Review: Garmin Descent Mk2 Dive Computer – Freediving Perspectives

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review:-garmin-descent-mk2-dive-computer-–-freediving-perspectives

After I heard that the chance had arisen to overview the brand new Garmin Descent Mk2 dive computer, I nearly fell out of my seat in excitement. I had heard assorted freedivers’ impressions of the Mk1, however had no longer at all viewed it in particular person, so I became as soon as elated to appear at out the most fresh mannequin. The main specifications of the Mk2 that happy me primarily the most to appear at out had been the center charge measurements, the GPS feature (as my mooring lines in Xiao Liuqiu, Taiwan are placed 3-5m/10-16toes underwater), and the smartwatch substances, as I became as soon as already available in the market for one.

First Impressions

Garmin Descent Mk2 Freediving Dive Computer
The Garmin Descent Mk2 dive computer.

The Garmin Descent Mk2 is a pleasure to explore at. In actual fact.

The particulars are unheard of: the stainless metal bezel, the with out complications-accessible buttons with a earn feel to them, the high-choice cloak with sparkling colors that are viewed even in snort sunlight hours, and the silicone band with closely-placed notches that ensures a finest fit. The peek faces are totally customizable and provides you the likelihood to gaze a good deal of knowledge correct now on the cloak, such as calories burned, heart charge, date, day of the week, steps, battery life, morning time time, second time zone, weather, etc.

Which that you simply would maybe maybe well even trade the background coloration, accent coloration, and contain the likelihood of downloading more peek faces from the ConnectIQ™ Store. The Mk2 additionally has QuickFit™ peek band compatibility to with out complications trade peek bands and not using a tools required.

Garmin Descent Mk2 freediving dive computer display
The shiny expose of the Garmin Descent Mk2.

While the interface is totally shiny, the menu may maybe maybe well even be a bit overwhelming at the delivery, and takes a whereas to net former to. The buttons contain placements that fabricate no longer feel natural at the delivery, however over time turn out to be second nature. The scale of the Mk2 itself is reasonably dapper; I contain very cramped, skinny wrists, and the dive computer may maybe maybe well also feel a bit overwhelming for day to day put on for those with smaller wrists, on the different hand this does no longer dwell me from wearing it daily, even on non-diving days.

GPS and Compass

In Xiao Liuqiu, Taiwan, the whole mooring lines in the ocean will probably be found about 3-5m (10-16toes) underwater. This means that a freediver wants to undergo in thoughts floor markers or employ GPS to search out a discipline to glue their buoy, which is rarely any longer repeatedly official. Fortunately, searching out and saving particular diving spots on the Garmin Descent Mk2 is extremely easy. Connecting to GPS is form of instantaneous, and saving a brand new discipline requires a pair of presses of a button and nearly no effort. The cloak for locating a narrate level on the plot is extremely detailed and sure, and spots may maybe maybe well even be renamed correct now on the instrument and marked with separate icons to inform aside dive websites.

I became as soon as very totally chuffed to search out out that if I contain the coordinates of a dive discipline, I will enter them into the Mk2 and it will navigate me to the destination. I will no longer keep the discipline correct now to my dive computer with out being bodily expose at the dive discipline, however no no longer as a lot as I will stumble on a discipline and put it aside afterwards. One component I’d admire to gaze from an replace is the power to share saved dive areas correct now with yet one more Garmin user, which Garmin is working on. These are positively no longer drawbacks, factual minor additions that may maybe maybe well in actual fact be welcome.

Navigation to a dive site on the Garmin Descent Mk2 dive computer freediving.
Navigation to a dive discipline on the Garmin Descent Mk2.

I additionally would no longer thoughts a explicit interface for locating dive websites because the GPS arrow is reasonably big and can customarily be sophisticated to settle exactly which course to dawdle towards, in particular as you net closer to the dive discipline and are no longer ready to zoom into the plot. I became as soon as told that Garmin is additionally working on improved navigation journey purpose-constructed for divers in the water and on discipline sharing journey, so I no longer sleep for these future updates!

Notifications, Signals, and Logs

Garmin Descent Mk2 screen freediving dive computer.
The Garmin Descent Mk2 dive mode cloak underwater with heart charge measurement.

The Descent Mk2 has a worthwhile apnea mode data cloak that has all of the related data a freediver wants and not using a distracting extra data or colors. The main cloak has the sizzling floor interval time with the final dive’s dive time, most depth, and water temperature. The following cloak has the sizzling time and heart charge, and the final cloak is a plot with your discipline on it. Straightforward, easy to navigate, and a pleasure to learn with the dapper font and simple layout.

Review: Garmin Descent Mk2 Dive Computer – Freediving Perspectives 1
Three after-dive data screens on the Garmin Descent Mk2.

One of my popular aspects is the different between depth notifications that are audible, haptic, or each. I will hear the audible depth notification clearly when I dive and feel it vibrate on my wrist at the an identical time, which implies I no longer at all pass over a depth notification, of which which that you simply would maybe maybe remark more than one. Having the Mk2 on ability that I now no longer must tuck my dive computer into my hood to hear an alarm so I fabricate no longer threat lacking my freefall or mouthfill charge notification.

Alongside with being ready to remark more than one depth notifications, which that you simply would maybe maybe well also additionally remark time notifications, which is able to be precious for hangs or for spearos on the hunt. One predicament is that the floor interval timer is determined by the user, so there isn’t the kind of thing as a formulation for floor interval timing that’s calculated primarily based entirely on the outdated dive’s data, which may maybe maybe well be a very good addition.

Garmin Descent Mk2 Dive application screen computer freediving
Garmin Dive™ utility cloak.

The dive log is on hand to explore at on the peek, however I opt to explore at it on the Garmin Dive™ utility. It’s totally detailed, has timelines of depth, heart charge, and water temperature that which that you simply would maybe maybe well also overlay to gaze all of the numerous aspects of the dive straight away, and is all organized in a definite manner. I will also glimpse the calories I burned at some level of a dive! The finest predicament is that I will no longer glimpse my practical ascent speed to your whole dive, which may maybe maybe well be good for coaching dives, although Garmin says they are working on this component for upcoming enhancements.

Battery Existence and Connectivity

The battery lifetime of the Descent Mk2 is largely the most impressive I contain viewed out of any rechargeable dive computers, including smartwatches and fitness trackers customarily. I fabricate no longer contain any insist getting two weeks out of the battery, even with it linked to my phone, and can with out complications contain a total week of battery life with frequent freediving sessions. The connectivity is additionally very impressive; getting a GPS signal is form of immediate with developed satellite tv for pc connectivity, and the Mk2 has no insist staying linked by Bluetooth and syncing to my Android phone all day.

HR Connectivity

The center charge measurement on the peek appears to be like to be reasonably pretty on land and in water. Budge and peek fit have an effect on wrist-primarily based entirely optical HR choices, so I became as soon as suggested to position on the Descent as tightly as conceivable on my wrist for many efficient outcomes at some level of a dive, which implies having to roll up longer wetsuit sleeves. You additionally contain the likelihood to use the HRM-Swim chest strap, which is able to be former as a lot as 5ATM and stores the center charge data after a dive at the floor.

I fabricate no longer contain this strap yet, so I will no longer yell on it specifically, however I fabricate admire being ready to gaze my heart charge at the floor sooner than a dive and searching at it as I fabricate heat-up hangs, which I procure extremely impressive. It’s excellent to gaze my heart charge at some level of a dive, and I’m no longer sure I will dawdle aid to no longer being ready to gaze it on assorted dive computers.

Smartwatch/Properly being Tracking Aspects

Garmin Connect App main screen mk2 freediving dive computer.
Garmin Connect™ utility major cloak.

Garmin itself is a relied on trace for GPS sports activities watches, smartly-organized watches, and fitness trackers, and the plethora of aspects on the Mk2 are too many to checklist and deserve a separate article of their occupy, so I may factual checklist my private favorites.

I’m totally impressed with your whole first cloak of the Garmin Connect™ app, which I employ to appear at my heart charge, Body Battery™, stress level, steps, floors climbed, calories in/out, sleep, and respiration. I procure the details unheard of: I will glimpse my level of stress reflected in the details, and the Body Battery™ feels love it accurately reflects my level of energy. Correct having all of this data on hand at the contact of a button makes me prefer to be more active and wholesome, and having visual needs to achieve salvage it device more of an adventure. Every metric has a “Reduction” part the set up which that you simply would maybe maybe well also model exactly what the Mk2 measuring and how it measures it.

Final Concepts

The Garmin Descent Mk2 dive computer freediving.
The Garmin Descent Mk2 is clearly viewed in snort sunlight hours.

The Garmin Descent Mk2 has a hefty label, however the aspects are completely value it. The dive computer component of the peek has very finest upgraded aspects from a snide-level dive computer, such as HR measurement and GPS, and is clearly viewed in snort sunlight hours and underwater, alongside with tide/morning time/sunset times, that are good for any vogue of diver. The smartwatch/fitness monitoring functions of the Mk2 are with out a doubt tried-and-examined and are very finest even in case which that you simply would maybe maybe well also very smartly be taking a explore at these functions on my own.

Briefly, in case which that you simply would maybe maybe well also very smartly be available in the market for a dive computer that additionally doubles as a smartwatch/fitness tracker, you cannot dawdle snide with the Garmin Descent Mk2. I’m amazed at the capabilities of this dive computer and can no longer shield myself from letting all of my freediving mates try it and showing my college students its plethora of aspects!

Key Aspects

  • Dive Modes: Single-Gasoline, Multi-Gasoline, CCR, Gauge, Apnea, Apnea Hunt
  • Apnea/Apnea Hunt Records Veil
    • Present Ground Interval Time
    • Most Depth
    • Water Temperature
    • Time of Day
    • Heart Fee
    • Present Location on a Way
  • Apnea/Apnea Hunt In-Dive Veil
    • Elapsed Time
    • Present Depth
    • Most Depth
    • Heart Fee
    • Ascent/Descent Fee
  • Customizable Dive Modes
  • Dive Log
  • Ground Multi-GNSS
  • Wrist-Essentially primarily based Heart Fee
  • Pulse Ox Sensor
  • Colorful Notifications
  • Connect IQ™ Store

Technical Specs

  • Sapphire Crystal Lens
  • Stainless Steel Bezel
  • Fiber-Bolstered Polymer with Steel Rear Cowl
  • QuickFit™ Uncover Band Appropriate
  • 52 x 52 x 17.8mm (2.05 x 2.05 x 0.7in)
  • 4” (35.56mm) Diameter
  • Daylight hours-Visible, Transreflective Memory-in-Pixel (MIP)
  • 280 x 280 Pixels Dispute Resolution
  • Silicone Band
  • Rechargeable, Constructed-in Lithium-ion Battery
  • Battery life
    • Smartwatch: As a lot as 16 days
    • Battery Saver Uncover Mode: As a lot as 50 days
    • Dive Mode: As a lot as 80 hours
  • Water Ranking: Dive, 10 ATM
  • 32GB Memory

Impress – $1,299 USD / €1,071 EUR / £968 GBP

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