Hunter Bierce, PADI Scuba Instructor
We went diving with the new Garmin Descent Mk2i. This is a cool dive computer with a user experience that was clear to see and use before, during and after the scuba dive. The amazing multi-sport functionality is truly impressive – both for the amount of activities and the depth of info. We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think: It’s clear that Garmin has put improvements on the Mk2 that appeal more to technical divers than the first Descent provided, but this is still apparently a dive computer for primarily recreational divers. It’s limited to 100 meters, so tech divers using different gas mixtures can monitor them all, but an instructor may find it more useful to have real-time data of 4 other students plus their own at once. Of course, that will require the Mk2i and buying extra T1 transmitters which will go on sale sometime closer to New Year’s. Beyond the air integration feature with SubWave technology that only the Mk2i has, the only other difference is that it has a titanium bezel and backplate, whereas the Mk has stainless steel. Like the Mark 1 apnea diving and closed-circuit rebreather-modes are available on an even-better 1.4 inch display. With the Garmin Dive app finding dive spots with entry/exit points is useful, as is the preloaded dive data for wrecks reefs and tide data. Just look on the app for a new spot, mark it and your Mk2 will show you the way. As a dive computer and smartwatch, the suite of apps (Garmin Dive, Garmin Connect, Garmin Golf, Garmin Explore and Garmin IQ) demonstrate its applications topside as a multisport GPS watch, the likes of which they have been making with a lot of success over the years (check out the Fenix series). Of the available apps for topside activities, the addition of color maps for over 42,000 golf courses worldwide is impressive and appeals to a leisure segment, while runners, hikers and climbers will appreciate the altimeter, as they did on the Mk1. New on the Mark 2 is the ability to store and listen to music, and having all the smartwatch features like an NFC pay system (Garmin Pay), a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels and telephone notifications (call, text and calendar) make this a truly exciting cross-over. The display is a third bigger than the Mk1, having a screen size to show all these activities. And yet, the new Descent is not bulky to have on. Quite the contrary. With a solid battery life (16 days in smartwatch mode, up to 80 hours in dive mode or 32 when paired with the T1) and assuming the SubWave ecosystem lives up to the hype, the Mark 2 seems to have provided a wristwatch unlike anything else on the market, save its predecessor. Take it on an expedition with the GPS running up to 35 days; go running with music playing for 15 hours (if you’re an ultra runner, for example); or go diving for a whole weekend without ever having to take it off for recharging. Let’s recap Garmin’s latest splash by examining their first foray into diving with the Descent Mark 1. Where the Mk1 Shined The Descent took the idea of a wrist-worn dive computer to truly bridge the gap to something that was also a smartwatch with everyday applications like health tracking. The touchscreen user interface is much more akin to a smartwatch than to the sometimes clunky layout of a dive computer. Impressive battery length and all the other features you would expect to find in fitness-based smartwatch Despite all of its other features, the Descent is still a dive computer at heart. Between such features as the built-in plan mode, adjustable salinity settings, automatic altitude adjustment, and compatibility with up to six gasses in a single tank, the Mk1 is one of the most well-rounded contenders in the dive computer market. In spite of its achievements as a reliable computer, the biggest highlight of the Mk1 is its navigational capabilities. Both underwater and on the surface, the Descent functions up the hard-won Garmin standard. This should come as no surprise given their legacy as a leader in wearable GPS. The Descent Mk1 was a modest success, impressive given that it was Garmin’s first attempt at making a dive computer. But it wasn’t without criticism. Rumors abound that Garmin considered feedback from expert divers very seriously, that is now brilliantly reflected in the recently released Mk2 and Mk2i.Garmin Descent Mk2 & MK2i Dive Computer Review
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Garmin Descent Mk2i
Garmin Descent Mk2 & MK2i Dive Computer Review: Key Specifications
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