Garmin Japan Launches New ‘Descent Mk3i 51mm Black & Bare Titanium’ Diving Computer

Key Features of the Descent Mk3i 51mm Black & Bare Titanium

• Vibrant and High-Definition AMOLED Display: The device features an AMOLED display for vivid and high-definition visuals. It includes a “Large Font Mode” and inductive buttons, ensuring high visibility and operability regardless of depth.

• Comprehensive Diving and Health Management: Beyond diving functionalities, it incorporates features like “Dive Readiness,” which assesses the body’s preparedness for diving, supporting overall health management.

• Advanced Diving Support: Garmin’s unique GNSS multiband for precise positioning, extended battery life, and an underwater LED flashlight are among the many features supporting divers.

• Enhanced Safety with Descent T2 Transmitter: When paired with the ‘Descent T2’ transmitter, the watch significantly enhances diver safety. It supports Subwave (2.0), utilizing Garmin’s sonar technology for integrated monitoring of tank pressure, air volume, and air consumption rate. Divers can monitor up to eight tanks for pressure, depth, and distance, and send/receive messages underwater. Furthermore, when combined with the ‘Descent S1 Buoy’ safety management device, data tracking of divers underwater is possible from boats or land.

New Enhancements

• New Silver Model: This new color combines silver and black titanium, resulting in a stylish design.

• Updated Diving Functions: New features include a backup dive computer and side-mount tank switching guidance, further enhancing safety and convenience.

Product Overview

New Diving Functions

Two new diving functions have been introduced:

• Backup Dive Computer: This feature automatically synchronizes settings between two compatible dive computers before a dive. This includes dive profiles, gas types, and Descent T2 transceiver pairing (for compatible models). If the main computer malfunctions, divers can confidently continue their dive using the backup unit with identical settings.

• Side-Mount Tank Switching Guidance: When diving with side-mount tanks, compatible Descent dive computers paired with ‘Descent T2’ will display guidance on gas switching. This ensures balanced breathing from both tanks, helping maintain neutral buoyancy and securing gas supply backup.

Material, Design, and Interface

• Highly Visible AMOLED Display: The active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display provides vivid and high-definition visuals, enhancing readability in deep water and dark environments. A “Large Font Mode” is available to display important diving data in large characters.

• Robustness and Underwater Operability: The device features a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and a tough design compliant with U.S. military standard MIL-STD-810. It boasts 20ATM (200m) water resistance, suitable for all types of diving, including free diving beyond 100m. For detailed information on water ratings, please refer to Garmin Water Rating Definitions. A button guard on the right side protects the depth sensor. For underwater operation, inductive buttons are used, allowing firm control even with gloves. If gloves are too thick to press buttons, pages can be switched by double-tapping the display. A touchscreen (disabled during diving) is also available for land-based operation.

Diverse and Specialized Diving Support Functions

• “Dive Readiness” for Pre-Dive Condition Check: This feature analyzes factors such as sleep, exercise, stress, and jet lag to indicate how prepared the body is for diving. By understanding their health status before a dive, divers can make informed decisions regarding changes to depth, time, or area plans, supporting safe and comfortable diving.

• Enhanced Safety with ‘Descent T2’ Accessory: Pairing with the ‘Descent T2’ accessory significantly boosts diving safety. It supports Subwave (2.0), which utilizes Garmin’s sonar technology to integrate and monitor tank pressure, air volume, and air consumption rate. In addition to checking tank pressure, divers with Mk3 series and T2 devices can send and receive simple text messages underwater. When used with the ‘Descent S1 Buoy’ safety management device, diver data can also be tracked from boats or on land.

Display and Monitoring Functions

• Check tank pressure, air volume, and air consumption rate directly on the watch.

• Monitor buddy’s tank pressure, depth, and distance (distance feature to be enabled via future software update).

• Supports up to 8 tanks within a 10m range.

Underwater Communication Functions

• Simple text messages can be sent and received underwater between divers with Mk3 series and T2 devices.

• Messages utilize built-in templates.

• Communication range is up to 30m (transmission distance may vary depending on conditions such as ocean currents).

• GNSS Multiband GPS Navigation: Garmin’s precise GPS navigation, utilizing GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO, is now GNSS multiband compatible. By accessing multiple frequencies from satellites, it improves positioning accuracy in areas where GNSS signals may be reflected, weak, or difficult to acquire. For diving, entry and exit points can be marked. The device also includes an ABC sensor with an underwater 3-axis compass.

• LED Flashlight: A red and white dual-color LED flashlight is integrated at the 12 o’clock position, serving as a useful backup light for diving.

• Automatic Dive Data Recording: Diving mode automatically activates when a depth of 1.2m is reached. The device can store and review up to 200 dive logs. Additionally, dive data can be shared and reviewed using the Garmin Dive app, which offers unlimited dive data storage.

• Six Dive Modes: Divers can select from single-gas and multi-gas diving (including nitrox and trimix), gauge, apnea, spear, and CCR modes. Dive plans can be created directly from the device.

• Audible and Vibration Alerts: The device provides new information to users through audible and/or vibration alerts (selectable), ensuring safety.

• Diving Function Display: Displays depth, dive time, water temperature, NDL/TTS, ascent/descent rate, gas mix, PO2, N2 load, and decompression stop information.

• Battery Performance: Garmin’s renowned battery performance offers approximately 66 hours in dive mode, about 40 hours when using Subwave, and an astonishing 25 days in smartwatch mode.

Everyday Mapping & Smart Functions

• Advanced Mapping: In addition to navigating to dive sites (POIs) such as coral reefs, the device comes preloaded with maps for 43,000 golf courses and over 2,000 ski resorts worldwide.

• Optical Heart Rate Monitor: The optical heart rate monitor measures activity intensity and heart rate variability, also tracking lifestyle metrics such as stress levels and sleep. Stress levels can be measured even underwater.

• Multi-Sport Activity Modes: Built-in activity profiles for over 100 sports, adventures, and training, including swimming, running, cycling, skiing, rowing, and boating.

• Performance Conditions: Displays advanced training metrics such as running dynamics, VO2 Max with altitude and heat acclimatization, and recovery advisor. It also features PacePro for pace adjustment support and ClimbPro for real-time ascent information.

• Cashless Payment Function: Suica-compatible cashless payment simplifies daily travel and shopping. It supports both iOS and Android. (Suica is a registered trademark of East Japan Railway Company.)

• Music Playback: Music can be synchronized from selected streaming apps (AWA, LINE MUSIC, Amazon Music, Spotify, etc.) and played offline.

Product Specifications

For more product details, please visit:
Garmin Descent Mk3i 51mm Black & Bare Titanium Product Page

GARMIN DIVE APP: Record and Share Dive Data

This application can be downloaded to compatible smartphones or tablets to record and share dive data, and to discover new suitable dive locations.

• Record Dive Data: Manually record detailed information and statistics for each dive. Share recorded dive data and find new dive locations for exploration.

• Exploration Tool: Use the exploration tool to discover new dive locations, view popularity, weather conditions, and public dive records from other users. You can also rate and review dive locations.

• Automatic Synchronization: When the app is paired with a ‘Descent’ series device, dive logs are automatically synchronized and uploaded.

About Garmin

Garmin is a GPS equipment manufacturer founded in the United States in 1989 by Gary Burrell and Min H. Kao. The company name