Garmin Descent Mk2S - Review 2023

What It Is

The Garmin Mk2S offers everything you could want out of a smartwatch or a dive computer, and significantly more. Similar to the Mk2 model released last fall, the Mk2S fully covers your diving needs from basic rec and apnea dives- to more technical gas monitoring needs including nitrox, trimix, and pure O2. It’s even compatible with closed circuit rebreathers. The new Descent series gives you a consolidated space to plan, track, and catalogue your dives. In addition to letting you store your max depth, bottom time, entry and exit points for up to 200 dives at a time, gain an entry point to the Garmin dive community. You can share data and ratings from popular dive spots with other users while planning your next dive.

Outside of dive features, the Descent series has you covered for tracking a litany of other activities well beyond running. The Descent Mk2 series is equipped to measure your pace, progress and performance in sports ranging from the golf green to the ski slopes. When paired with its biometric tracking features, you have a consolidated place to keep your health and progress dialed across whatever activities you do.

Finally, Garmin Descent watches are fully compatible with your smartphone for calls, texts and calendar notifications- as well as music and contactless payment options. With a battery life of up to 7 days, three different colorways, and several interchangeable bands- the Descent series is just as much a lifestyle piece as it is a dive watch. Certainly it’s the best looking dive computer on the market.

What’s New

The newly announced Mk2S differs slightly from the original Mk2 and Mk2i in both form and features. As mentioned, the Mk2S is targeted mostly at women and as such has a less obtrusive display to accommodate smaller wrists. In total, the Mk2S brings the screen down to 1.2in from the initial release’s 1.4in display, this subtle reduction in size is as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical.

But the Mk2S is more than just a smaller screen and expanded color palate. On the metrics side of things, The Mk2S includes additional means of tracking both pregnancy and your menstrual cycle, so you can keep all of your biodata in one place rather than relying on a separate app on your phone. It also includes advanced tracking for sports training across the aforementioned activities, and a whole range of expanded sports such as surfing, mountain biking, and indoor climbing. The Mk2S has an additional recovery advisor to give you some insight into resting up before your next big push,

Final Thoughts

Garmin has forged quite the reputation in the outdoor and the dive world alike- and for good reason. With the Mk2S they show an attention to detail and accommodation seldom seen in the outdoor industry, rounding out their Descent catalogue in a similar way to the rest of their dive computers. There’s a lot to look forward to from Garmin in the future, and the Mk2S is a great next step.