SCUBA Diving Wrist Computer

I have been diving with the Aeris 300XT for over a decade having purchased it in June 2014.  Aside from a couple of battery replacements and pressure testing, it has not required any maintenance and has served me well.

The Shearwater Term is a big step up.  Obviously technology has come a long way.  Features that I will use:

• Bluetooth wireless technology
• USB charging
• Full color AMOLED
• Screen Brightness

The Aeris is not intuitive to navigate.  Pushing the left/right/side button takes you different places and I always have to check the manual before hand.  It is also clunky having the computer/pressure gauge/compass all on one unit.

I have wanted a wrist computer for quite some time.  I have periodically looked at the Suunto, Mares, Cressi and Garmin models.  The price has steadily dropped as well from the $1200 price point to under $500 with bare bones as low as $200.

At this writing:

Teric - $1195

Perdix 2 - $1165

Tern TX - $795

Tern - $595**

Peregrine TX - $750

Peregrine - $575

The difference between the Tern and the Tern TX is air integration and the digital compass (3 axis, tilt compensated).  I am a little leery of air integration.  Regarding the compass, I have only used one locally.  I would like to experiment with a digital compass, but I am not willing to pay $200 for that capability.  I love the AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode).  It is wonderful for my older eyes.

Of my past 58 dives, 39 have been in the Coral Sea and 19 have been destinations.  I have not done an ocean dive since our Hawaii trip in 2019.  

Why buy now?  The price is right (along with $65 credit for Viper Fins), I like the company, and I will be servicing my BCD/Regulator shortly and can have the hoses swapped out (from Aeris 300XT to Scubapro Pressure Gauge).

My SCUBA Journey (training, destinations, equipment)

• 2005 - (4) Certification through Scuba Joe in Boulder and open water dives in Cabo (mask/snorkel)
• 2011 - (4) Refresher course before trip to Florida for Raj & Nancy wedding
• 2013 - (9) Started diving at Coral Sea, Oahu trip (bought booties, fins, 3mm wetsuit and BCD)
• 2014 - (15) Rainbow River dives (Aeris Regulator/Computer/Gauges)
• 2015 - (22) Bahamas; West Palm, Florida
• 2016 - (29) Peak Performance Buoyancy, Equipment, Underwater Navigation (7mm wetsuit)
• 2017 - (33) - Miami
• 2018 - (35) - Key Largo
• 2019 - (40) - Maui, Kona (SS1)
• 2020 - (44)
• 2021 - (47) - (Scubapro S560 regulator)
• 2022 - (50)
• 2023 - (52) - (Dive lights, Bare Exotherm Jacket, 5mm wetsuit)
• 2024 - (55)
• 2025 - (TBD) - (Wrist Computer)

$946 - Lake User Fee/4th of July

$585 - Tank/Weights/Rental Gear

$456 - Training

$2,781 - Basic Scuba Gear

$722 - Exposure Gear

$738 - Equipment Service

$71 - Back-up gear ($164), Misc Gear ($263), Credit (less $356)

--

$6,299

Ballpark another $1,300 for guided dives and rental gear in Cabo (4), Oahu (2), Rainbow River (2), Bahamas (2), West Palm (2), Miami (2), Key Largo (2), Maui (2), Kona (1)

Not a cheap hobby, but not outrageously expensive

I have also purchased rash guards and board shorts primarily used for diving.  I used my old hunting gloves for exposure protection.  I will likely buy a dedicated pear of Mechanix Gloves for diving.

Getting outfitted again:

• Mask - $100 (bought new twice)
• Fins/Booties - $150 (bought new, bought back-up used)
• BCD - $500 (bought used for $100)
• Regulator - $800 (bought new twice)
• SS1 Back-up - $450 (bought new)
• Computer - $600 (bought new twice)

Annual service is required on BCD/Regulator/Octo/Safe Second.  For my level of use, it makes more sense to rent than own my own scuba gear.

My future plans would include additional training towards advanced open water.  I still consider taking a dive trip with the shop.  I have considered upgrading my BCD.  It fits really well, but the weight pockets suck and I tend to just keep the weight in the jacket pockets.

I would like to set up my gear a little better with dry box clipped into my BCD.  Moving from Aeris 300XT (all in one) to Pressure Gauge (on retractor), Computer (on wrist), Compass (on second retractor or on bolt snap).  I still have no plans of carrying a flashlight or dive knife for most dives.

• Travel - 2 tank - mask, computer, logbook, defog, cert card, dramamine
• Local - mask, computer, BCD, reg, fins/booties, exposure, compass, save a dive, spare mask, buddy cord
• Extras - snorkel, flashlight, dive knife, SMB, snap bolts, mask cases
• Always rent - tank, weight
• Back-up - Aeris 300XT console; low pressure hoses; regulator is trash, but I could use the sleeve