Comparing Garmin Dive Watches | Garmin Descent Mk2 vs Mk2S vs Mk2i

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Are you a deeply adventurous diver with an active lifestyle topside? Meet the smart dive watch that can enhance both your worlds—the Garmin Descent Mk2, Mk2S for smaller wrists, and Mk2i with air-integration.

Garmin dive watches, like many of their other sport- and activity-focused smartwatches, are rich in diving features while offering advanced metrics and technology to enhance other areas of your life as well.

In this article, we go over the features in this dive computer watch that will enrich your dives, push your performance, and enhance your everyday life. And we’ll show you why the Garmin Descent Mk2i is one of the best dive watches for dive instructors or groups.

New to diving? Watch this Garmin video about diving basics. Learn about recreational diving, technical diving, and freediving—and how a dive computer is essential for all three.

Real quick, before we dive into the features, you should know about the incredible design of the Descent Mk2 diving watch.

First, it has an impressive 1.4" sunlight-visible display, a lense made of sapphire crystal, and a stainless steel bezel. It's beautiful and built to perform wherever you take it.

Now—on to the diving features! Here's what you can expect when you strap this watch-style dive computer on your wrist:

• • Dive Modes — Get multiple dive modes for single and multiple gas dives (including nitrox and trimix), gauge, apnea, apnea hunt, and closed-circuit rebreather.
  • Customizable Dive Modes — Add screens for each dive mode that features the fields you want to see.
  • Surface Multi-GNSS — Track your entry and exit points with advanced satellite connectivity.
  • Dive Log — Store and review data for up to 200 dives — and share via the Garmin Dive app.
    
  • InReach® Compatible — Pair with inReach satellite communicators and the inReach dive case.
  • Battery Life: Smartwatch: Up to 16 days
    Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 50 days
    GPS: Up to 48 hours
    GPS + Music: Up to 15 hours
    Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 96 hours
    Dive mode: Up to 80 hours
    Expedition GPS Activity: up to 35 days

This GPS computer watch as packed with more than dive features. When you're topside, you'll have access to advanced performance metrics, sports apps, and health-monitoring including:

• • Advanced training metrics like running dynamics, heat- and altitude-adjusted VO2 max, recovery advisor and more.
  • PacePro™ Technology
  • Animated workouts right on your watch screen for cardio, yoga, strength, and more.
  • Preloaded activity profiles for running, golfing, indoor climbing, and much more!
  • Mountain biking metrics
  • Surfline Sessions™
  • Topo and ski maps
  • Altimeter for elevation, barometer for weather, and a 3-axis compass.
  • Wrist-based heart rate
  • Pulse Ox
  • Sleep monitoring
  • Recovery time
  • Turn-by-turn navigation
  • Round-trip routing

The Descent Mk2 lineup of dive computer watches goes beyond diving and training features. It also factors in daily life and puts convenience right on your wrist with:

• • Emails text and alerts on your wrist when paired with a compatible smartphone
  • Safety and tracking features
  • Access to your music — Store up to 2,000 songs or access streaming services through your smartphone
  • Garmin Pay™ contactless payments
  • Download custom watch faces, add data fields, and get apps and widgets from Garmin's Connect IQ Store

In Garmin speak, "S" stands for small, and generally signifies that their same advanced technology has been designed into a wearable for smaller wrists.

The Garmin Descent dive computer Mk2S is packed with all the same advanced features as the Descent Mk2, with a few design tweaks for those who prefer a smaller smartwatch on their wrist. Notable differences include:

• • Gorgeous sunlight-readable 1.2" display
  • Smaller, elegant design
  • Available in 3 color schemes: light gold/sand, carbon gray/black, mineral blue/sea foam
  • Battery life: Smartwatch: Up to 7 days
    GPS Activity: Up to 18 hrs
    GPS + Music Activity: Up to 6 hrs
    Max Battery Activity: Up to 32 hrs
    Dive Mode: Up to 30 hrs
    Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 21 days

Monitor your gas and depth with this advanced air-integrated dive computer you can wear on your wrist. The Descent Mk2i watch-style dive computer is loaded with all the advanced dive features, acts as a multisport smartwatch when you're topside, and lets you monitor pressure for yourself and your buddies. Ideal for instructors and group dives, the Mk2i includes:

• • Air Integration — Pair with Descent T1 transmitter for integrated pressure monitoring on up to 5 tanks via SubWave™ sonar data network.
  • SubWave Sonar — Transmit data, such as remaining air time, air consumption rate, and more, for you and your group within a range of 10 meters.
  • Battery Life: Smartwatch: Up to 16 days
    Battery Saver Watch Mode: Up to 50 days
    GPS: Up to 48 hours
    GPS + Music: Up to 15 hours
    Max Battery GPS Mode: Up to 96 hours
    Dive mode: Up to 80 hours
    Dive mode with Descent T1: Up to 32 hours
    Expedition GPS Activity: up to 35 days