Shearwater Tern Dive Computer

If air integration and a digital compass are not on the shopping list, the Shearwater Tern is often the cleaner buy. It gives recreational divers Shearwater's familiar interface without charging them for functions they will not use. Its watch-style proportions are easy to live with on dive trips and between dives, while the 1.3-inch full-colour AMOLED display keeps essential information distinct and easy to scan. Four physical buttons provide direct control with wet hands or gloves, with no reliance on touch input underwater.

Tern covers Air, Nitrox, three-gas Nitrox, Gauge and Freediving modes. That range leaves useful room for a diver moving from entry-level recreational diving into more deliberate Nitrox planning, and for someone who alternates between scuba and breath-hold sessions. Decompression calculations use Bühlmann ZHL-16C with adjustable gradient factors, giving the computer a well-established foundation without adding Trimix or rebreather functions that many recreational divers will never use.

That focus is part of the value, but it needs to suit the diver. There is no transmitter connection and no compass, so tank pressure remains on a conventional gauge and navigation requires a separate instrument. In return, Tern stays smaller and less expensive than models built around those functions. The configurable display, substantial onboard log and Bluetooth transfer support clear review without turning the computer into a smartwatch; it remains a dedicated dive instrument.

Wireless charging is handled through the supplied USB-C charging station, and the Remora quick-release band system makes it practical to change the fit for different exposure protection. At medium brightness, Shearwater specifies as much as 20 hours of battery endurance, which suits normal recreational use provided charging is included in trip preparation.

Tern is the sensible choice if compact size, Freedive mode and straightforward operation matter more than integrated pressure or navigation. Tern TX adds both of those capabilities in the same general format. Peregrine offers a larger display but drops Freedive mode, while Teric and Perdix 3 are for divers who genuinely need Trimix or CCR support.