Following the previous topics format of a title “Feature Request” here is mine. The biggest issue that I take away from this watch is the “Auto Dive” feature. Yes, it’s a good function to have build in. It helps prevent a diver from accidentally diving without setting their computer. That said, there’s also a downside to this, but a sentence or two about WHO would buy the Garmin Descent:
The “average” recreational diver that is diving once or twice per year is NOT going to spend $1k+ for this watch, it’s just not happening. I know this because I’ve been in the diving retail industry for well over 10-15 years (on top of being an Instructor) and I know how they think. You’re going to get the hardcore divers, ranging from Technical Divers, Diving Professionals, etc buying this watch. That said...
...I’m in the water teaching 3-5 times a week ranging from the pool or Open Water Dives, Continuing Education Courses, Trips, etc. When you’re teaching SCUBA to students in the pool, you’re up and down, up and down with them. It is completely unnecessary to have the Descent record them as “dives”. You’re also constantly distracted (depending on your notification settings) with beeps, vibration, end of dive, etc. Again, not needed.
So so this is what I’m purposing as I got this idea from some of my Casio Protrek models that have a “BARO” feature (think Storm Alarm). It is a feature that when activated, stays on for only 24 hours, then disables until reactiviated as it’s monitoring the weather trends every 2 minutes and a battery drainer. That said, you could enable an “Auto Dive” feature ON/OFF toggle that allows the user to knowingly disable the feature that is “designed” to “re-enable” after a certain time (could be 2, 12, 24hrs).
Whether you have a gauge or a computer (you don’t disable that) that is integrated with your 1st Stage, it’s a lot less intrusive that something that’s on your wrist that 2nd’s as a watch. It just makes me want to wear a different watch in the pool...which when you spend $1k, you don’t want to do that.
