Shearwater’s renowned Peregrine computer has been enhanced in 2024 with the Peregrine TX version, now offering wireless air integration and a digital compass.
Tailored for recreational divers, the Shearwater Peregrine TX focusses on precision and dependability, offering all data in one place.
A dive computer that can do it all and display data with ease, makes diving a joy, not only does it improve safety on dive trips, but it boosts the entire experience with effortless features.
During my recent diving holiday in Philippines, there was one minor detail of this computer that completely changed my underwater experience, that was the ease of monitoring data from all angles. Let me explain…
- AI capability (with Swift transmitter)
- Clearly displays lots of data on one screen
- Great price for what you get
- Customisable
- None!
Table of Contents
Specs/Technical Info
- Screen Resolution: 320 x 240
- Display Type: Full colour LCD
- Display Size: 5.59cm / 2.2"
- Battery Type: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery (factory replaceable)
- Wireless Charging Station
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours (medium brightness)
- Number of Gases: 3 (1%-100% O2)
- Depth Rating: 120m / 394ft
- Dive Log Capacity (10 second rate): 400 Hours
- Size (Dive Computer): 77mm x 68mm x 25mm
- Weight (Dive Computer): 125g
- Air integrated
In early April 2024, Shearwater reached out to see if I was interested in an upcoming campaign around a new unit…of course, I jumped at the chance. A few days later, the Peregrine TX landed at my door.
Unboxing the Peregrine TX
Here’s what’s in the box of the Shearwater Peregrine TX, including the cables, protector and more:
- Wireless charging station with USB-C cable
- Inspection checklist card
- Product info guide
- Screen protector
- Standard length black strap and grey shock cord
- Durable protection case
As I’ve discovered from testing other Shearwater products, each component is crafted to offer both aesthetic appeal and functional durability, reflecting their commitment to high standards. I also love that they use eco-friendly, reusable case for their dive computers—showcasing, as a company, their respect and understanding for the preservation of our planet and ocean conservation.
Performance
The performance of the Peregrine TX was impressive during my dives in the Philippines, and I thoroughly enjoyed testing it in the water.
I gave a close look at the features, from its display to the battery life, to the air integration reliability and its durability. Read on to get the lowdown.
Display
The Shearwater Peregrine TX boasts a bright and clear 2.2-inch colour LCD screen. This display makes it easy to read crucial dive information in various lighting conditions, ensuring visibility even in low light or murky waters.
One specific feature, a minor detail, truly changed the game. Having used both the Teric and the TernTX, my expectations were high, and the Peregrine TX did not disappoint. The ability to see all essential data without cycling through screens made my dives smoother and more enjoyable – the Peregrine TX’s clarity and responsiveness truly stood out.
You can adjust the screen to show essential data like the digital compass and gas information, providing a personalised and user-friendly interface. The two-button navigation system further simplifies the process, making it intuitive for both beginners and experienced divers. This perfect clarity, and customisation options, ensures that divers can focus more on their underwater adventures and less on navigating their dive computer.
Personally, I found the display of the Peregrine TX to be a game-changer during my dives in the Philippines. The bright, color-coded information was incredibly easy to read, even in the dimmest conditions. Customising the display to show exactly what I needed meant I could concentrate on the dive itself, rather than fumbling through screens underwater. The combination of all these great features improves safety and convenience, making it an excellent choice for divers seeking reliability and ease of use.
Algorithm
The Shearwater Peregrine TX utilises the revered Bühlmann ZHL-16C decompression algorithm with gradient factors and, like its predecessor, it will never lockout for dive plan deviations and offers full decompression support.
This algorithm is known for its precision and adaptability across a wide range of diving scenarios. It offers adjustable conservatism settings, allowing divers to customise safety margins based on their individual needs and exposure levels ranging from high and low settings.
This adaptability makes it an excellent choice for divers who navigate varying depths and engage in longer bottom times, ensuring safer decompression strategies are always in play. The reliability of this algorithm is a major confidence booster during dives.
The computer implements Gradient Factors
creating varied levels of conservatism.
For a more detailed explanation of their meaning,
please refer to Erik Baker’s articles:
“Clearing Up The Confusion About Deep Stops” and
“Understanding M-values”
Dive Modes
The Peregrine TX features four dive modes to cater to diverse diving activities from ranging from air to 3-gas nitrox.
Fully equipped with Air, Nitrox, Gauge, and 3-Gas Nitrox modes, it provides the most relevant information and safety features for each type of dive.
Air Mode is streamlined for straightforward air diving, but the ability to bring in the other modes ensures that this dive computer can adapt to your needs as a diver looking to progress or explore other areas of the sport.
Nitrox Mode allows for enriched air diving with adjustable oxygen levels up to 40%. Gauge Mode turns the computer into a depth gauge and timer for free diving, or as a back up on technical dives, and the 3 Gas Nitrox Mode supports deep technical dives requiring more than a single gas mix.
It’s an extremely flexible dive computer and will be the perfect buddy for recreational divers to technical divers, and everything in between.
Air Integration
“I particularly appreciated the reliability of the air integration feature, which kept me well-informed of my gas status throughout our dives, adding a layer of safety and confidence to my underwater adventures.”
The air integration (AI) feature of the Peregrine TX enhances dive safety with real-time data – I think I can safely say that recreational and sport Shearwater fans across the world welcome this new addition to the Peregrine model!
Communicating wirelessly with the Swift transmitter it continuously monitors and displays gas pressure, simplifying tank management. This real-time data allows divers to monitor their remaining air supply down to the minute.
Now, let’s be honest, that’s what we are all here for isn’t it? Since the release of the Peregrine in 2020, divers have asked for the AI feature. It’s clear this is the direction the industry is heading, and Shearwater has excelled at listening and delivering on these demands.
The air integration feature of the Peregrine TX, while not completely replacing my traditional gauge, provided a reliable alternative – in fact, my gauge became my backup. After spending some time cross checking the data, I felt confident in the wireless transmitter’s strong and accurate connection, allowing me to depend on the computer for critical dive data. With the flick of a wrist, I could check quickly my remaining gas and get straight back to watching the Thresher sharks.
Compass
The digital compass in the Peregrine TX is a key navigational tool and a welcome new feature to the Peregrine, allowing divers to easily keep track of their orientation.
This tilt-compensated compass provides accurate headings regardless of the dive computer’s angle, invaluable for underwater navigation. Especially in conditions where visibility is reduced or the underwater topography is complex.
Easy to access and read, it integrates seamlessly with other data on the display, helping divers maintain their planned course without difficulty. The compass’s reliability is a major asset during intricate dives.
From my experience, the compass was incredibly reliable. It provided precise navigation and the vibrant colours of the LCD screen added to its clarity. I believe compass integration into any dive computer is a fantastic feature for new divers. It simplifies the dive setup by consolidating essential tools into a single device, enhancing convenience and reducing clutter. This streamlining not only improves the overall diving experience but also helps maintain a cleaner, more organised gear setup.
Alarms
“Vibrational and visual alarms on the dive computer were crisp and clear, alerting me immediately to any critical changes in dive parameters, which will be reassuring during more challenging dives.”
The Peregrine TX is equipped with configurable alarms for enhanced safety, providing attention-capturing visuals and strong vibrational alerts.
These alarms include ascent rate warnings, depth limits, gas time remaining, and decompression ceiling breaches. The vibrational alarms are designed to capture the diver’s attention effectively, ensuring that divers are promptly alerted to potential issues and can react swiftly to mitigate risks.
The visual alerts were bright and easily caught my eye, even in low-light conditions. The vibration alerts were powerful enough to get my attention without being disruptive. This combination of visual and tactile feedback made it easy to stay aware of important dive information.
Durability
The Shearwater Peregrine TX is built to withstand tough diving conditions. Its robust design and high-quality materials ensure it can handle the rigors of frequent diving.
The device features a ballistic nylon polymer case and a scratch-resistant screen, offering excellent protection against impacts and abrasions. From my personal experience, the Peregrine TX’s durability really did stand out during my dives.
As a wrist mounted console, it is larger than the Tern and the Teric, yet its compact design, despite the large screen, felt light and comfortable on my wrist. I liked how there are two mounting options to choose from the silicone strap or a shock cord. The device felt solid and well-constructed, providing peace of mind that it could endure the rigors of various diving conditions. This resilience is a hallmark of Shearwater products, known for their long-lasting performance and reliability.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Peregrine TX is exceptionally long and, when it does need charging, the USB powered wireless charging base makes it a whole lot simpler.
Even after multiple back-to-back dives, the Peregrine TX’s battery held up impressively, ensuring that my dive plans were never interrupted by power issues. This was particularly reassuring, especially when diving from a small island prone to power cuts.
During extensive testing in the Philippines, the battery impressively retained about 50% of its charge after more than ten hours of continuous diving with air integration actively engaged. This endurance is ideal for divers planning multiple dives or extended underwater adventures without the convenience of frequent recharging.
Shearwater Peregrine vs Peregrine TX
The Peregrine TX builds upon the solid foundation of its predecessor, the original Peregrine, by introducing air integration and a digital compass.
While both models share the intuitive two-button interface and support multiple dive modes including Air, Nitrox, and Gauge, the Peregrine TX advances the technology with the addition of these two popular features.
These new features make the TX version an invaluable tool for divers who require detailed gas management and precise navigation capabilities. The screen on the Peregrine TX is the same as the screen on the Peregrine, but don’t let that put you off – there was little to be improved upon. This comparison highlights the evolution of Shearwater’s dive computers, maintaining their user-friendly approach while integrating advanced functionalities.
For just a couple of hundred pounds more than the original Peregrine, the TX brings some fantastic features to the game. The Peregrine currently retails at £500 GBP whilst the Peregrine TX is £690 – such a relatively small price increase for these advanced additions. It actually becomes very cost effective by purchasing the combo package of the Swift and the TX together, offering a nice bit of savings than purchasing separately.
Final Thoughts
The Shearwater Peregrine TX redefines the integration of technology and user-centric design in dive computers.
Through my testing in the Philippines, it has proven to be an essential tool for divers aiming for extended, safe, and informed underwater experiences. I also appreciate the customisation options, from on-screen text size, colour, data display, to wrist straps.
Reflecting on it all, I find it amazing that Shearwater has achieved everything for the Peregrine TX while keeping the price tag reasonable. It is the perfect long-term companion for recreational and sport divers—an investment well worth your money.
Shearwater’s commitment to developing dive computers tailored to all segments of the market is clear. They offer a range of products from watch-style and wrist-mounted computers for entry-level divers, such as the Tern and Peregrine, to the TX range for those seeking advanced features like air integration and compass functionality.
For committed technical divers, Shearwater provides the Teric and Perdix 2, fulfilling the needs of those requiring robust, feature-rich devices to ensure their safety on more challenging dives.
Join me in welcoming the Peregrine TX to this line up, exemplifying this dedication, offering durability, advanced features, and ease of use, making it a valuable addition to any diver’s gear.
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