Garmin - Descent Mk2

Get the mk2i or 3i if you’re into diving. The dive computer is on par with the best tec dive computers. I’m an instructor and my mk2i is always on my wrist

For sure! I haven’t used it for diving in a year and I’ve been using it for everything else. It’s great! It has maps and other features when you’re doing other sports. It has everything all the other sport watches have… just also an amazing dive computer! If I’m doing an all day activity where I have it tracking me the battery might loose 25% a day. If I’m not doing too much it’ll last ~ two weeks

I currently use a Garmin Descent Mk2. It's basically a fenix 6 that has an integrated SCUBA computer. The sensors and software are the same as the fenix 6 series, and I get great data from my swims with this.

I have a Descent Mk2, purchased 2020. Survived a motorcycle crash (direct hit, according to the bezel scratches), extreme temperatures, ocean water, hot springs, you name it. No issues. Battery life has gone from a solid 14 days to maybe 10.

I'm really happy with my Garmin Descent. I have the MK2i, but the MK3/3i has been out for a while. There is an S model that has a lower profile and slightly smaller face, while only giving up air integration. It's a fantastic multi-sport watch, tracking activities including running, hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, etc. Even has a jump master mode, but I haven't been skydiving in 20 years. Health stats are great and the Garmin connect app is very user-friendly.

I have the Garmin Mk2i and it is awesome. I run, shoot, fish, snowboard, hike and swim. The Mk3 is only better. The dive computer rocks too!

My Garmin has been accurate. I have an mk2i because I also dive, but I learned the swimming features from a you tube video teaching a Forerunner. The software appears to be the same. My watch is most accurate when I complete lengths without stopping. If you're stopping in the middle of a length to do something other than swimming, I think you're going to get poor accuracy. But if you punch through your lengths wall to wall it will be great. You mentioned ecosystems. Trying to upcharge folks that might feel somewhat locked into an ecosystem is unfortunately de rigueur on Wall Street. Apple is doing it and that sucks (my wife is locked into their ecosystem big time), but Garmin is doing it too. They've introduced subscriptions to Connect and Explore, two of the Garmin apps my device uses, in the last year. They're easing into it, and people are complaining, so hopefully it doesn't get too bad, but when you're comparing Apple to Garmin I wouldn't give one company the advantage over another in terms of treating customers well who have sunk costs in the ecosystem. As a Garmin owner obviously I hope to be able to say something different in a year or two, but for now my opinion is that they're both trying to screw people over. In the meantime if you're you're concerned about ecosystems I've heard Suunto is finally back in the game and treating people right. I haven't run one since the '90s, so I can't give advice, but maybe do some research on that if ecosystems are a big concern.

I have the Descent mk2i. I love it, but didn't have one before this so I didn't have a comparison. Just having a dive watch made a massive improvement to my time in the water. Only regret I have is getting the i model thinking I'd use it scuba and the wireless tank connector. Alas, it's been 4 years and not used it once for scuba lol. So have a good think about what else you want or if it. Otherwise, the device is fantastic. Has maps with GPS for when I'm doing drift diving or hiking, And of course all the other standard Garmin watch apps (running, weight lifting, rowing, wallet, music, etc) Battery life is great too!

That’s where I’m at as well. I love diving with my Garmins, and I have no issues wearing it 24/7 while on a dive vacation. But it can’t even come close to the functionality of my Apple Watch for daily use, especially at work, but the Apple Watch Ultra also doesn’t come close to the functionality of the Garmin for diving or even some of the activity and monitoring functions. Plus, my original Mk2i is five years old without any issue, so the cost to have both when averaged out over years is reasonable, and not wearing my dive computer daily also cuts down on the chances of eventually damaging it.

After owning several Suunto dive computers, I’d recommend looking elsewhere. They are fine computers but they’re overly conservative and their custom service is atrocious. They also had several hardware issues with some of their console computers that left a bad taste in my mouth. For what you’re looking for, the Garmin Descent product line would be a better match.

The one downside to the G2 is that it isn't air integrated. HOWEVER, I'm still planning to get one as an EDC and dive backup. The big selling point for me is that it is a good smartwatch with a very good battery life as well as a decent dive computer - PLUS, importantly, it can control my Garmin OutReach Mini 2 for emergencies. I dive a Perdix 2 as my main computer, and the G2 would be a backup. A Garmin AI feature would not be useful in this case because it is different technology, unable to synch with my Shearwater transmitter.