Shearwater Nerd 2 Dive Computer (Nerd 2 Stand Alone)

I have used this for several dives. It just gets better each time. Anybody who claims it produces jaw fatigue is just wrong.I compared breathing with my octo vs. the attached nerd 2 and could not sense any difference.It is crystal clear EVERY SECOND of the dive. Case and point: I was just on a urchin culling dive today fora unnamed [politically sensitive] organization. Working with a team of three divers we all have to be watching each other, watching our air consumption, be on the lookout for otters/seals all WHILE hammering/logging # of blue vs. purple urchins. Because of buoyancy issues I am needing to use my other hand to help level myself while I am hammering away. I don't have to keep looking at my wrist for my air (or look at my analog secondary pressure gage). I can literally hammer away with complete confidence keeping an eye on my air consumption each second. I also want to rave about how easy it was to go into a detailed compass mode [to maintain my W, 270º heading] with a few presses on the Nerd2 with my very thick neoprene cold water gloves. I will continue update this review of this incredibly useful technology as I continue to use the features.

I'll post a review since.. well that was what I was looking for and none seem to exist. No one wants to throw down the cash for this without knowing how good it is, so I'll put it simply: This little guy has spoiled me enough I don't even wear a Teric anymore.I live in Hawaii and dive weekly, I've been diving this for about a year, and before that the shearwater teric, and honestly almost every piece of gear I can get my hands on, from a Geo, to a Cobalt 2, to a Garmin Descent. I landed on teric out of the display and data. Since then I moved to this nerd 2. Both see frequent use, but my teric is now reserved for sidemount diving, because it makes no sense to have my nerd on one reg, and due to a nice large display of my transmitters on each tank. If I'm diving anything else, the nerd is it. So...First thoughts1. Admittedly superior to the scubapro HUD, in a few ways (easier on the eyes is big), but primarily the compass. The nerd compass tracks like all shearwaters, smooth as ****.2. Smaller, more out of the way. This sits for me in my bottom right, and I almost never notice it. I can even point it down and away on night dives until I want to see it.3. It fits on my Full face mask with a simple movement from reg to reg whereas others do not.4. The display screen is crisp, clean. Very much like a perdix.Cons:1. While weighing almost nothing, it does the tiniest bit. So you have to set it at the beginning of the dive while holding your mouthpiece firm, and know that if you dive lazy like me it'll drift down slightly until you want to look again. Then just snap your jaw tight. I think this is simply.. the aspect of having it on your reg.2. No dim control. I mentioned before night diving with it. I honestly debated swapping to my teric for its night mode. This guy is briiiiiight at night.Other than that I legitimately have fallen in love with this. It has spoiled me immensely, both diving with a friend, or teaching, or taking DSDs. Want to cross a hundred foot trench at 45 feet? No problem, no need to keep looking at your wrist. Just power across. Safety stop while holding onto 4 inexperienced divers? Done. You got both hands buddy.Its expensive, but it is so. Totally. Worth it.

Writing Reviews for products I like or dislike is easy and when I can help a buyer with my review even better.Introduction:---Shearwater in my view and experience makes great diving products.My Review will discuss three Heads Up Display Dive Computers. The Shearwater Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector and the ScubaPro HUD. I will highlight the three to illustrate the differences.Summary:--Shearwater Nerd 2 [ Use for Open Circuit - SideMount Diving with Full Face MaskShearwater Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector [ Use for Closed Circuit Rebreather with or without Full Face MaskScubaPro HUD [ Use for Open Circuit - BackMount or SideMount Diving with Full Face MaskHardware Highlights:--1. Nerd 2 and HUD are mounted to the FFM with an Accessory Rail designed and sold by Innovate Dive Equipment.2. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector are almost identical in physical form, with the exception of the DiveCan Cord and Plug extending from the bottom of the Nerd 2 base.3. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector are sold with mounting brackets for the Open Circuit Regulator Hose and the Closed Circuit Rebreather Loop Hose [ 2 sizes ].4. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector both come with a plastic lens cover. The ScubaPro HUD does not have a lens cover.5. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector use the same 2-button menu-driven system. Easy to use above and below the surface, even when wearing drysuit gloves with liner.6. ScubaPro HUD uses a Dial and Push menu-driven system. It's more challenging to use above and below the surface, and wearing drysuit gloves with the liner makes it tough.7. The display on the Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector are identical and offer an amazingly crisp font for the eye to view.8. The display on the ScubaPro HUD has a lower resolution and therefore less crisp fonts than the Shearwater Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector. Material difference when viewing them side by side.9. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector units support up to 4 Shearwater Swift Transmitters, even though the documentation originally stated 2 Shearwater Swift Transmitters. The diver can view 1,2,3, or 4 of the cylinder gas readings based on the screen configuration. Multiple gas mixtures are supported for each of the transmitters configured.10. ScubaPro HUD unit supports a single transmitter and a single gas mixture. More about this below when we talk about the display.Firmware Highlights:--1. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector use the same version of firmware and are therefore configurable in the same manner [ settings and screen layout ].2. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector use the same version of firmware as the Perdix AI and are therefore configurable in the same manner [ settings and screen layout ].3. Teric Dive computer uses a different version of firmware than Nerd 2 and Perdix AI therefore the navigation, settings, and screen layout are slightly different.4. ScubaPro HUD uses firmware that is different from the other ScubaPro Dive Computers.5. Installing firmware is simple and well-documented.Display and Screen Configuration Highlights:--1. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector offer a high-resolution screen2. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector offer diver customizable layouts3. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector offer multiple color patterns without losing any clarity of viewing by the diver4. Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector the diver can view 1,2,3, or 4 of the cylinder gas readings based on the screen configuration. Multiple gas mixtures are supported for each of the transmitters configured.5. ScubaPro HUD the diver can view only a single-cylinder gas reading based on the limited screen configuration and lack of support in the firmware.Transmitter Highlights:--1. Shearwater Swift transmitters are paired and configured in the Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector setup using the transmitter's 6-digit serial number and therefore is easy to validate with the visual inspection you are reading from the cylinder you expect.2. Shearwater Nerd 2, Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector, Teric and Perdix AI are able to acquire the transmitter signal quickly and without clumsy pairing on the boat or dive site. This is an underrated feature that crushes ScubaPro.3. All transmitters have limited range and therefore when pairing try to keep the transmitter and the Dive Computer within 1 meter or 3 feet distance with no obstructions.4. If the Shearwater Dive Computer goes to sleep or is turned off the diver can simply turn on the Dive Computer will automatically reconnect to the transmitter without any manual pairing.5. ScubaPro Transmitter pairing is by far the most frustrating aspect when using the ScubaPro HUD. If the HUD goes to sleep or is turned off the diver can turn on the Dive Computer and check for 3 dots in the gas pressure field. If 3 dots are visible then pairing is active and waiting for pressure change. Otherwise, the diver will need to perform manual pairing.Benefit Highlights:--1. Diving without consciously looking at your wrist every 10 minutes is delightful and becomes second nature for your eye to take a peak at the Nerd 2 display or HUD.2. Diving in limited visibility conditions allows the diver to have access to dive data with their eye versus trying to view the wrist computer, which in some cases is unreadable.3. Divers can set a compass mark when departing a jetty or land entrance and then easily see the mark on the compass as they navigate the dive site.4. Having near-eye access to your depth, water temp, gas pressure, ascent | descent speed, RMR, SAC, Deco Requirements, and other material dive data makes diving easier, fun, and more relaxing.5. Once you dive with a HUD you will never want to dive without it.6. When placed properly the Nerd 2 or HUd become invisible in your field of view and only when you look at the display is it visible. This was unexpected.7. Photographers often get lost in taking pictures and forget to check their dive computers. Having it near the eye makes it easier. You can also flip the Nerd2 or HUD out of the way if needed.8. The Shearwater Nerd 2 and Nerd 2 with DiveCan Connector and the ScubaPro HUD are fully functioning dive computers.Closing Argument:--1. If I only had enough money for a single diver computer I would get a Nerd 2 first before buying a wrist computer due to all the benefits of a Heads Up Display.2. Diving a Heads Up Display makes you a better diver, a safer diver, and a more alert diver.