GARMIN DESCENT G1 SOLAR
Sponsored Feature
By Max James
Sometimes technology can hit that sweet spot where function and fashion fuse – the bit of kit that meets all your needs, and then plenty more that you hadn’t even considered. Of course, it has to be technically excellent, and it must be aesthetically pleasing. It should also have that special magic that sets it apart from all its rivals.
The Garmin Descent G1 Solar ticks all those boxes. Combining the ultimate dive computer and a very cool fitness watch, it is a very versatile and powerful piece of equipment which will take you through every stage of your diving career and provide a lot more along the way.
As a dive computer, it is straightforward enough for the complete beginner to pick up alongside their first open-water training manual. The screen is easy to read and the information presented is clear and understandable.
However, you will not have to upgrade to a more complex computer as your diving advances. The Garmin Descent G1, water-rated to 100m, functions as a simple depth gauge, and can manage air, nitrox (up to 100 per cent) and trimix gas blends. It can handle open-circuit diving and closed-circuit rebreathers. In diving mode, the main screen details which gas you are diving on, dive time, depth and dive limits for both recreational and into decompression diving.
You can set the depth notifications to audible, haptic or both. There is also a dazzling array of further display options, such as calories burned and heart rate monitor. Particularly helpful is excellent local tides information.
With this level of sophistication, getting used to the controls and settings inevitably takes time. However, this is far less daunting and much more intuitive than you would expect, and they quickly become second nature. The ease of becoming accustomed to the controls is encouraged by the fact that you use the G1 for much more than diving. The smartwatch functions, such as access to messages, making payments, health monitoring, and much more (how about access to maps for more than 42,000 golf courses) means you use this device all the time. It can monitor your sleep patterns, keep tabs on your health and keep track of the female menstrual cycle.
For example, you quickly become habituated to using the integrated GPS for taking directions. The G1 provides a full array of functions for various sports, such as running, hiking, cycling, climbing, paddleboarding, sailing, skiing and golf. During your daily fitness routine, it will measure oxygen saturation, hydration, heart rate and compare your performance with previous workouts. If you take up skydiving, the GPS even has a linked barometric altimeter which gives your speed of descent and altitude!
The Garmin Descent G1 can be linked to your smartphone to monitor text messages, emails and to use the Garmin PayTM system to settle bills and make purchases. As this is a Garmin product, it integrates with a wide range of navigational services, allowing you to explore the remotest dive sites. GNSS satellite navigation allows you to mark entry and exit points of a dive, and an underwater three-axis compass is also included for underwater navigation. You can pair with an inReach satellite communication device which can be housed in a dive case, giving you an emergency GPS SOS alert if you are ever stranded at sea on surfacing. Perfect, say, for that once-in-lifetime trip to the demanding waters of the Galápagos.
Data for up to 200 dives can be stored on the computer or logged on the associated Garmin Dive app, which automatically provides a detailed analysis of each dive, including maximum depth, bottom time and a map of surface entry and exit points. Divers can use the app’s ‘Explore’ tool to plan trips by viewing popular dive sites that have been rated and reviewed by other users, with helpful information such as weather conditions and dive logs from that specific location.
The battery lasts up to 124 days in smartwatch mode (*when solar charging assuming all-day wear with three hours outside in 50,000 lux conditions), 39 hours in GPS mode (when solar charging) and 25 hours in dive mode. The Descent G1 Solar is available in two colour schemes: black or hurricane blue; the less expensive model without solar recharging comes in either slate or light grey. Both are customisable with interchangeable QuickFit bands.
All in all, this is a wrist dive computer for life – your diving life, your active life and your daily life!
At a glance
• Solar-powered rechargeable battery*
• Sapphire scratch-resistant glass lens
• High-contrast, easy-to-read screen
• Nitrox, trimix, gauge, apnea, CCR modes
• Multi-GNSS GPS tracks location at the surface and logs dive entry and exit points
• Logs up to 200 dives
• 3-axis digital compass
• Local tide information and Surfline® for tidal conditions
• Multi-sport apps for trail running, swimming, running, biking, hiking, rowing, skiing, golfing and more
• Fitness monitoring with personal advice
• Workouts based on your fitness level and schedule
• Sleep tracking monitors your quality of sleep
• Heart rate and energy level monitor
• Battery life of 25 hours for diving
• 22mm Quickfit™ watch band compatible
• Abnormal heart rate alerts
• 100m depth rating
Price: £569.99
£479.99 without solar recharging
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