Unboxing the Shearwater Tern and Tern TX
Since seeing the Tern and Tern TX at DEMA 2023, we have been looking forward to getting our hands on them. Shearwater dive computers and accessories are known for coming with well-made protective cases, and the Tern computers didn’t disappoint. The nylon carrying case has a small zippered pocket that includes a quality checklist, which gives the computer a more personal touch, knowing an actual human has inspected and tested it.
There is also a wireless charging unit, with a rubberized button, that the Tern “clicks” into when it’s time to juice up the rechargeable battery.
Key Features
In terms of usability and aesthetics, both Tern models are identical. Externally, they differ in that the Tern TX has a black bezel and the Tern a silver one. The Tern TX has a higher price point because it can connect to four Swift Shearwater transmitters and includes a digital compass.
When doing underwater photography, I often place my dive computer directly on the housing. With Tern TX’s air integration, I could simply look up from my camera and all my important information such as NDLs or remaining air was clearly displayed. I never had to awkwardly find my SPG, potentially spooking my subject.
The Tern TX can connect to four Swift transmitters, so the practicality of having all your scuba diving information isn’t reserved for single-tank divers, but also multi-tank divers, like sidemount. Having all the information displayed on your wrist just adds a layer of convenience and comfort.
Dive Display
My favorite feature of the Tern and Tern TX is, by far, its stunning display. At 1.3 inches (33 mm) wide, the screen is a full-color AMOLED screen that’s bright and easy to read. You can adjust the screen’s brightness from high to medium, low, or off.
At medium brightness, the Tern and Tern TX both have 20 hours of battery life. I liked how easy it was to change the brightness with the top left button, without having to search for the function, hidden deep within the settings. Before each dive, I bumped up the display’s brightness. Once the dive day was done, I toned brightness down to low—or even off—to save battery life and not be so distracting.
Customization
The display is full color, highly contrasted against a black background. I could easily read all the relevant information, whether I was night diving or out in the bright morning sun. In the settings, I could customize values, titles, units, the watch face, and more in a range of 15 different display colors.
My only issue with the Tern/Tern TX is that the display is made from toughened glass and not scratch-resistant sapphire crystal like the Teric. Perhaps it’s just me, but when diving I tend to bump my computer into hard surfaces, like tanks or the ladder on a bumpy exit. I think having a scratch-resistant screen would go a long way with the longevity of its use. Note a pre-installed screen protector does catch the vast majority of screen scratches.
The color customization isn’t reserved for just the AMOLED display—both the Tern and Tern TX offer a wide range of Remora straps. Divers can choose from webbing with a buckle or a classic watch strap made from silicone. The Remora webbing straps are available in black, orange, and pink. The Remora silicone straps are available in black, orange, pink, navy, and gray.
All Remora straps click off and on, so I could wear a pink strap to match my scuba gear and then swap over to a classic black strap for the evening. The silicone straps are sold in a regular and a longer version, so you may not need to buy another strap to fit the watch over a drysuit, for example. The shorter strap is 4.5 inches (11 cm) and the longer strap is 5.5 inches (14 cm), which might be tight for any larger divers in drysuits.
Down in the Depths
The Tern and Tern TX, made with recreational divers in mind, are marketed as convenient dive computers to be worn every day.
For this reason, the depth rating is 395 feet (120 m), comparably shallower than the tech-focused Perdix, which is rated to 660 feet (200 m). For vacation divers or recreational dive professionals, a depth rating of 395 feet is more than enough.
Usability
Many of us only dive a few times a year, and the last thing we need in the flurry of unpacking and setting up all our dive gear on a liveaboard or at a resort is to ask ourselves, “How do I use this computer again?”
That won’t be an issue with the Shearwater Tern and Tern TX, which each have four buttons and functions displayed directly on the bezel. A button’s function will also appear on the screen, so the button can feature multiple functions without you ever getting lost in a complicated menu. The user experience of having four buttons, coupled with a crystal-clear display, meant setting the Tern to nitrox, which can be a bit of a nightmare on a new dive computer, was child’s play.
As previously mentioned, the Tern and Tern TX are marketed as recreational dive computers that can be worn continuously. By pressing the bottom left and then the top right button, divers can swap between “watch” and “dive” modes. I liked that once my diving day was done, I could change the Tern’s display to a much more simplistic analog or digital watch face.
When I jumped in for a dive, regardless of which mode I was in, the Tern or Tern TX would, after a few feet (meters) start the dive. Divers can choose between a “standard” or “big” layout, which is either three or four lines of dive information. Before the dive, you can choose where the information is displayed on the screen, and also the brightness timeout lengths. During the dive, I used the bottom right button to toggle for more information and the top right to access the digital compass.
Value
We think the Shearwater Tern dive computer offers great value for money, which is something divers don’t often hear when it comes to dive computers. The Tern TX and the Suunto D5, are very similar; the only considerable difference being that the Tern TX is cheaper by a few hundred dollars.
As for the Tern, it’s missing the tech gas settings of the comparable Garmin Descent G1. However, if you don’t intend to use that functionality, the similarly priced Tern is a much more stylish computer. Plus, the AMOLED display is a whole other level to G1’s black and white screen.
Do we recommend the Shearwater Tern and Tern TX?
We do recommend both the Tern and the Tern TX—it just depends on what functionality you’re looking for. Reviewers really enjoyed diving with the Tern, from the smart look to the excellent display and the intuitive usability.
The Tern is great for every day, or at least throughout your next dive vacation. If you’re looking for air integration or want to have a digital compass, then the Tern TX is the right choice for you.
Specs & Features
| Color | Tern; silver bezel; Tern TX; black bezel |
|---|---|
| Display type | full color AMOLED |
| Display size | 1.3 inch (33 mm) |
| Screen resolution | 360×360 |
| Battery | rechargeable Li-ion battery; lasts 20 hours on medium brightness |
| Computer size | 50 mm diameter; 16 mm thickness |
| Depth rating | 395 feet (120 m) |
| Number of gasses | 3 OC |
| Dive modes | air, nitrox, 3-gas nitrox, gauge, freedive |
| Alarms | haptic |
| Dive log capabilities | 500 hours; divers can use Bluetooth to upload to Shearwater Cloud |
| Transmitter compatible | Tern TX can link to four T2 Transmitters |
| Weight | 3.5 oz (100 g) |
| Number of buttons | four |
| Compass | digital compass only on Tern TX |
| Wrist straps | Remora webbing in black, orange, and pink; silicone straps in black, orange, pink, navy, and gray |
Good review! I do love my Tern TX.