Innovation for 2025: A Smarter Way to Dive
This year, Garmin has released something that’s going to shift the way we think about dive safety and surface support — the Descent S1 Buoy. It’s not just a surface marker. It’s a fully connected, floating smart device that acts as a live link between divers and surface teams. Built with group diving, drift dives, and remote expeditions in mind, this rugged little unit is the newest addition to Garmin’s dive ecosystem — and it’s packed with features.
👥 Real-Time Diver Tracking: Know Where Everyone Is
The Descent S1 uses Garmin’s SubWave™ sonar network to connect with up to eight divers at a time. When paired with Descent T2 transmitters and compatible dive computers, the buoy provides live feedback to the surface on each diver’s:
- Depth
- Tank pressure
- Distance and direction from the buoy
This isn’t just useful — it’s a game-changer for dive planning and in-water safety. Group dives become easier to manage, and surface crews can respond faster to any unexpected changes underwater.
💬 Two-Way Preset Messaging: Simple, Clear Communication
Forget relying solely on surface signals or hand gestures. The Descent S1 enables two-way messaging using a library of preset messages, sent via the Garmin Dive™ app. These messages appear directly on the diver’s connected computer, making it easy to:
- Request status updates from individual divers
- Send a recall or abort message
- Confirm safety or issue a heads-up
- Communicate basic alerts from underwater back to the surface
It’s ideal for instructors, team leads, and any dive scenario where clarity and speed matter.
🧭 Navigation Support: Find Your Way Back
Ever surfaced far from the boat after a current-carrying drift dive? The Descent S1 Buoy helps solve that problem. With connected Descent dive computers and T2 transceivers, the buoy gives the boat team precise distance, direction, and tank status for each diver. Divers can also see their distance and direction back to the buoy directly on their compatible device, giving them a constant reference point during the dive and when ascending. That means faster pickups, better planning, and far less guesswork — especially in strong currents, open water, or low visibility conditions.
🗺️ Post-Dive Heatmaps & Position Logs
Once you're out of the water, the S1 continues to do its job. It wirelessly connects via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to the Garmin Dive™ app, where it syncs dive logs and creates heatmaps of diver movement. It’s a brilliant tool for training reviews, route tracking, and understanding how the dive unfolded — especially when managing larger groups.
📡 Built-In Multi-GNSS for Surface Positioning
The buoy itself is equipped with GPS and GLONASS, which means it tracks its own position at the surface accurately. Whether you're launching from a boat or managing beach entries, you’ll know exactly where the buoy was throughout the dive. This is useful for logging, planning surface pickups, or marking specific dive sites.
🔧 Rugged Design, Ready for Any Dive
Garmin built the S1 Buoy to be tough. It’s IPX8-rated, meaning it’s waterproof down to 10 metres, and can handle rough sea conditions without fuss. With a 15-hour battery life, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a USB-C clip charger, it’s good to go for long dive days or multi-dive outings.
Wireless transmission distances are:
- Up to 60 metres via Wi-Fi (surface)
- Up to 100 metres via SubWave™ sonar (underwater)
That means you can stay connected even during extended dives or when drifting with a surface float.
🧩 Compatibility
The buoy is designed to work specifically with:
- Garmin Descent T2 transceivers
- Garmin Descent dive computers that support SubWave™ and two-way messaging
- The Garmin Dive™ app for surface monitoring, messaging, syncing, and post-dive data review
The Descent S1 Buoy is more than just a piece of dive gear — it’s a communication bridge, a tracking tool, and a peace-of-mind companion for every dive. Whether you're leading dives, teaching new divers, or just want to take safety and coordination to the next level, this buoy could quickly become your most trusted piece of kit.
2025 is officially the year we connect above and below the surface.
👉 Ready to dive smarter? Check out the Garmin Descent S1 Buoy in our shop, or contact us with any questions about how it fits into your dive setup.
