Field Reviews
Scuba Gear Reviews
Firsthand field reviews of scuba equipment I have actually used. The focus is what the gear is like to own and dive, where it works, what compromises show up over time, and whether it remains in my kit.
Dive Computers
Tern TX
Updated
The Tern TX is now my backup computer to the Perdix, and I would dive either wherever and whenever I dive. Its compact size, clear display, and dependable air integration have earned my trust across pool training, local quarry work, and warm-water travel. Backup describes its place in my setup, not a limit on where I would use it.
Still in my kit
Viper - Novo
Updated
The Suunto Vyper Novo is a basic, button-driven dive computer aimed at entry-level recreational divers who want a traditional wrist-mounted unit without a color display. I used this computer deliberately to evaluate it across cold-water quarry dives, tropical dives in Hawaii, and pool sessions while working as a Divemaster. Despite doing the fundamentals correctly, the interface and screen readability consistently got in the way. While it costs less than modern color-screen alternatives, the usability gap is large enough that the savings are hard to justify.
No longer in my kit
Watch Ultra 2 w/ Oceanic+
Updated
I already owned the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for everyday use, so I was curious how it would perform with the Oceanic+ app in real-world dives. I tested it in both cold Midwest quarries and warm reef dives in Fiji. I never intended to use it as a primary computer, but I wanted to see how well it handled casual scenarios. The short answer: it’s fine for shallow vacation dives, but nowhere near a substitute for a dedicated dive computer.
Still in my kit
Genius + AI
Updated
I used the Mares Genius for about a year across warm and cold water wetsuit dives. I wanted a full-featured computer with air integration and a large screen, and the Genius looked like it fit those needs. In practice, poor software design, lack of customization, and a neglected ecosystem held it back. Despite solid hardware, it is not a computer I recommend today.
No longer in my kit
Perdix 2 + Air Integration
Updated
If you are looking for a dive computer you can rely on every single dive, the Shearwater Perdix 2 AI has earned that reputation. It is not trying to be fashionable or gadgety. It is built to deliver rock solid performance without clutter. After using it across drysuit dives in cold Midwestern quarries and reef dives in Fiji, I trust this computer more than anything else in my kit.
Still in my kit