Garmin

Garmin Descent G1

The entry point into Garmin's dive lineup. A GPS smartwatch that also dives.

Manufacturer app only

Not supported by libdivecomputer. You're locked into the manufacturer's own app to get dive logs off this computer.

Garmin Descent G1
3.0Comparison Score
$449.99
Buy on AmazonBuy on Scuba.com
Released2022
Max depth rating100m
AlgorithmBühlmann ZHL-16C with gradient factors
Air integrationnone
Wirelessbluetooth
Display0.9" x 0.9" monochrome transflective MIP display, 176x176 resolution, sunlight-visible
Batteryrechargeable
Digital compassYes
Gas typesair, nitrox, trimix
Gas switches12
CCR capableNo

"Gas switches" is how many different mixes this computer can be programmed to switch between mid-dive, mostly relevant for technical/staged-decompression diving. It doesn't tell you which gas types (air, nitrox, trimix) are supported. See Gas types and the product description above for that.

Pros
  • Full multisport GPS smartwatch (running, health tracking, notifications) that also dives
  • Solar edition available for extended battery life
  • Stores up to 200 dives
Cons
  • No air integration
  • 100m depth rating is recreational-only, not built for tec diving
  • Small 0.9" monochrome transflective display, dimmer and lower-res than the G2's AMOLED screen
Diver community sentiment
Mixed opinions

Across several Scubaboard threads, divers describe the Descent G1 as reliable and durable (one poster reported 100+ dives over two years with no issues) and value it as a dual-purpose smartwatch/dive computer with GPS dive-site mapping, Trimix/CCR support, and log sync, at roughly half the price of a Shearwater. Recurring complaints center on the monochrome, low-contrast screen being hard to read underwater, dive-mode battery draining quickly, cumbersome gas/setup programming, and an unreliable wrist-based heart-rate sensor. Several experienced divers compare it to Shearwater and conclude Shearwater has better visibility and a simpler interface; the G1 is frequently recommended as a strong backup or budget pick.

Scubaboard: Descent G1 general discussionScubaboard: G1 vs Shearwater comparisonScubaboard: G1 owner-experience thread

Summarized from public forum discussion (Scubaboard, Reddit, and similar), not a survey we ran ourselves. See the linked threads for the original conversations.

The G1 is Garmin’s first dedicated dive watch, built on the same rugged smartwatch chassis as the Instinct line rather than a purpose-built dive console. It uses a small monochrome MIP display rather than color, which keeps battery life high (Garmin rates it around 25 hours in dive mode) but makes it less legible underwater than the AMOLED screen on the later G2. It runs the same Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with gradient factors as the rest of Garmin’s dive lineup, off a built-in rechargeable battery, with an optional solar-charging edition for longer time between charges.