Shearwater Perdix 3

Shearwater Perdix 3 Dive Computer Overview

The Shearwater Perdix 3 is a full-size wrist-mount dive computer built for divers who want serious capability without sacrificing reliability. It combines a large 2.4-inch AMOLED display, a Bühlmann GF decompression algorithm, full technical and CCR diving support, and a user-replaceable AA battery in a rugged armoured housing with a precision-engineered titanium bezel.

Where most premium dive computers lock you into proprietary rechargeable batteries, the Perdix 3 runs on a single AA cell you can source anywhere in the world — a practical advantage that matters on remote liveaboards and expeditions. Add wireless air integration for up to four transmitters, GPS support, and a refined user interface, and you have a dive computer designed to grow from a first serious setup into a complete technical diving platform.

Why Divers Choose the Shearwater Perdix 3

1. You are never stranded by a dead battery

Rechargeable dive computers are excellent until you are two days into a liveaboard with a failed charging cable and no spare. The Perdix 3 runs on a single AA battery. Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAs are available globally — at airports, dive centres, supermarkets. In a worst-case scenario, you replace a battery in minutes and dive. That is not a minor convenience. For travelling and technical divers, it is a significant operational advantage.

2. It is genuinely built for technical diving, not adapted from a recreational platform

Many dive computers nominally support technical diving but were designed from the recreational end up. The Perdix 3 was built with technical capability as a core requirement. Trimix, multi-gas open circuit, CCR with fixed PPO2, and full deco planning are not bolt-on features — they are central to what the computer does. If you are working towards technical certifications or already diving in that space, the Perdix 3 handles it without workarounds.

3. Shearwater's interface is widely regarded as the clearest in the industry

Shearwater computers have a strong reputation for presenting critical dive information in a way that is clean and fast to read. The Perdix 3 refines this further with an updated interface and the same high-resolution AMOLED display that makes data legible even in poor visibility or bright tropical conditions. For technical divers managing gas switches and deco ceilings, display quality is not cosmetic.

4. Four simultaneous transmitters changes how you manage gas

Being able to monitor up to four tanks wirelessly on a single computer is a genuine technical diving feature. Multi-stage setups, sidemount configurations, and rebreather bailout monitoring all become more manageable when the computer handles the integration rather than the diver mentally tracking multiple gauges.

5. It gives you room to grow without replacing your computer

The Perdix 3 supports Avelo diving with an unlock code, CCR with fixed PPO2, and GPS transmitter support. Whether you are starting out on nitrox today or planning CCR certification next year, this is a computer that stays relevant across multiple stages of your diving development.

Features and What They Mean in Practice

2.4-inch AMOLED display — 450×600 resolution with aluminosilicate glass

AMOLED screens produce deep blacks and high contrast, which matters underwater where ambient light is uneven. At 450×600 pixels in a 2.4-inch screen, the Perdix 3 has enough resolution to display detailed deco information without the interface feeling cluttered. The aluminosilicate toughened glass lens is the same material used in many high-end smartphone screens — harder and more scratch-resistant than standard mineral glass.

Bühlmann GF algorithm with integrated NDL and deco planners

The Bühlmann model with Gradient Factors is the most widely used decompression algorithm in technical diving. GF settings let you tune the conservatism of the decompression model — divers can dial this to suit their training, physiology, and dive profiles. Critically, the Perdix 3 includes both NDL and deco planners built in, meaning you can plan and review dives on the computer itself without relying on separate software for pre-dive preparation.

Seven dive modes for every type of diver

The Perdix 3 supports Air, Nitrox, 3-Gas Nitrox, OC Technical (multi-gas trimix with decompression), CC/BO (closed circuit with fixed PPO2), Gauge (bottom timer with stopwatch and logging), and Freediving (configurable sampling rates and alarms). The Avelo dive mode is also available with an unlock code. This range covers the full spectrum from simple recreational dives to full technical and rebreather operations on the same device.

Air integration — up to four wireless transmitters simultaneously

Wireless air integration means tank pressure appears directly on your computer display without a physical high-pressure hose. The Perdix 3 supports up to four Shearwater transmitters at once — relevant for stage diving, sidemount configurations, and any setup where monitoring multiple tanks matters. Transmitters are sold separately.

GPS transmitter support

GPS logging adds surface position data to your dive records, useful for tracking dive sites, boat drifts, and entry/exit points. This is a feature typically associated with higher-end dive computers and adds practical value for travelling divers and those diving from inflatable boats or off remote coastlines.

Titanium piezo-electric buttons

Titanium piezo buttons have no moving mechanical parts and no O-ring penetrations. They operate via pressure sensing through the metal face, which eliminates a common failure point in dive computers — the button seal. In cold water with thick gloves, the strong vibration warning alerts on the Perdix 3 also help ensure you catch critical alarms without relying on watching the screen.

Armoured titanium bezel with rugged construction

The Perdix 3 is rated to 260 metres. The titanium bezel and armoured housing are designed to handle the physical demands of technical diving — regular tank handling, cave diving, and the general wear of professional-level diving — rather than simply meeting a depth rating on paper.

High-speed Bluetooth for logging and firmware updates

Dive data transfers to the Shearwater Cloud app via Bluetooth for logging, analysis, and backup. Firmware updates also come through Bluetooth, meaning the computer can be updated as Shearwater releases improvements without any cables or specialist hardware.

Approximately 1,000 hours of dive log capacity

1,000 hours of logging is enough to cover many years of active diving. For divers who value complete records — useful for analysing profiles, tracking gas consumption, and maintaining accurate dive logs for technical certifications — this capacity means you are unlikely to need to manage storage in the short to medium term.

Who It's For

• Experienced recreational divers ready to move beyond entry-level computers
• Divers training for or already active in technical diving
• Freedivers who want configurable apnea mode in a dedicated device
• CCR divers needing a reliable backup or primary wrist unit
• Travellers and expedition divers who cannot always guarantee charging access
• Sidemount and stage divers managing multiple tanks
• Divers who want a single computer that can handle every type of diving they plan to do

Who It May Not Be For

• Complete beginners who only need basic recreational depth and time data
• Divers who want smartwatch features and daily wearability from one device
• Buyers who prefer a compact watch-style form factor over a full-size wrist unit
• Anyone looking for the lowest-cost entry point into dive computers
• Divers who want air integration out of the box — Shearwater transmitters are sold separately

Technical Specifications

Battery Guide

The Perdix 3 takes a single AA battery — a deliberate design choice that makes it one of the most field-serviceable technical dive computers available. Battery life varies by type:

What's Included

• Shearwater Perdix 3 Dive Computer
• 1.5V Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA battery (installed)
• Black webbing strap (double)
• Screen protector
• Product info guide
• Ballistic nylon carry case (130 × 105 × 70 mm)

Shearwater wireless transmitters for air integration are sold separately and are not included.

Related Products and Helpful Links

• Shearwater Teric — watch-style alternative
• Garmin Descent Mk3i — dive computer and smartwatch
• Shop all dive computers
• Shearwater transmitters and accessories
• Explore all dive gear