The word alarm does not tell you whether a dive computer makes a sound, vibrates, shows a message or combines those outputs. Before buying, identify the alert hardware you expect and check the exact model’s documentation. A phone demonstration with an added soundtrack cannot answer that equipment question.
Ask whether audible output exists
Shearwater’s Perdix 3 support FAQ explicitly says the computer does not have audible alarms and describes its customisable vibration system. If sound is part of your purchase requirement, that is a concrete hardware distinction to resolve before ordering. It does not mean the computer has no alerts.
The manufacturer’s description is not a TRIMIX comparison of which alert is easier for a particular person to notice. Do not convert a statement about vibration being available into a guarantee that it will be perceived in every equipment arrangement or environment. Likewise, a notification visible on a screen is a separate output to record, rather than an assumed sound cue.
Read the conditions attached to a supported output
The Suunto D5 online guide, Alarms, warnings and notifications, describes colour-coded display messages, audible output if tones are on, and vibration that can be enabled or disabled for dive alarms, notifications and warnings. Those qualifications belong beside the feature in a comparison. The presence of sound hardware does not establish the state of a particular unit.
This is an example of reading the applicable instructions, not a recommendation to alter alert settings. Keep a computer’s daily alarm, phone notifications and dive-related alerts distinct when asking for a demonstration. Similar words in different parts of a manual may describe different functions.
Build an alert-specific comparison
- List the exact computer model and the instruction set being consulted.
- Record whether sound, vibration and visual messages are documented.
- Note any stated mode or enablement conditions without guessing the delivered settings.
- Ask an authorised dealer or instructor how to assess the outputs during appropriate familiarisation.
Include your intended wearing arrangement in that discussion. A specification sheet cannot establish personal perception through the clothing you use, and this article reports no measured loudness or vibration strength. Alert functions also do not replace regular instrument monitoring, training or understanding the displayed information.
Use the TRIMIX inquiry buying guide and ask about actual computer availability and exact-model documentation if exploring supply. Neither example has a verified TRIMIX listing or stock in this guide. Preparing a request does not send it or place an order.
Evergreen equipment guide checked November 5, 2026. Both manufacturer pages are undated current documentation, not evidence of a new launch. TRIMIX has not tested either computer’s alert output, underwater perceptibility or the configuration of an individual unit.
Join the discussion
Share a question or a useful experience about this article. Every comment is reviewed before it appears.