Shearwater

Powerful. Simple. Reliable.

In the early 2000s, technical dive computers were complicated, unreliable, and often unreadable in the dark. Bruce Partridge, a Canadian technical diver with a background in computer systems, decided he had had enough. In 2004, he founded Shearwater Research with a vision to build a computer that prioritised information clarity above all else. Today, Shearwater is not just a brand; it is the industry standard for technical diving.

Walk onto any technical dive boat in the UK, and you will see a sea of Shearwater screens. Whether it’s the rugged Petrel, the streamlined Perdix, or the watch-style Teric, these computers are revered for their “connected” philosophy. They run the Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with user-adjustable Gradient Factors, allowing divers to tailor their decompression profiles to the specific cold and strenuous conditions of British waters.

The genius of Shearwater lies in its interface. It gives you the information you need, when you need it, without clutter. The bright, high-contrast displays cut through the gloom of a Scottish sea loch, and the two-button interface is easy to operate even with thick drysuit gloves. For the serious UK diver, Shearwater offers the ultimate reassurance: a computer that thinks like a technical diver and refuses to fail.