Just got my Garmin Descent Mk2i. While an amazing computer on its own, it’s hard to recommend unless “ability to remotely monitor someone else’s tank” is a top priority. I’ve heard from a lot of people that compare it to a Terric and they tend to prefer the Terric, AND the Terric is cheaper.

Oh, it’s an excellent sports watch for those that use them for other activities, but realistically I don’t.

I use the zoop. It's good for recreational diving

I really like my Perdix AI and I think is the best in it's form factor for OC diving.

It all depends on the type of diving you will be doing and your budget.

We find that the Shearwater range is an excellent choice if you have the budget and want top end functionality.

We find most recreational divers, simply don't need (or use) many of those functions. Zoop and Mares Puck are reliable and more than sufficient for most.

Best is Shearwater Perdix or if you want a watch format Shearwater Teric.

Reasons it's best... While all computers can cover recreational diving the Shearwater line of computers will legit take you from Open Water to scary ass deep Technical diving. Many computer manufacturers claim they can do this but they are compromised in one way or another (poor choice of deco algorithm, lack of customisation of your risk tolerance, lock out for violation). Shearwater is the most common computer used as a controller on rebreathers.

Shearwater computers also have very clear screens that can be easily read underwater. They also have a very simple interface with only two buttons. This makes them easy to use.

They have easy to change commonly used batteries in the main models or rechargeable batteries in the smaller form factors so no sending back to get a new battery.

Finally Shearwater have a reputation of going above and beyond for customer service

I personally own (for me and my stepdaughter) a rebreather with a Shearwater Petrel built in, a Petrel, a NERD2 and two Perdix.

I wouldn’t go for Suunto, they should close up the company. Go for garmin if you would like a daily watch that you can use for other sports

These are all great computers - I’m a test diver for a scuba gear magazine column, and got to try the Suunto Ocean and Shearwater Tern. They are both fantastic - if you go with the Tern, get the TX you will probably want the air integration eventually.

I generally don’t like Suunto, but I loved the Suunto Ocean and it might be my pic for a purely recreational computer. I dive caves so I’ll never own one, but highly recommend them to open water friends. Beautiful easy to use display, and a customizable Buhlmann algorithm with custom GF etc. The safety stop timer is super slick, and it’s just a pleasure to dive with.

Shearwater, great customer service and regular updates that are simple to do. Used my Tern Tx in Truk Lagoon alongside a Perdix AI and it performed perfectly.

Shearwater, don’t look anywhere else. Get a Tern TX and you will have a computer for many years.

On top of being an amazing product it’s also an amazing company with the BEST customer service if you ever have an issue. Take it from me, I have a handful of SUUNTO computers most with air integration and a single Teric. In five years with the Teric never an issue. I can’t say the same about the others which always have random issues with the AI pods and the connections. On top of the useless SUUNTO customer service.

I just bough apeks DSX loving it so far.

Tight budget - Garmin Descent G1

I have the mk2s.

G1 does everything the mk2 does but without the colour display and it's good plastic rather than titanium top.

But functionality is the same and the battery lasts longer.

Scuba and freediver

Garmin descent all the way.

You COULD use the Apple Watch Ultra too but it’ll only record your down to 40m. Really depends on what kind of diving you do and what your other priorities are

Editing to add: I have the Solar G1 which I really like for the size btu think the solar capablity was a gimmicky waste of $100. It lasts 17 days on a single charge while diving / surfing / workout tracking every day with GPS.

If you are not fussed about transmitter - Descent G2 is a no brainer in my opinion

I'm looking at my Garmin MK1 on my wrist, we are 8 days in and I'm at 17% - this is the same first battery out of the box that I got 6 years ago

I know it has a stopwatch, but I must admit I wouldn't know where that function is - as I have never used it :D

Fenix 8 also does 40m and is far superior to the apple ultra 2 in terms of battery, bit cheaper than the descent I think if you only need that depth. But if you’re doing any tec dives, then no good for you

What I do as a divemaster is use my Garmin Forerunner 945 for all my above water activities and I use my Shearwater Perdix AI for my scuba diving stuff.

I chose the Garmin 945 because I have been using garmin products for the last 10+ years as a multisport athlete. I have had their cycling computers, running watches, and multisport watches. I will say that it sucks when a mountain bike crash destroys your wrist based computer, ask me how I know. But luckily the wrist based computer was not also my diving computer.

Your dive supervisor’s opinion is well-meaning but a bit bonkers I think; I don’t know any dive pros routinely busting their computers helping students or guided divers. In fact, you’re most likely to see Shearwaters and Garmins on the arms of dive pros, because they’re the ones invested enough in the hobby to make it worth it.

As to specific computers, those are all good choices. Almost all my cave/tech buddies are on Shearwater, but the Garmin Mk3i is a wonderful computer, esp if you’re planning to use it as a smartwatch for other activities. The Suunto Ocean is a very nice recreational computer but not in the same league as a Teric or Mk3i, if you have any plans of eventually tech diving. You’re going to be using your computer a LOT - buy one you love.

For what it’s worth, I dive Shearwater computers in the Florida caves several times a week, and I’m fairly sure all our sharp rock and limestone does more of a number on them than accidentally bumping a client’s weight belt (??). If you’re really concerned, Shearwater has phenomenal customer service - they will fix/replace your computer for just about any damage in the first couple years, and even send you a loaner while they’re working on yours. Dive computers are meant to be used. Use yours.

I love my Shearwater Perdix. It's very tough, takes an AA battery, can track 2 tanks, has a great compass and transmits data via bluetooth. I've had it for 7 years with zero issues.

Buy two. One for scuba life support exclusively and one for all the other above water crap.

My Perdix has been bashed around and abused since I got it in 2016 and is still going strong.

Got to agree with most here that the dive computer won’t make you a better diver, your own desire to be better is the key factor.

The computers are a tool to give your more information and can help you improve, but more than once most of us that dive often have seen the diver on a boat peeling off the plastic of their new computer and never read the manual or are asking the boat crew how they set up their computer.

You described the features, but didn’t describe the diving you typically do. There’s definitely a strong voice in the sub to have the latest and greatest technology as well as the most recommended gear by the GUE crowd.

But honestly, most divers don’t need this. A computer that keeps you out of deco and improves your overall safety is plenty.

I have 2 shearwater perdixes. They categorically dont make me a better diver. I don't use a digital compass. Underwater GPS is not a thing that is available to civilians. The color LCD screen is fine, but all I track are three things: depth, bottom time and temperature. Sure, I track my NDL, but my dives are so conservative (single tank, nitrox, depth hard limits) that it doesn't matter.

So why did I buy em? Just cause.

I got the mk2i because of the ability to monitor more than 1 tank at a time and I can use it for everything outside the water so it doesn’t just sit on the shelf. My wife is my dedicated dive buddy and we can monitor each others air for redundancy.

Honestly, the majority of divers will be totally fine with a cheap Mares Puck or Suunto Zoop

To expand on what I said (And your question was excellent because you narrowed down on an important point: Does this make you a better diver?). Diving is an expensive hobby. People (including myself) tend to compensate for skill issues by buying gear. There is some gear that I absolutely believe helps. But some times finding out what is a gear issue and what is a skill issue is a part of the process. In this case, I think the Shearwaters are amazing computers, incredibly intuitive interface. A joy to use. But almost none of that matters because as a recreational diver, the things that make me a better diver: team diving skills, gas/dive planning, trim, buoyancy, finning techniques, peripheral awareness, task overloading all are things that are learnt by either learning from better divers, training with better divers and doing more diving.

The dive computer (at least for me) is not the limiting factor.

I'm a Shearwater fanboy and I've stated that several times here.

I'd push you to the Shearwater for a few reasons. I'll try to put my bias aside. It also sounds like it's down to Shearwater and Mares
The color screen will make life a lot easier. When you do get to advanced and NDL is a thing, that different colored alert is great. It will also just be easier and nicer to read when you're using it.
Shearwater's interface is extremely-well thought out and tested. Two buttons that make sense. All data is in an intuitive location.
It's just simple to connect it to Subsurface. I've had real problems trying to get Mares data into Subsurface.
Shearwater service is second to none. They have been amazing to me. I had a Mares. It took me nine months to process a warranty claim. I will never buy another Mares anything because of this.

I'd advise you to just spring for the Peregrine TX now because AI is a nice quality of life feature and if you like to geek out on data, it's more data for you to look at. You can see what your SAC was at each stage of the dive; that's neat.

The Shearwater app does allow you to look at a ton of data but I really just don't like it for anything other than the data aspect. I download the data from my computers to the Shearwater app maybe every 50 dives or so if I remember.

Thank you for considering others when it comes to alerts. Happy diving.

Shearwater all the way, easy to use amazing company!

Peregrine. No contest. Peregrine tx to future proof it for when you have your own reg set Tern. Same as peregrine, but in a watch form Tern TX same as peregrine tx, to future proof out.

These two comply with all your non-negotiables.

Shearwater Peregrine tx

Love my Peregrine.

Why not also get him a D4i?

You have one, you know what it shows and how it works making it easy for him to ask questions about it. It is compatible with Air integration and also have freediving mode to play around with while snorkeling. Having the same brand will also make it so you can have the battery swapped at the same place, not requiring two potential locations etc... Plus if both of you are out of the water for a longer amount of time it will be easy for you to help each other to 'relearn' the computer again

At $549, the Garmin Descent G1 is a fantastic wristwatch-style dive computer, looks great, and has a lot of other smart-watch functionality.

The dive log integration is super slick.

The only reason not to get shearwater peregrine is the price, but if you're looking at 500$ then it's no brainer

Shearwater peregrine if he plans to dive often but not go tec. Cressi Leonardo if he just wants a simple but reliable inexpensive computer.

Garmin descent g1

I used the Leonardo from OW to Divemaster and was perfectly satisfied with it. It's not the fanciest and the interface can be a bit clunky but it is accurate and reliable. If you get something better later you can put it in gage mode and use it as a backup.

save up a bit more for a peregrine or look for a used peregrine/petrel

the ease of use and readability of the screen is a buy once cry once situation for shearwater over cheaper options

Aqualung i330r

Suunto zoop novo

A used Cressi Leonardo will run you under $100 (in the USA anyway, on eBay). I used one for a decade without any issues, until I eventually outgrew it. I still have a friend who owns a dive shop in SE Asia who uses his as a backup. It’s just a good watch style dive computer that doesn’t have frills but works well.

If you can stretch your budget a little further, a used Shearwater peregrine would be great… but if you don’t plan to dive very often, that’s probably overkill. Stick with the Leonardo unless you think diving is going to be a regular thing for you. If that’s the case, peregrine.

Very interesting for a Fenix 8. I did think about having a F8 but decided against and thinking of buying an Enduro 3 instead because

1. I don't dive.
2. I have no need for speakers/ microphone as I'm deaf and speech impediment

Nonetheless, thanks for the fascinating insight into the use of dive features. Other divers would thank you for that feedback.

>I'm accustomed to having a full-size (large) compass with a rotatable bezel. With Garmin not having this, I need to pay closer attention to the degrees. Yesterday, it was 254⁰ to get back to my starting point. Not a big issue, but something I have to get accustomed to. 

May not solve your problem exactly, but I find if I go into the compass setting once I've descended and select "set to reciprocal," it will put a green marker at the heading back to the starting point.

Thanks for the review. Can the Fenix 8 be connected to a tank wireless transmitter for tank level readings?

Thanks for the review mate! Interesting :)

The Descent series allows for a larger compass bezel type display, while still showing your depth, NDL and dive time. With the Fenix 8 you’re limited to the 1/3 compass display, as you mentioned.