Shearwater Computer

[diverbjf]

Any advice about the new Petrel vs the Preditor?

[a64pilot]

I think they are essentially identical, except the Petrel is smaller, lighter and can use readily available batteries and has a much larger memory for dive logs? I think the display is nicer on the Predator, but not by much, others say they can't tell the difference. If I didn't already have a Predator, I'd buy the Petrel over the Predator, if nothing else I would assume support for the Predator would go away before it would for the Petrel.

[cavediver4life]

Predator has my vote, only beacause of the OLED.

[MORGAN]

I think they are essentially identical, except the Petrel is smaller, lighter and can use readily available batteries and has a much larger memory for dive logs?

Yup, and a couple hundred bucks cheaper. I've been cave diving with my new Petrel pretty much every day for the last two weeks and couldn't be happier with it.

[Jax]

I understand that the Predator OLED manufacturer has gone out of business, so the Predator is in effect "orphaned", but I believe Shearwater will continue to support it until the existing numbers attrit to unsupportable.

However, they are fine computers and I expect to see a lot come on the market used as the geeks upgrade.

[jcook]

Petrel is MUCH better than the Predator. The LCD display is much easier to read than the OLED on the Predator. Not even going into the fact that it is HALF the size of the Predator, you can use a wide variety of batteries, and it's much cheaper. I love my new Petrel.

[temrich]

Jordan, could u photo the predator with the petrel? I am curious of the view from the side. Aside from the size, is there that much of a noticeable difference in the screen view?

[jcook]

Jordan, could u photo the predator with the petrel? I am curious of the view from the side. Aside from the size, is there that much of a noticeable difference in the screen view?

Look on the Shearwater Facebook page, they have a ton of pictures. I got rid of my Predator a long time ago for my X1. The new screen is much brighter and easier to read, again, side by side pictures comparing the Petrel and Predator on the Shearwater page. I posted a picture of it next to my X1 in the dark in the Equipment forum.

[cwswine]

I hope this shows the difference in size. As far as the OLED and LED I think in low Viz the OLED has the advantage over the LED but I would says the difference would be measured in inches. I like the Petrel so much that I will be selling my Predator in the near future.

Anyone know how to reset the divelog in the newest version of the software since they removed "reset log" from the options. I would like to delete all dives and set back to factory default before I put it for sale.

I tried to convince my wife that the Petrel wasn't a new computer but just a software upgrade to the Predator but it didn't work.

[a64pilot]

I think if you leave the battery out for a little while, the memory is reset. I think there is a capacitor that will hold memory for a short while to facilitate battery change, but I'm probably thinking about my GPS or something.