• Petrel 2 Manual - English
• Petrel 2 Recreational Nitrox Mode Manual - English
• Petrel 2 Compass Pages Only - English
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - French
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - German
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - Italian
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - Japanese
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - Spanish
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - Polish
• Petrel Manual v1.2.0 - Chinese

• Petrel 2 Release Notes - English
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - French
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - German
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - Italian
• Petrel 2 Release Note - Simplified Chinese
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - Traditional Chinese
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - Japanese
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - Korean
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - Thai
• Petrel 2 Release Notes - Spanish
• Petrel 2 Release Notes -Portuguese

Note: Updating the firmware will reset the decompression tissue loading.

1. Ensure that you have the latest Shearwater Cloud installed
2. In Shearwater Cloud, click or tap on the Connect icon
3. On your Petrel 2, press the MENU button repeatedly until the Bluetooth option is highlighted and then select it by pressing the FUNC button
4. After a successful connection is achieved, select UPDATE FIRMWARE in Shearwater Cloud
5. Follow the instructions in Shearwater Cloud

Please visit the Shearwater Cloud Support page for details.

The downloads for the Petrel or the Petrel 2 are the same downloads, and are found here

Yes.  The original Petrel and Petrel 2 have the same firmware versions, and updates for either will be posted in our firmware downloads section.

For full instructions with pictures explaining the best way to remove and replace the O-ring, please click here.

The official determination of whether a Petrel supports the compass is checking the hardware version in:
System Setup->Adv Config->System Info

For SA and EXT:
Hardware version 2.4.0 or higher has the compass and Bluetooth Smart Ready.

For DiveCAN models:
Hardware version 3.4.0 or higher has the compass and Bluetooth Smart Ready.

We are sorry that you are having a problem with your dive computer that can't be resolved with our FAQ’s.  If your dive computer needs some kind of repair, simply email us at info@shearwater.com to initiate the process.

Please include your name, address and phone number,  description of your problem, your unit model, S/N and Firmware Version.  We’ll get you an RMA number and instructions on how to send your computer in for repair.  Please do not return your computer to us or any of our service centers without an RMA number.

To find your S/N and firmware, turn on your computer (unless it won’t turn on) and from the main screen press the right side button 8-10 times until you see the S/N displayed (lower left) and Firmware (lower right) of the screen.

While almost any kind of AA battery will work with your Shearwater Petrel 2, 1.5V lithium batteries like the Energizer Ultimate Lithium work best. This battery type performs well in a wide temperature range and is much less likely to leak and cause damage to your dive computer.

Read more here: https://www.energizer.com/about-batteries/battery-leakage

Battery life depends on your settings. The two main factors effecting battery life are: screen brightness and battery type.

The “Auto” brightness setting measures the ambient light to adjust the screen brightness for the best balance of battery life and screen readability.

On medium brightness a 1.5V alkaline battery gives about 35 hours of operation and 6 months of standby (battery in but computer turned off). The Shearwater Petrel uses a small amount of power while turned off to keep track of your tissue loading. Other types of batteries will give anywhere from 30 to 90 hours on medium brightness.[/accordion]

How can I tell if my Petrel1 has battery contact issues?
This issue is only present in computers built before January of 2014; this is because they were not built with gold plating.

If your computer exhibits the following symptoms, then this issue may apply to you:

• Spontaneous Resets
• Flickering of the Display
• Lower than expected battery life
• Fluctuating battery levels

Please refer to this document to help solve your problem.

The Shearwater Petrel has a super capacitor that provides power to the computer during a battery change. The Shearwater Petrel uses a small amount of power even while turned off to keep track of your tissue loading.

This super capacitor has enough energy to maintain your tissue status for at least 15 minutes. This means that if your battery change takes less than 15 minutes you can continue with repetitive dives. Additionally, you will not need to set the date or time as the Petrel will have remembered it.

The standard decompression model is Bühlmann ZHL-16C with Gradient Factors.
Also, the VPM-B decompression model is available by purchasing an unlock code.
More information can be found in the Other Downloads section.

Recommended reading is Clearing Up The Confusion About “Deep Stops” – Erik C. Baker, P.E. 

The GF99 value shows the current leading tissue inert gas super-saturation percent gradient as defined by the Bühlmann ZHL-16C decompression model. If that sounds confusing, then recommended reading is Erik Baker’s paper, “Clearing Up Confusing About Deep Stops”.

This value can be used as a rough measure of the current decompression risk. A value of 100% (Bühlmann’s originally allowed super-saturation limit) is now generally accepted to be too risky. The GF low and high conservatism settings are used to scale Bühlmann’s original limits to reduce risk of decompression sickness. The default GF low value of 30% limits the super-saturation gradient at the deepest stop. The default GF high value of 80% sets the surfacing limit. Between the deepest stop and the surface the GF limit is linearly interpolated.

The GF99 value shows the current super-saturation as a percentage of Bühlmann’s original limits. If no super-saturation exists, then the GF99 displays “On Gas”. Once a super-saturation exists, the GF99 is displayed in green. It switches to yellow when the GF99 exceeds the value defined by the GF conservatism settings. Above 100% it is displayed in flashing red.

In extreme conditions, decompression risk can be traded for operational risk by using the GF99 display. For example, in a low-gas situation or perhaps a bailout or injury, you may want to get to the surface faster, but not blow off all the remaining decompression stops. You could then violate the stop displayed by the Predator, and decide to follow a more aggressive GF99, say 95%. This will get you out of the water faster, at a higher risk of decompression sickness, while still remaining within some limits. Upon resurfacing, appropriate action for omitted decompression should be followed such as rest, surface O2, monitoring symptoms and contacting DAN or other diving medicine center.

Conversely, the GF99 value can also be used to add conservatism. For example, if you knew that you had been exposed to factors that increase decompression sickness risk such as exercising during the bottom time or being colder on deco than the bottom, then you could use this value to extend shallow stops. Of course, you could always just add a few minutes to your last stop, but this gives a quantitative measure to correlate with “how you feel” after the dive.

The @+5 (at plus five) feature shows the Time-To-Surface (TTS) in minutes if you were to remain at the current depth for 5 more minutes. The main screen NDL value can be setup to show @+5 once deco is required. The @+5 can be compared against the current TTS to provide a variety of information.

The @+5 can be used as a measure of how fast decompression is accumulating. For example, you could be on a wreck with a scheduled time to meet back at the boat. By looking at the @+5, you can tell how much more deco time staying 5 more minutes on the wreck would cost, and plan accordingly (keeping of course within gas quantity and other limits).

Also, the @+5 value can be used as a rough measure of on or off gassing and the current deco efficiency. For example, say you are decompressing from a deep dive where there is a nice reef at 50 feet. Once the 50 foot stop has cleared, it may not seem too appealing to just head up to the deco line to hang. If you look at the @+5 and it is 4 minutes less than the TTS, then this means you are getting about 80% deco efficiency, so you might decide to hang out to enjoy the reef a little longer. Once the @+5 has drawn equal with the TTS, you are no longer decompressing effectively. This means staying 5 more minutes will make the dive 5 minutes longer, but the deco stops won’t be any longer. This is helpful information in deciding when to head up.

Depth is not measured directly. Dive computers measure pressure, and convert this to depth based on an assumed density of water.

Water density varies by type. The weight of salts dissolved in salt water make it heavier than fresh water. If two dive computers are using different densities of water, then their displayed depths will differ.

The water density is adjustable on the Predator. In the Advanced Config 1 menu, the Salinity setting can be set from 1000 kg/m³ to 1040kg/m³. A cubic meter of pure water has a mass of 1000kg. So what we are setting is the mass of salts dissolved in the water.

Some guidelines:

• Fresh Water = 1000kg/m³
• EN13319 = 1020 kg/m³
• Salt Water = 1025 to 1035 kg/m³

The EN13319 (European CE standard for dive computers) value is between fresh and salt and is the Predator default value. The EN13319 value corresponds to a 10m increase in depth for pressure increase of 1 bar.

Watch the tissues demo video.

In Gauge Mode the Petrel does not know what gas you are breathing and therefore cannot track the inert gas tissue loading.

• The Shearwater Petrel should be stored in a clean, cool and dry environment.
• Do not allow salt deposits to build up on your dive computer. Wash your computer with fresh water to remove salt and other contaminants.
• Do not use detergents or other cleaning chemicals as they may damage the Petrel dive computer.
• Allow to dry naturally before storing.
• Do not wash with high pressure water as it may damage the depth sensor.
• Store the Shearwater Petrel upright and out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry and dust free environment. Avoid exposure to direct ultra-violet radiation and radiant heat.
• Do not store batteries in the Petrel for long periods (several months). Batteries can and do leak, so don’t risk your expensive computer on a simple task like removing batteries. Dead batteries are at a higher risk of leaking.

See the Petrel_vs_Predator comparison pdf.

Shearwater offers a worldwide 2-year warranty on all products. The warranty lives with the unit, not with the original purchaser. This means that whether you buy your unit from our dealer network or second-hand, the warranty will still be effective.

Shearwater will, at its sole discretion, repair or replace defective products covered under warranty.

Unauthorized repairs, accidental damage, or negligence are not covered by the warranty.

The warranty covers included accessories such as chargers and straps.

Do I need to register my computer for warranty?

No. The warranty is linked to the computer’s unique serial number.

Who do I contact if my computer needs a repair?

You can contact our support team directly at info@shearwater.com or fill out the RMA form (Return Merchandise Authorization) here: RMA Request

You may also contact your closest authorized service centre directly using the contact details at the bottom of the page.

Please do not return any products without first obtaining an RMA from the relevant service centre.

How much will my out-of-warranty repair cost?

A computer that comes in for an out of warranty repair will need to be disassembled to properly test the components to determine the failure. Once the failure has been determined, we will be able to accurately calculate an estimate for the necessary repairs. Please note that to prevent usage of potentially non-functioning computers, if you decline the repairs, and wish to have the computer returned to you, it will be returned disassembled.

How long will the repair take?

Shearwater and its authorized service centres aim to finish warranty repairs and authorized out of warranty repairs within 5 working days of receipt.

Delays in repair time may result due to holidays, parts delays, and/or the requirement for the computer to be repaired at a different location.

Please contact the relevant service centre for a more accurate timeframe.

What is Shearwater’s service shipping policy?

You are responsible for the cost of sending in the computer for repair. As a reminder, do not send your computer to any repair centre until you have obtained an RMA from that repair centre. For in-warranty repairs, the computer will be shipped back at no charge. For out of warranty repairs, the return shipping charge is included within the repair estimate. If you have an out of warranty repair that you choose to decline, you may ask to have the service centre destroy it or ship it back at your cost. 

How often should I have my computer serviced?

Shearwater recommends a general service of your dive computer every 2 years by an authorized service centre. 

Does the warranty cover the rechargeable battery in my Teric/Peregrine?

It is important to follow the directions for charging/storage in the computer’s manual to ensure peak battery performance.

If the battery is not meeting performance specifications within the 2-year warranty period, it will be repaired free of charge. Variations to battery lifespan can be expected due to operating at extremes of the rated specification, such as high environmental temperatures or repeatedly fully discharging the battery.

Battery Leaks

Damaged caused by battery leaks in dive computers that use a user changeable battery is not covered under warranty. Shearwater recommends the use of a lithium battery such as the Energizer Ultimate Lithium 1.5v battery to reduce the chance of battery leaks. Leaving AA batteries (especially alkaline batteries) in devices for extended periods of time significantly increases the chance of damage from a battery leak.

DEMO & PRO Computers

Please note that the warranty with our Demo & Pro model computers are only available to the original purchaser. For demo models, this means the authorized demo centre that purchased the computer. For Pro models, this extends to the original instructor/dive professional that was confirmed at time of purchase. This warranty is absolutely non-transferrable as these models are not intended for resale.

Repairs/service can be performed on Demo and Pro models, but if you are not the original owner, there will be a cost for the service.

These guidelines apply to standard Shearwater products only and any governmental products, including military, commercial, and public safety, may be subject to their own warranty conditions – please consult your representative for further information.

Need a repair? Find your nearest service centre here.

Please see our troubleshooting section here.

Shearwater recommends service of your dive computer every 2 years by an authorized service centre.

To purchase the VPM-B upgrade you can contact any dealer from our dealer network, provide them with your serial number, and request to purchase the unlock code.

Yes, we recommend you remove all batteries from your unit if you intend to store it for an extended period. This is especially important for Alkaline batteries because they have a tendency to leak when they have fully discharged.

The name of the o-ring used is AS568-112. The size of this o-ring is 1/2" ID by 3/32" width. This is the same o-ring used in the majority of DIN regulators (not Apeks however).

You can use replacement o-rings made of either nitrile, EPDM, silicone or viton. Be sure to use a lubricant compatible with the o-ring material selected. We recommend a Shore 70A durometer, however both harder and softer will work.

To improve the sealing performance and O-ring life span, the battery compartment O-ring gland design has been changed from a crushed gland to a radial gland. Identification of the new radial cap can be made by reading this article. All units being shipped from our factory currently have a radial battery cap.