same... I bought an expensive Petrel (when it first came out) and on most of my dives I use it as a gauge... so I'm not using any of it's functionality either ;-)

 

[Compressor]

Many people, like myself, do mostly recreational diving. I bought it because after reading the manual on top of all the good reviews, I saw how EASY it was to use. Has anyone ever tried to read an oceanic manual? trying to remember assorted button configurations plus all the advantages of Shearwater, have made it such a grat computer. One example would be that the battery can be changed without losing data. On more than one occasion, I had to change change batteries while on a multi day dive trip.Many of the other brands only allow you 8 seconds to change batteries without loosing data. Serious?

 

[PfcAJ]

The computer itself will not tell you your air consumption since it does not know the size of your tank, it will only tell you how many bar (well, psi for Americans and North Koreans) you used.

The Glorious People's Leader approves.

 

[Stoo]

If there is any company out there capable of producing an AI computer that suffers no such glitches, I believe it would be Shearwater. However, they are using the same transmitter as other companies.

I have never owned an AI computer since I don't see any benefit in having one. To me, a quick peek at a SPG is a simple, quick way to see if I have gas or not. An SPG gives you an instant "picture" of your gas supply, even if you don't bother to really "read" it... if the needle is "over in that part of the gauge" you're good to go.

Apart from the "no purpose" aspect, there is the reliability aspect, but as Lorenzoid points out, if anyone is going to get this right, SW will. But even then, issues of connectivity are always going to exist... it's the nature of wireless "anything". Compare the wifi in your house vs plugging an ethernet cable into your laptop... Everyone knows that the cable is way faster and more reliable, but the convenience of wifi wins anyway.

The other issue has to do with the type of diving you do. Assuming you are at least on the cusp of technical diving, and almost by definition, this means you are going to have multiple tanks, so that means you're going to have SPGs anyway on stages and deco bottles.

And then there's the cost, but lots of folks have lots of money, and if that's you, then that's not an issue.

As for the having the ability to track and log your gas use, I think that to me says that you are relatively new to diving. Having been at this for 40+ years and with 5,500 dives under my webbing, I can tell you that I have known my gas consumption since about dive 100. Past that, that consumption exercise is really a moot point.

My concern is that (if you are going all techie) then the AI thing will fairly quickly become a useless toy that may well end up in a shoebox.

If on the other hand, you are planning on staying as a serious rec diver, and you like AI, then go for it.

 

[Macan]

For recreational divers, if your analog SPG fails during the dive, the dive is over. Now, If you replace your analog SPG with an AI, and it fails, the outcome is the same, the dive is over.

I've been using a Suunto D9 Wireless Air Integrated for recreational and technical dives since 2005. The AI has never failed. It has annoying traits but accuracy is solid and performance is reliable.

I wrote this in an old thread but it bears repeating.

AI is like keyless entry or parking sensors in a new car. You hear about it, read about it, and decide you don't need it. But when you finally get to try these features, you'll never get a car without them.

I dive and teach Tec. I use AI in Tec (Doubles - AI on right post) and Rec (Singles). I still have an analog SPG in both config. The ease of just flicking your right wrist to check remaining gas is so convenient. Actually, there are more benefits in using AI in Tec with doubles.

The adoption of new technology is often presented in the form of a bell curve that breaks users into segments. You have the "innovators", "early adaptors", "late adaptors", and the "laggards". The only reason why the "laggards" buy touch tone phones is because they can't buy rotary phones anymore.

In the context of dive technology, Computers and Air Integration are new innovations that have proven themselves to be highly useful and reliable. Can you dive without them? Yes. Will they make your dives easier, more accurate, safer, and more enjoyable? Yes. When I'm penetrating a long and narrow passage in a wreck, I'm thankful that my computer has AI. With the flick of the wrist, I have all the vitals I need with minimal movements.

Across all industries, innovation is happening. We can choose to be innovators, early adaptors, late adaptors or laggards within the bell curve of change. Our mindset and personalities will make that determination. There is no right or wrong choice. Only what works for you.

 

[sheeper]

I have a Perdix and a Petrel 1. I'm not excited by the AI nor do I plan to get one. Air integration is nice for recreational dives but not anything i'm interested in for multi-gas tec dives.
so i'll keep what I have because i'm more than happy with it!

 

[rongoodman]

It would be like adding Gradient Factor functionality to a suunto zoop.

Well, that would solve most of the complaints about the Suunto algorithm.

 

[Scared Silly]

You can easily work out gas consumption without an AI computer.

You really don't even need the software. . .

You both have missed the point. At least for me and I bet others it is not about calculating the gas consumption. I can do all that math in my head - forwards and backwards. It is about recording the base line data required for the calculation, the starting and ending pressure.

I go out for a day of diving and take a bunch of cylinders. They are all "full" and at the end of the day they are all "empty". After three dives I will be damned if I will recall the full or empty pressures. Yeah, I could take a slate or paper and write that crap down. But sometimes I do not have a slate or sometimes that piece of paper gets soaked. So the AI is nothing more than a data recorder, albeit expensive. But who cares it lets me be lazy, damn lazy, real lazy while blowing bubbles.

As for the having the ability to track and log your gas use, I think that to me says that you are relatively new to diving. Having been at this for 40+ years and with 5,500 dives under my webbing, I can tell you that I have known my gas consumption since about dive 100. Past that, that consumption exercise is really a moot point.

You know what they say about assumptions ... I have getting wet for over 30 years. While I know my typical gas consumption, I find and think there is value in seeing gas consumption over multiple dives as it can be of value for planning different dive types.


At the end of the day AI is going to be a point which folks are going to (hopefully) agree to disagree.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I think some people just enjoy data and technology for its own sake. They like more stuff displayed on a screen, more information, more instrumentation, more numbers, more stuff to look at, record, etc. At the other end of the spectrum there are people who prefer to see how LITTLE information they can get away with needing and still dive safely. Doing my dives safely is all I care about. I calculate SAC now and then and have a reasonably good idea what my SPG should read at any time. But if I could dive safely with no instruments or calculations at all, I would. I think it's great that Shearwater can now satisfy the data nerds, too.