Shearwater Research is a Canadian dive computer manufacturer renowned for using the fully transparent Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with user-adjustable gradient factors — a level of algorithm control normally reserved for decompression planning software. Their air-integrated models (Teric, Perdix AI, Perdix 2) use the proprietary SWIFT wireless transmitter and support up to two simultaneous tank feeds, making them the dominant choice among technical and rebreather divers worldwide.
Shearwater Research was founded in Vancouver, Canada, with a single goal that distinguished it from every competitor in the dive computer market: to put full, professional-grade decompression algorithm control directly in the diver's hands. When the Predator launched in 2008 as the first consumer dive computer offering user-adjustable gradient factors, it fundamentally changed what technical divers expected from their equipment. Before Shearwater, adjustable GFs were the exclusive domain of decompression planning software. After Shearwater, they became a standard demand.
That philosophy — transparency, control, no black-box conservatism — has defined every Shearwater product since. And when the company extended its range into air integration, it brought the same approach: a proprietary SWIFT transmitter system that plugs into the same open ecosystem its algorithms already inhabited.
Which Shearwater Dive Computers Have Air Integration?
Not all Shearwater computers support air integration — only models with the SWIFT transmitter protocol are compatible. The Teric, Perdix AI, Perdix 2, and Petrel 2/3 all support SWIFT air integration. The Peregrine, Peregrine TX, and Tern do not. The "TX" suffix on the Peregrine TX refers to a text messaging feature, not transmitter capability — one of the most common sources of confusion when researching Shearwater models.
| Model | Air Integration? | Max Transmitters | Form Factor | Algorithm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teric | ✓ Yes | 2 | Wrist watch | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
| Perdix AI | ✓ Yes | 2 | Wrist unit | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
| Perdix 2 | ✓ Yes | 2 | Wrist unit | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
| Petrel 2/3 | ✓ Yes | 2 | Wrist unit (canister-compatible) | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
| Peregrine | ✗ No | — | Wrist unit | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
| Peregrine TX | ✗ No | — | Wrist unit | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
| Tern | ✗ No | — | Wrist unit | ZHL-16C + GF Hi/Lo |
⚠ Verify at shearwater.com before purchasing. Data correct March 2026.
The Shearwater SWIFT Transmitter: How It Works
The Shearwater SWIFT transmitter threads directly into a spare high-pressure (HP) port on your regulator first stage and transmits full tank pressure wirelessly to your Shearwater computer throughout the dive. Each compatible computer (Teric, Perdix AI, Perdix 2) can pair with up to two SWIFT transmitters simultaneously — enabling sidemount divers to monitor both tanks, or technical divers to track a decompression cylinder alongside back gas. Battery ~100–150 hrs, CR2 user-replaceable.
The SWIFT transmitter is compact, purpose-built, and entirely passive from a gas-safety perspective: it reads pressure from a port that would otherwise be capped, adds no hose to the system, and transmits via a proprietary encrypted wireless protocol. The computer receives tank pressure readings at regular intervals and calculates GTR (Gas Time Remaining) based on current depth, live breathing rate, and the pressure curve.
SWIFT Transmitter Compatibility Requirements
Your regulator first stage must have at least one free high-pressure (HP) port to accept a SWIFT transmitter. HP ports are threaded openings rated for full tank pressure (up to 300 bar / 4,350 PSI). Most DIN regulators include HP ports. A-clamp (yoke) regulators vary — check your specific model. Never remove a working port cap without ensuring a replacement is available.
If you are running sidemount with two SWIFT transmitters, each cylinder's regulator first stage requires its own available HP port. Confirm availability on both regulators before purchasing two transmitters.
Shearwater Teric: The Benchmark Wrist Computer
The Shearwater Teric is the best overall air integrated dive computer for 2026 — combining a stunning 1.39" AMOLED display, dual SWIFT transmitter support, full technical algorithm capability (OC, CC, Gauge, Freedive), and a form factor compact enough for daily wear.
Specifications
- Display
- 1.39" AMOLED 454×454px — finest display of any dive computer
- Algorithm
- ZHL-16C fully adjustable GF Hi/Lo
- Air Integration
- 2× SWIFT TX
- Modes
- OC · CC full rebreather setpoints · Gauge · Freedive
- Battery
- Rechargeable ~25hr dive / 4 days surface
- Depth
- 200m
- Gases
- 9 OC or 3 diluents + 1 bailout CC
- Weight
- 78g
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth — Shearwater Cloud iOS & Android
Strengths
- AMOLED display — unmatched in dive computers
- Watch-sized — daily wearable
- Full technical CCR + Trimix support
- Dual SWIFT TX — sidemount ready
- Magnetic charging dock
- Shearwater Cloud dive logging
Limitations
- Highest price in Shearwater range
- Smaller screen than Perdix AI
- Battery slightly shorter at high brightness
⚠ Requires SWIFT transmitter (sold separately). Verify HP port on your regulator first stage before purchase.
Shearwater Perdix AI: The Technical Diver's First Choice
The Shearwater Perdix AI is the definitive air-integrated computer for technical divers — its larger 2.1" colour LCD is easier to read through thick gloves and in low-visibility conditions than the Teric's watch-sized screen, while delivering identical algorithmic capability at a lower price. The "AI" designation refers specifically to air integration via two SWIFT transmitters — it is the sidemount diver's computer of choice.
Specifications
- Display
- 2.1" Colour LCD 320×240px
- Algorithm
- ZHL-16C fully adjustable GF Hi/Lo
- Air Integration
- 2× SWIFT TX
- Modes
- OC · CC · Gauge · Freedive
- Battery
- Rechargeable ~25hr
- Depth
- 200m
- Gases
- 9 OC
- Weight
- 175g with strap
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth — Shearwater Cloud
Strengths
- Large 2.1" screen — glove-friendly
- Identical algorithm to Teric
- Dual SWIFT TX — sidemount ready
- Exceptional build quality
- Lower price than Teric
- Global technical community favourite
Limitations
- Bulky — not daily wearable
- Colour LCD (not AMOLED)
- No GPS
- Requires bungee for canister mounting
⚠ Requires SWIFT transmitter (sold separately). Verify HP port on your regulator first stage before purchase.
Teric vs Perdix AI — How to Choose
Choose the Teric if you want daily-wearable form factor and best display quality; choose the Perdix AI if you dive in thick gloves, low visibility, or prioritise screen size and budget. Both share identical algorithms, air integration (2 SWIFT TX), and depth rating (200m). The difference is purely form factor and display technology.
Teric vs Perdix AI — Choose Your Priority
Choose the Teric if:
- Daily-wearable watch form factor matters
- You want the best display quality available
- Recreational or technical in reasonable visibility
- You want the most compact air-integrated technical computer
Choose the Perdix AI if:
- Cold water — you dive with thick gloves
- Low visibility where larger screen aids readability
- Budget is a consideration (~$150 less than Teric)
- You prefer larger displays for multi-gas management
The Shearwater Algorithm: Why Gradient Factors Matter
Every Shearwater computer uses the Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with fully user-adjustable gradient factors (GF Lo and GF Hi) — the same algorithm and control level used in professional decompression planning software like V-Planner and Subsurface. Most competitor computers hide their algorithm behind a "conservatism level" slider. Shearwater exposes the actual GF parameters, giving technical divers full visibility and control.
Lower GF = more conservative, deeper first stops, longer decompression. Higher GF = more liberal, shorter stops. This transparency is the primary reason Shearwater is the default choice among decompression-capable divers globally. When you adjust your GF settings, you know exactly what you are changing — not an opaque conservatism dial that could mean anything.
For recreational divers, this level of control may be unnecessary — but it is never harmful. Default GF settings on a Shearwater computer are set at conservative recreational parameters. The control is there when your diving evolves; you do not have to use it until then.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shearwater models with SWIFT air integration: Teric, Perdix AI, Perdix 2, Petrel 2, Petrel 3. Models without air integration: Peregrine, Peregrine TX, Tern. When buying specifically for air integration, confirm the exact model name before purchasing.
No — the Shearwater Peregrine is not air integrated and does not support the SWIFT transmitter. It is an excellent affordable recreational computer with the same Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm as the Teric, but without wireless gas monitoring. For Shearwater air integration, you need the Teric, Perdix AI, or Perdix 2.
No — the Shearwater SWIFT transmitter uses a proprietary protocol and is only compatible with Shearwater air-integrated computers. It will not pair with Garmin, Suunto, Scubapro, or Mares computers. Each manufacturer uses a brand-specific transmitter protocol.
The Shearwater SWIFT transmitter battery lasts approximately 100–150 dive hours on a CR2 battery. For a diver doing two 60-minute dives per day, that is roughly 25–37 dive days before replacement. The CR2 is user-replaceable. Always carry a spare CR2 on extended dive trips.
Compare Shearwater Against All 2026 Models
See how the Teric and Perdix AI stack up against Garmin, Suunto, Scubapro, and Mares in our full editorial comparison.
Full 7-Model Comparison →⚠ Not diving instruction. Verify transmitter compatibility with your specific regulator before purchase. SWIFT transmitters are Shearwater-only.