Why are the Shearwaters held in such HIGH REGARD?

[DevonDiver]

I wrote about article earlier this year that might help answer your question.

Both the Petrel 2 and Perdix are included, as are the factors that I ascribe to critical computer functionality (from a tech diver's needs).

The Best Technical Diving Computers 2016

 

[DevonDiver]

Second, if you dive much, there's a damn good chance you will suffer a computer death along the way. By the time you buy the replacement, you will likely be over the cost of a Petral or Perdix. Your payback would take a while, but in the end, there's a good chance it will still be around!

Another factor concerning long-term return-on-investment is that Shearwater computers retain a very good re-sale value.

There's regular firmware updates/upgrades, the units are very reliable and customer service is excellent, (even on 2nd hand units). If you had to sell one (unlikely you'd want to), it'd hold its value very well compared to most of its competitors.

 

[lowviz]

For me, it is all about a spectacular product coupled with stellar customer support. A bunch of us whined here on SB about a tiny little issue with the compass, NSEW markers should be larger than the other directions. Fixed. Free. Download.

I've been attempting to contact SP for years about several issues. Nothing. My threads in the SP forum all got deleted. I couldn't get their attention if I committed ritual suicide on their doorstep.

 

[KenGordon]

Groupthink.

They are a good product but from what people on SB say you'd think it was able to mix you a cocktail at the end of the dive.

Please keep in mind that I bought the rebreather I have BECAUSE of the Shearwater controller. So I like them.

There are a number of disadvantages to do with the form factor and in particular the two buttons. This can lead to frustration when navigating complicated menu structures. Some options take a long time to reach and perhaps could be closer depending on the context. For example the thing I am mostly likely to want to do in a hurry when on CCR is bail out, so I'd like that to be the first thing I hit. It is not. Passing a function you want leads to cycling a long menu, selecting the wrong view seems (I may be wrong) to involve a long wait.

They are very expensive. With the UK committing economic suicide recently the price is now more that £700. For that I can buy two HelO2s WITH transmitters. I am hoping that we the US follows suit in November and the entire budget of Canada goes into building a big wall we might see an improvement.

The screen is excellent. Really very good.

The battery life is good. I do not worry that I will run out, but I do have several spares on any trip. I don't carry Suunto spares for a couple of years after a battery change. The battery indicator I do not trust, so I change the battery preemptively.

Some of the other colour dive computers have batteries that are properly idiotic and require charging more or less daily.

The PC software is disappointing. It doesn't do planning.

The straps on a Petrel are pretty annoying. When I kit up I would rather not need help. It is extra pathetic that the thing I need the most help with is attaching a computer to my arm.

The whole GF thing is another issue.

My criticisms above are relatively minor. If you have the money and want a nice colour screen go for it. For a beginner, with good eyesight, I recommend getting a cheap computer that will not make you cry when someone puts a cylinder down on it.

 

[OMANDIVER]

Hello,
I am looking to get a new computer and was thinking about the Shearwaters. If they are not air integrated why are they so popular?
I would think a computer at the price should have a transmitter ...and I would think the diver would want one...I would think it would be better no? Whats so appealing ?
Please your opinions....models???
Also what about the ATOMIC COBALT?
I am diving in the North East. AOW...nothing past 130 feet.
Thank You.

They are good for technical diving or if your eyesight is failing. Many cheaper options for NDL diving which will give you what you need.

 

[rhwestfall]

FWIW - the Pedrix now has an integral bungie mount built into the case (because they listened).

Now, @Shearwater if you could implement a software change to have a "cancel/back-up" (such as both buttons at once), life could be "better"...

 

[tbone1004]

From what I've read, people like Shearwater because:

1) They're reliable;
2) Tech divers don't like air integration - it's a potential point of failure;
3) Some rec divers also think air integration in its current incarnation is unreliable;
4) Big, easy to read screen;
5) User replaceable batteries;
6) Nice straps/bungee;
7) Company provides good service;
8) I'm sure there are other reasons.

Both my husband and I have one. We are beginner recreational divers.

2: right now it is more because they are big and expensive. Most of us are cheapskates and while we have no problem spending a lot of money on something if it is worth it, WAI just isn't. Current cost right now for transmitters is about 6x that of a SPG and hose. Most of us only look at our SPG's 2-3x throughout the dive, so it isn't worth it.
7: I don't think good really begins to describe their service.... It is truly legendary in this industry....

the biggest thing right now is that in the US, which @KenGordon at least has access to OSTC, they are really the only technical diving computer really worth purchasing if you want a high end one. Yes they are about $100 more expensive than they were last year because the Canadian Dollar is quite a bit more stable than it was, but they are still a bargain compared to the other options out there. There are plenty that are more expensive, but none of them worth the price increase. There are plenty that are cheaper, but you sacrifice a lot of features that may be worthwhile to you.

WAI is coming, maybe not from Shearwater *the last official statement from them said it wasn't in development and wasn't on the plan for development*, but it will come to technical diving. No one has build a cost effective WAI solution, and no one has built one that really works well with LOTS of transmitters. My last OC cave dive I would have required the computer to behave with 7 wireless transmitters, and none of them can do that reliably. I think the Suunto Eon Steel is the only one that can think about it. Instead of $850 for the Perdix/Petrel and $500 for 7x SPG's and hoses, I would have had to spend $1140 *black friday sale price* for the computer, plus 7*$440=$3080 for the WAI transmmitters. You want to spend $1400 or $4200 to watch your gas? On top of that the Eon Steel really isn't a sufficient technical diving computer due to the algorithm it use. It does have a really nice planning tool built into the software and that is something that Shearwater is seriously lacking in right now, but so is everyone else in the industry so it's not like you are "losing out" against another manufacturer.

 

[gcarter]

Based on your profile, you don't need to spend this much money unless you "want" to spend not because you need to at all. One of the basic Oceanic computers will do just fine with all the features and more you will need. VEO 2 or 3 are a great value indeed.

My first 193 dives were with a Veo 2.0. Great computer. I switched for the screen more than anything but with over 70 dives on my Petrel 2, a mulligan would see me buy the Petrel at the start.

 

[lowviz]

Groupthink.

They are a good product but from what people on SB say you'd think it was able to mix you a cocktail at the end of the dive.

Please keep in mind that I bought the rebreather I have BECAUSE of the Shearwater controller. So I like them. ...//...

Maybe groupthink, maybe not.

I started tech with a VR-3. It will still do everything that I'll ever need for the rest of my life. The mental gymnastics that it requires (to remain proficient in its use) just aren't worth it. I bought a Petrel 2, it is intuitive.

I'm not the least bit brand loyal. All my primaries are ScubaPro MK-17's and MK-15's. My secondaries are all G250 family. ScubaPro made me a whore. I hate them for it. Love the hardware, totally disgusted with the company.

Bought a Shearwater Petrel 2 on a lark during some training so we would all be the same. Love it.

Perfect? No. Intuitive? Oh yes!

If I ever meet either of the Partridges, I'll buy them a beer just for being so involved with (and responsive to) their customers. I take it on all my usual easy dives too, a whopping 14' is typical. Then, I'm just chilling or watching the critters play. I don't want to think. That bitsy little compass on the first screen is good enough to get back home. It was something that Shearwater came up with in response to a ScubaBoard thread.

 

[DMDavid]

I have had just about every version of dive computers since dive computers first came out and my most recent computer was the Oceanic VT3, while the VT3 has been an amazing diving companion it paled in comparison to the Shearwater that I just bought a month ago. I currently dive with both computers because I do like to have the redundancy and air integration of the VT3 but I totally love the easy to read menus on the Perdix and my old eyes love the font size and colors.