10 Best Garmin Dive Watches 2025 in the United States

The Garmin fēnix® 8 is a premium multisport GPS smartwatch designed for athletes and adventurers. One of its standout features is its impressive water resistance, rated for depths of up to 40 meters, making it suitable for various diving activities like scuba and apnea. This is complemented by robust durability, featuring a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and a titanium bezel, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of outdoor use. The bright 1.4-inch AMOLED display enhances readability, even in bright sunlight, which is beneficial for outdoor navigation and diving tasks.

Battery life is another strong point, lasting up to 16 days in smartwatch mode and 47 hours in GPS mode. This longevity is helpful for extended trips or activities without frequent recharging. The advanced fitness tracking capabilities, including real-time stamina tracking and personalized training plans, cater well to serious athletes looking for comprehensive performance metrics.

On the connectivity front, the fēnix® 8 allows for phone calls and text responses directly from the wrist when paired with a smartphone, adding convenience. Its off-grid voice command feature is useful in remote areas where smartphone connectivity may be lacking. Comfort and fit are essential for long wear, especially during activities, but the watch size (47 mm) may feel bulky for some users with smaller wrists. Lastly, while the price reflects its premium quality, it may be higher than what casual users are willing to spend.

The Garmin fēnix® 8 is a robust dive-rated smartwatch designed for athletes and adventurers. Its 40-meter dive rating and durable build, including a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and titanium bezel, make it suitable for underwater activities like scuba and apnea diving. The AMOLED display is clear and bright even in challenging conditions, enhancing readability underwater. With a battery life of up to 10 days in smartwatch mode and 28 hours in GPS mode, it supports long adventures without frequent recharges.

Its 66-gram weight may feel hefty to some users, although it adds to its durability. Connectivity features, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB, allow seamless pairing with smartphones, enabling convenient features like making calls directly from the watch. While it offers a wealth of multisport functions and navigation aids, such as multi-band GPS and SatIQ technology, its advanced health monitoring tools, like heart rate and sleep tracking, are not substitutes for medical advice.

The built-in LED flashlight is a handy addition for low-light environments, and the dynamic round-trip routing is useful for planning workouts or explorations. Comfort and fit are tailored for men's wrists, which potential users should consider. Despite its advanced features, those not in need of such comprehensive tracking may find it overly complex and expensive for their needs. For dedicated athletes and divers, its combination of sport-specific workouts, dive support, and smart features make it a valuable companion.

The Garmin Descent Mk3i is an advanced dive computer that doubles as a multisport GPS smartwatch. The watch boasts a 1.4-inch AMOLED display, which is clear and readable even in low-light conditions, and the sapphire lens adds durability by resisting scratches. Its titanium bezel and optional titanium bracelet enhance its build quality, making it suitable for tough underwater environments. Water resistance up to 200 meters ensures reliability during deep dives, and the multiple dive modes cater to both recreational and technical divers, including freediving. The SubWave sonar technology is a standout feature, allowing communication between divers and monitoring tank pressures, though the required Descent T2 transceiver is sold separately, which could be a drawback for some users.

The built-in LED flashlight with variable intensities offers enhanced visibility underwater, adding to safety and convenience. The dive readiness tool is useful for assessing your physical condition before diving, though it should be noted that the metrics are estimations. The DiveView maps and multi-band GPS provide excellent navigational aid, though GPS tracking does not work underwater. The dive log feature is handy for storing and reviewing dive data, with seamless integration into the Garmin Dive app. As a multisport watch, it includes fitness and training features, along with comprehensive health monitoring tools, though these are not medical-grade.

Despite the robust features, the watch weighs 165.9 grams, which might not be comfortable for all users during prolonged wear. Connectivity through Bluetooth and USB supports smart features, enhancing its functionality as an everyday smartwatch. The Garmin Descent Mk3i excels in providing advanced features for diving and multisport activities, but the weight and additional cost for full sonar functionality could be potential downsides.