Garmin

Garmin Descent X30

Garmin's mid-format dive computer. Bigger screen than the wrist models, more manageable than the X50i.

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 X30
3.6Comparison Score
$729.99
Buy on AmazonBuy on Scuba.com
Released2025
Max depth rating200m
AlgorithmBühlmann ZHL-16C with gradient factors
Air integrationnone
Wirelessbluetooth
Display2.4in color display
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
  • 2.4in color display, larger and easier to read than the G-series wrist form factor
  • Up to 30 hours of battery life
  • Leakproof buttons instead of a touchscreen, works fine with gloves
Cons
  • No air integration
  • Sits in an odd middle spot: bigger than a wrist computer, no touchscreen like the X50i
  • Price varies a lot by retailer, worth comparison shopping
Diver community sentiment
Mostly positive

Diver discussion of the X30 is still limited since it's a fairly new release (announced September 2025). On the one active Scubaboard thread, posters frame it mainly around value: it undercuts the Shearwater Perdix 2 and Peregrine on price while offering comparable technical-diving features, with one commenter calling it "a great alternative to the Peregrine price range with more features." The recurring caveat is that air integration isn't built in, requiring a separate Descent T2 transceiver, which some found confusing given the marketing. No threads surfaced substantive complaints about reliability or battery life, likely reflecting how little time the model has been in divers' hands.

Scubaboard: Descent X30 pricing/value discussion5KRunner: Descent X30 announcement and reader comments

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

The X30 splits the difference between Garmin’s wrist-style G-series and the flagship X50i: a larger 2.4in color display for at-a-glance readability, but physical buttons instead of a touchscreen, which holds up better with gloves and at depth. Like the rest of Garmin’s dive lineup it runs the Bühlmann ZHL-16C algorithm with adjustable gradient factors, powered by a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated for up to 30 hours of dive time. It’s a solid pick for divers who want a dedicated dive computer with a big, easy screen but don’t need the X50i’s touchscreen, sonar messaging, or air integration.