Garmin Descent MK2

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The silence is tough, if Garmin would say official launch in Jun I would happily wait but as it stands I suspect we are all in the same boat, a weekly (or more frequent) checks and seeing how long can we put off making a decision.

I am off to Aus in Dec (assuming we are allowed to visit and dive by then) and must have a new computer before then as my Atom 2 is fantastic but rather annoying to change gases on but I want the Descent (as long as it has AI, decent battery life and supports the great Fenix features)
 
@Cowfish Aesthetic, they don't have to release it they just have to give a release date :)

And while this sounds callus, I would argue many in their target audience would likely buy it, given they are (not jet setting, in meetings, doing a million and one things, or generally swamped) but rather have time to day dream, maybe I am wrong but I am expecting the price to be 1000-1500+
 
And this is just my opinion but I think the target audience is not really people looking for a dive computer but rather people who love to perform some sport or are fitness oriented in general that happen also to be divers.

Anyone running long distances, biking, triathletes, etc who like to dive as if you were simply going for the divers most would likely take a true dive watch, but if you look at a person that tracks heart rate, calories, etc and say do you also want a dive computer they would likely love having a device that does both.
 
I think shoe-horning an AI computer into an existing watch body, or developing an entirely new piece of hardware might be more complicated than snapping one's fingers.

That said, my old Descent mk1 performed very well in two weeks of diving in Indonesia recently. Paired as back-up to my Perdix AI I had the best of both worlds.
 
The MK1 is in stock everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if they are waiting for inventories to go down. Unfortunately, my bet is very few people will buy one knowing the new model is about to come out. At least not without about a 50% discount.
 
And sadly there is no time pressure for releasing the Mk2, on the question of number of units sold, the question is how many Garmin Marq's are they targeting as I see it being in the same category (a niche product that is targeting a very small segment of users who are quite willing to spend money on getting the toy they want).

I agree the discount would have to be high to clear out the inventory, and then there are those like me that would not buy the Mk1 regardless of price as AI is a deal breaker.
 
For so many reasons....

I bought my Descent Mk1 before the Teric was even announced. When it was finally announced I looked at the specs and I was like "Meh". There were so many features of the Mk1 I was usually regularly that the Teric didn't have and it didn't offer me anything that I didn't already have with my Perdix AI. The only feature I wanted that the Teric had but the Mk1 didn't have was AI. For me, replacing the Mk1 with the Teric would be a major backward step (plus it was more expensive). If something happened to my Perdix AI, I'd buy another Perdix AI. The Teric doesn't interest me at all.

The Mk1 (and the Mk2 will be the same) is a full function GPS based sports watch. In fact, it is based on the very popular Fenix 5X which sold for around 2/3 of the prce of the Mk1. So in reality, if you were going to buy a Fenix 5X, you'd get a fully functional dive computer for only 50% more.

I use mine regularly for running. It has a built in heart rate monitor so I don't need to wear a chest strap. It tracks my pace, distance and even calories burned. I also use if for walking. I have used it for cycling and it gives me speed and cadence information from the bike. It can be used for swimming, too.

I have used it for bushwalking and then used the tracklog to geotag my photographs.

It is a all day/every day watch. It tracks my steps, flights of stairs, heart rate, sleep and stress.

It is a smart watch. I get all the notifications from my phone on the watch. My phone is permanently on mute. I never have to rely on sounds on my phone for notifications as my watch vibrates and I can read the notification on my watch. This also means I'm not disturbing people with my phone (and don't have to do anything while at the movies or the quiet carriage on the train. In fact, I now loathe all the noise other peoples phones make. LOL.

My phone can stay in my pocket and I will still know what notifications I'm getting, or if someone is calling me - and I can even see who is calling. In fact, my phone can be anywhere in the house, as long as it is in Bluetooth range, as I will get notifications.

That's just the non-diving features. For diving, it adds recording the entry and exit points for a dive using the built in GPS. This was something I was already doing somewhat manually or carrying a separate GPS device. I then geotag my photographs with the entry point for the dive plus the depth information from a dive computer. Now the entry and exit points are recorded automatically for me.

It can also measure heart rate during the dive - assuming your exposure suit allows the watch to be worn directly on a bare wrist. I'be done this a few times. It was interesting but not something I'd find useful enough to compromise my wetsuit or drysuit. Note that there is a chest HRM that can be used if someone wanted to do that.

Now, I'm not saying it is perfect. There are a few features that could be improved if Garmin could be arsed. But for me, and a lot of people, this is a better device that the Teric.

My fear with the Mk2 is that it's going to be in the MARQ range which will make it significantly more expensive.


WOW! I have a perdix AI and want a teric as a second computer but you bring strong points to the table! I hike and take pics with my nikon and would love to have the GPS location of all dive entrances when im doing random dives in monterey CA and also locations of ship wrecks in Coron P.I. etc . love your post. that said I will not buy a MK 2 unless it also has AI.
 
I think the teric might still come out on top.

I am a perdix fan, truther, whatnot, but I find it impossible to believe this without stating why all the features of the upcoming MK2 if it has AI would not beat the pants off a teric?

I am talking features not reliability or bulletproofedness
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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