Garmin Fenix vs. Descent - Which is the better sport/dive watch for you
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- I recently upgraded my Garmin Fenix sports watch, deciding between the new Fenix 8 and Descent MK3i. Here's my thought process, how I use my watch, and what I ultimately chose in the Fenix vs. Descent showdown.
Stuff from the Video:
📦 Garmin Descent MK3i: amzn.to/3XAIBSr
📦 Garmin Fenix 8: amzn.to/3TkyQ8n
📦 Garmin Fenix 7X Saphire Solar (on my other wrist): amzn.to/3XM3ri9
📦 Garmin T2 Tank Transmitter: amzn.to/4d02KWw
📦 Key Transmitter Accessory: amzn.to/3XhUPht
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I'm a watch guy. I like watches. It's a sickness. I went with the MK3i Titanium and I love it. No regrets. It looks great, tracks all my walks. I scuba once a year so I am excited to try the dive features. The flashlight is great for my 3 pee breaks every night (need to get that checked out)!
I only SCUBA Dive a few times a year but when I do I prefer things to be simple and easy.
I want to see everything on the one screen, including air and air consumption.
I do have a separate digital gauge for Air but this is my backup.
So the obvious choice is the Mk3i (which I have ordered with T2) over the Fenix 8.
I’m in the same boat. Since the video the MK3i has worked perfectly for a 12 hour ultra and is otherwise just what I’d hoped for.
Which Mk3i size do you recommend: 51mm or 43mm?
@@CamusAl I got the 51mm because it has a lot more battery life and larger screen.
I have small wrists 16.5cm or 6.5in, but it feels and looks fine to me
Yep, I workout several times a week , but only casual scuba dive a couple times a year- looking forward to diving with my new fenix 8 47 amoled soon!
Awesome! Let us know how you like it. I dive with the MK3i and ran 10 miles this weekend and was pretty happy one watch could do it all. If you don’t care about the air integration F8 is probably the right choice.
the thing is ... does anyone know how often one needs the multigas function and tracking of more than 40 m as a dive guide/instructor?
I started with the Ultra. Loved it, traded it. Battery life. Now I’m looking for a replacement and yep, I’m in that overlap.
I needed this video ! F8 Solar / MIP for me thanks
Awesome! Enjoy the new watch!
Great video. My evolution with Garmin was similar: from Forerunner to wondering whether to go with Descent or Fenix. I’m a cyclist, runner, skier, hiker, backpacker, and swimmer more than I’m a diver, but I ultimately chose the Descent mk3i (the smaller one b/c I’m not a big guy). I’m totally happy and would only knock the battery life of the smaller watch a bit. Garmin appropriately markets Descent aggressively to divers, but as a more general consumer I found that a little confusing when trying to zero in. Reviews like yours would have helped. So everything you said: ditto.
Glad to help! I just took the Descent alpine skiing today and it worked like a champ. It's kind of the "Fenix+" versus some unique diving thing and might be better marketed that way, but Garmin has yet to ask for my opinion!
Oh - I know it makes diving with the family easier now - but please keep asking your kids to check their pressure - to keep their own skills up in how to monitor and looking at the numbers. By dad taking that on, they lose that practice - that's a skill you really need and want them to feel competent at as they grow up and dive with others.
Great review! Very helpful - thank you
Yes, I keep up with harassing them to build the muscle, and occasionally spring random out of air drills on them and that sort of thing. I just like to have whatever "cheat codes" I can find to make things a little easier, or maybe that's just an excuse to get cool tech ;-)
I am very torn between fenix 8 or mk2 ( no money for the mk3). I just wished there was a fenix 8 with mk2 scuba diving all in features.
thanks for this. it helped me decide
hey, i'm in the same deciding process, what did you end up getting and are you happy so far? :)
@@emyvh7452 I ordered the fenix 8. still hasn't arrived. Amazon had a good deal but they are rly late. Just bare in mind, if you do ice cold plunges like I do, the watch will shut down. there will be a fix obviously, but for now, it s still a going issue.
@@emyvh7452 I saw one mk2 for good price but I have myopia and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to read the numbers properly from farther, since it isn't oled
Thanks for the review! I'd go for Descents as well 👍👍
Good choice!
I dive ..and bought it purely for this feature! Thankyou for the video!
Glad I could help! Dive safe!
which one?
I always been a Fenix user (F2,F5X and F5Xplus).I switched to the Tactix 7 for some additional aviation capabilities, handy flashlight….I’m wearing it 24/7 and I mostly use my watch for hiking, IRONMAN triathlon, swimming, sailing, trail running…I’m also a casual diver (0-40m depth) so the Fenix 8 with the new scuba diving stuff interested me.I think the new built in software looks cool, stunning AMOLED screen and the generated round-course navigation improvements are great.However I never talked to my watch, neither to my iPhone.The voice command looks very slow so spending another 1000$ usd on another Garmin flagship is a bit hard to swallow 😂No doubt I still gonna save to get one though…lol 🐠cool to get a feedback from a scuba diver 👍thanks for sharing
Thanks for the comment! I’m definitely a Garmin fanboy since the forerunner 305 days but the Descent is my first Garmin dive watch. So far I’ve put way more running miles on it than dives but it seems to be doing well at both. Hopefully the Fenix 9 or 10 being in air integration and then all my dreams are fulfilled.
You've sold me on the Mk3i. Not a runner... But do like some forms of exercise, but the integrated option needs to be there for me (eventually), recreational albeit. I do like the customisation ability of this watch too, which is a fair bit better than the Suunto ocean.
I’m a self-confessed Garmin fanboy, but they’ve really dialed in the sports side of things, and I’ve been pleased with the dive side thus far as well.
What if, in the water, i do only freediving beyond 40 meters and am not interested in scuba diving at all? What Garmin would suit me best
Do you run or cycle or other general fitness? I’d do a Fenix 8 if so as it handles free driving and scuba (without air integration) and has great fitness capabilities.
Good stuff! Would like to know more about the differences between Fenix 8 and MK3i in terms of hardware side such as sensors and ect. Hard to spend big money on old technology on the MK3i over Fenix 8, even though I really like the MK3i.
You get the newer elevate sensor in the Fenix 8, which is apparently the same as the Fenix 7X Pro. MK3i does indeed have the older gen sensor like the 7X (non-Pro). You lose the EKG feature, although I've heard mixed reviews about whether the new sensor is better or worse for tracking HR during workouts.
For me, the Air Integration won out over EKG.
Have you ever used the F6 for your rec dives? F8 and MK3 are out of my price range. I’m primarily an endurance runner but I’m also a rescue diver (more shallow water - 30ft max) so I was looking into the F6 which is rated to 100m but not recommended for diving so it was a bit misleading.
I think I’ve worn a past Garmin during a rec scuba dive, and I’ve swam with the Fenix series a ton in both pool and open water. They won’t work as a dive computer obviously, and they recommend against pressing buttons under water, but I would imagine you’ll be fine to 30’ish feet as long as you’re not constantly hitting buttons at depth.
Hola, tengo el fénix 6 pro y hago snorkel y vídeos haciendo apnea hasta 20 metros. No hay ninguna actividad para buceo por lo que no puedes ver tus métricas, ni profundidad ni nada. Solo la hora o poner un cronómetro
Thank you was relectent which one I get, will go for the mk3i 43 mm,
But the question is, are any newer releases coming out soon?
I doubt we’ll see a new descent in 2025. Most of the rumor sites have it slated for 2026. The one thing Garmin might do that could be interesting (and is complete and utter speculation on my part) is put the air integration into the Fenix 9 and make it the “one watch to rule them all.” I say this since they added basic dive support to the Fenix 8 so perhaps they’re combining the lines.
I’m going to purchase a fenix 8 and im wondering what do you think looks best under water , the MIP or amoled?
Definitely amoled. The only place I don’t love the amoled is running around noon n a sunny day. Otherwise it’s superior in every other situation.
@ thanks!
The Fenix 8 47mm sapphire is the most complete sportswatch on the market.
Except for air integration I’d tend to agree.
@@TheBigHeavy and it has a limitations to 40 m and no multigas
Hello! Big problem with my Fenix8AMOLED: I bought the watch for running but since I'm also a scuba diver, I took it for a test. After 3 dives between 90 and 120ft with no deco, the watch started to bug and then turned off for good. Garmin sent me a new watch and... after 3 or 4 dives in the same pressure zone with deco, the watch started to bug just like the first one. I'm glad I have my MARES dive computer, what is wrong with the FENIX8 waterproof?? Thanks:-)
Sorry to hear. Garmin does tend to hit its stride about 6 months into a new product launch. I had some issues with my last Fenix (random reboots during runs when listening to Spotify) that required a hardware replacement. I'd suggest calling them up, and they'll often connect you to the "real" tech support that will help troubleshoot and ultimately resolve the problem. I realize this isn't great when you just bought a fancy new watch, but Garmin has generally helped me eventually get the problem fixed, and I've been using their stuff for the better part of 20+ years and they haven't screwed me yet.
@@TheBigHeavy Thanks for your message. I talked to a Garmin tech guy who sent me several protocoles to restore the software but nothing worked. I'm getting a replacement this week.What worries me is that if i dive again with the new watch, risks for a new problem are high... would be an interesting test but I'm getting tired of sending watches for replacement every month 🙂
Im in the middle; thanks for this
Im defenetly in the mix😂
Hi 💪 I want to buy a new Garmin watch. And I’m undecided between fenix 8 and Descent Mk3. I use the watch for hiking and freediving and spearfishing . What are the differences and what do you recommend? Fenix 8 don’t have apnea hunt….
same question)
Fenix 8 gives you the new UI (still somewhat buggy from what I've heard, but theoretically the future of Garmin's flagship watches), new HR sensor that does the EKG stuff, microphone so you can answer calls on your watch (my wife has this on her venue and uses it occasionally), and basic dive functionality. The MK3i gives you air integration, multi-gas capabilities including trimix and CCR, dive readiness, and apnea hunt but loses all that other Fenix 8-specific stuff. My understanding of apnea hunt is that it's basically the same as apnea but with all the beeps turned off so you don't scare the fish you're trying to bag. Theoretically you could setup regular apnea mode with no noises and have the same thing.
For me, the air integration is a big deal. Fenix 8 could get apnea hunt and some of the other stuff added as it's software, but will never get air integration as it's a hardware feature.
@@TheBigHeavy Thank you for such a detailed explanation! As far as I'm not interested in air integration, I'll go with Fenix for spearfishing and freediving!
@@76tygfgug Awesome. I think you'll love it!
Tnx 💪🔥🔝
Hi, have you had any experience with the depth gauge and water temperature measurement while the watch was on your wrist? Are they accurate (or very close to accurate)? Or is the water temperature measurement affected by body heat?
Seems fairly accurate. I don’t have another thermometer to compare but I believe that as long as you’re moving the temp sensor works fairly well. Air temp less so.
@@TheBigHeavy Okay, thank you. That sounds good :) So do you have a fenix 8? And are you happy or are there many things which aren´t so good?
Thanks for this contribution. You sure the Fenix doesn't have air integration (or only your own tank)? It has nitrox options. Fenix has enough to meet my diving needs, but when I see the menu speed and the battery life comparing to a 280 USD watch (Amazfit Trex3 non dive) I don't want to spend so much on Fenix. Another thing: when I see 2nd hand dive computers pictures, I wonder in what state the sapphire screen survives the diving.
Yes, I’m 99% there’s no air integration, meaning the ability to see your tank pressure on your watch assuming you have a transmitter on an HP port on your first stage. You still can set gasses and get appropriate tissue loading estimates, just not see air time, pressure, or communicate.
My Fenix 7X had a sapphire screen and I was far from kind to the watch and wore it 24/7 and it’s flawless after 2 years, so I think the screen will be good.
Good luck with your decision and thanks for the comment!
@@TheBigHeavy Didn't bring the Fenix 7 near coral, right?
Correct but brought it near dirt and rocks hiking and running (where I occasionally fall on my big 'ole butt for good measure) and wore during various construction projects. Frankly I'm a bit surprised how well it has held up but you're right that I haven't tried dragging into coral.
Hello, you did not talk about diving sites maps in the Descent. Do you use them ? Are they available in the Fenix 8 ?
Not sure if they're available on the F8, but they are on the Garmin Dive app, which you can use even if you don't have a Garmin watch.
@@TheBigHeavy soo is that posible to fenix 8 reading dive map when diving?
this 1 i was looking for
@@Yabin8the dive maps don’t work while underwater on either of them.
Hi can you compare with Suunto Ocean
If Suunto would send me one I would, but I don’t have the scratch to buy another dive watch!
What is ur opinion on the Suunto Ocean
I haven't tried it. I've seen a fair number of people diving with Suunto computers so clearly they're doing something right. However, last I looked at Suunto they lagged Garmin on the general sports front. 99% of my activity is endurance sports (mainly ultrarunning) so the running/sports aspect is important for me and the diving is a nice bonus.
the thing is ... does anyone know how often one needs the multigas function and tracking of more than 40 m as a dive guide/instructor?
Depends on what kind of dives you're guiding. For me, I'll probably use it more or less never. For someone that's into tech diving or a tech instructor, they might use it daily. For rec divers like me, the question is more "How valuable is Air Integration?" or "I'm definitely heading towards tech so would rather buy something I can grow into."
@@TheBigHeavy thank you so much. I also just realized that there is exactly one beige color of the MK3 43 mm .. which is super annoying, BCS you cant really combine beige with anything else ... why wouldn't they make every version also in black. ...
Dude learn how to set chapters please. I got 4 minutes in and can't finish
Takes too long.
How accurate is the hiking track thing. Because I talked recently with a person who had the Fenix 5 (I know, it's old), and he said that the sport acitivity tracking is horrible. He was literally standing next to me while climbing and the watch tracked at least 5 hikes although he was doing nothing. Did that improve?
It's been great for me for the last few generations of watch. Unless you're under major tree cover/canyon or something like that the tracking is spot on.
@@TheBigHeavy perfect thank you. And the watch is also not tracking anything that you are not doing? Because I was literally standing next to the guy and watching his watch tracking climbing sessions while we were just chatting 🙂
@@AMCAcademicMoodleCooperation I've never seen anything like that. I have had a couple gamins (I've probably owned a dozen at this point) that started doing strange things, but mostly inaccurate altitude (was a problem with the F3 I think) and reboots. Garmin happily replaced both watches and the replacements were fine.