Garmin Descent G1 Review

The new Garmin Descent G1 wristwatch is certainly a powerful dive computer.

Garmin’s previous diving watch was the Descent MK2S, released in 2021. The device was available in three color schemes: pale gold, grey, and mineral blue. It was a more compact and less expensive version of the original.

You can go back further and read about the original Garmin dive watch, the MK1, here.

What is new about the Garmin Descent G1?

The Descent G1 is less than half the price of the previous model. Garmin was able to save money by adopting a Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel instead of a steel bezel. This watch’s fiber-reinforced polymer body, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens, and five leakproof buttons have all been kept.

Inside the Garmin Descent G1

The sensors inside are nearly identical to the versions before it. It has a plethora of features, making it an ideal fitness, sleep, and health monitor. To assist you in reaching your health goals, 30 built-in sports applications and sophisticated training capabilities, as well as new additions such as Fitness Age and Health Snapshot, are accessible.

Unfortunately, there is no onboard music storage, which is offered in MK2 devices. As a result, Bluetooth and ANT+ are the only protocols supported. Descent G1 does not even allow you to manage the audio on your smartphone. However, Garmin Pay, notifications, calendar reminders, and incoming call alerts are all included.

Other useful features

One of the numerous capabilities featured in the Descent G1 Series is sleep tracking with a sleep score and built-in indoor and GPS sports applications that include favorites like swimming, hiking, running, cycling, golf, yoga, and surfing. Garmin’s whole suite of advanced fitness capabilities, including VO2 Max, Fitness Age, Training Status, Recovery Time, HIIT Workouts, and Daily Suggested Workouts3, will be incorporated in the G1 series’ performance tracking and measuring.

Users with a compatible smartphone can use associated features such as Garmin Pay to make mobile payments, receive call and message notifications, set up calendar reminders, check social media, and stay updated on the latest news. Like all other Garmin smartwatches, the Descent G1 series works with both Android and Apple devices.

The display itself saves a significant amount of money. In comparison, Descent G1’s is noticeably poorer in quality. Instead of the MK2S’s 1.2-inch Sunlight-visible, transflective MIP, a monochrome (176×176 pixels) MIP with bespoke two-window 0.9′′x0.9′′ design is used (240×240 pixels).

The dimensions of this new watch are 45.5 x 45.5 x 15.2 mm. It is regarded as a “middle-of-the-road” MK2 due to its modest diameter.

Leakproof inductive buttons and a water-resistant construction certainly make this a robust device suitable for use down to a depth of 100 meters. You can see metrics like depth, dive time, temperature, NDL/TTS, ascent/descent rates, gas mix, PO2, N2 loading, decompression/safety stop information, and time on a scratch-resistant sapphire screen, all of which can be customized using the Garmin Dive companion app.

Variety of dive profiles

Because of the watch’s unmodified diving qualities, a range of dive modes is available, making it suitable for both rookie and expert divers. This includes apnea, apnea hunt, gauge, single and repeated gas dives, and a closed-circuit rebreather (CCRR).

Customisability and data such as climb and descent rates will allow freedivers to analyze their performance between dives.

They all have useful features like depth, time underwater, temperature, time to surface, and no-decompression limit (NDL) warnings, to name a few. 

The Descent G1 includes an accelerometer in addition to measuring ascent/descent rates, gas mixtures, decompression, and safety stops. 

Furthermore, the device’s GPS (GLONASS, Galileo) functionality allows it to automatically mark entry and exit points on the surface.

Great for Freedivers

Garmin’s Descent G1 automatically tracks divers’ surface entry and exit positions utilizing multi-GNSS satellite support, allowing them to examine a comprehensive analysis of each dive activity, including maximum depth and bottom time, in the linked Garmin Dive App. 

Configure the settings on your Descent G1 with the Garmin Dive App, or browse for popular dive places that other people have rated and reviewed to help you plan your next excursion.

Battery

The battery life is sufficient. You can dive for up to 25 hours without needing to recharge. In smartwatch mode, this increases to 21 days (or four months with solar). In GPS mode, you may expect a battery life of 26 hours (and 39 hours with solar). Garmin claims that the solar-powered smartwatch can indefinitely operate in Battery Saver Smartwatch Mode.

Price and availability

Garmin’s website now offers two color options, Slate Gray and Powder Gray, for just under $550. You can get the Solar model in Hurricane Blue or Black for an extra $100. The sole difference between it and the ordinary model is that it can generate power from the sun’s rays.

You can find it available at your favorite merchants, here.

Pros:

• At last, an affordable, fully featured, diving watch
• Incident detection
• Rugged design
• Call/text and other notification functions.
• Control your music player through the watch
• Great evedryday watch as extra

Cons:

• You cannot create nor answer calls.
• You can’t play music on the watch itself
• No touchscreen – if that’s your style.
• Pulse Ox – its hard to get data (takes a few tries)

Our Verdict

The Garmin Descent G1 is a great diving watch. It offers similar functionality to what you can expect in much more expensive dive watches. If you’re into diving then this is a great watch to have.

As a general smartwatch, it’s not as user-friendly as other smartwatches around, especially because of the lack of touchscreen that Garmin has on other models like the Fenix 7 or Epix 2 but these of course are not diving watches. On the other hand, a touchscreen is not something that’s can be handled efficiently underwater so the customizable buttons are your best bet.

It’s bulky compared to watches like Apple, but it feels light and sturdy. You’re not as likely to be afraid of it falling or accidentally bumping it. You won’t also worry that it will fall when you are diving since the strap has got a tight lock.

We love how long-lasting the battery is. Definitely something that is much better than most smartwatches out there. This is even more so if you get the solar version.

So are you an avid diver? Let us know in the comments what your favorite dive equipment includes.

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Last Updated on April 13, 2022