29 July, 2025
garmin-unveils-descent-s1-smart-buoy-to-enhance-dive-safety-and-communication

Garmin has taken a significant leap forward in diving technology with the introduction of the Descent™ S1 Buoy. Announced recently, this innovative device is designed to improve communication between divers and their surface teams, providing enhanced safety and peace of mind. Utilizing Garmin’s proprietary SubWave™ sonar networking, the buoy seamlessly integrates with Garmin dive computers, allowing surface crews to track and monitor up to eight divers and exchange preset messages with those using a compatible dive computer and Descent T2 transceiver.

The Descent S1 Buoy offers divers increased situational awareness, as they can view the distance and direction to the buoy, ensuring they know where to surface. This advancement is part of Garmin’s ongoing commitment to developing essential products that prioritize diver safety, as highlighted by Susan Lyman, Garmin’s Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing.

“Garmin is focused on creating essential products designed to help keep divers safe. The groundbreaking Descent S1 buoy adds game-changing communication, navigation and safety capabilities between divers and their surface crew, making it the next must-have piece of kit for dive teams, charter operations, instructors and more.” – Susan Lyman

Enhancing the Diver Experience

The Descent S1 Buoy is packed with features that enhance the diving experience. Divers can use the buoy to navigate back to their starting point, whether it’s tethered in place, on a boat’s anchor line, or on a tag line during a drift dive. This capability is crucial for ensuring divers can return safely to their entry point.

Moreover, the buoy facilitates diver-to-surface communication. When using a connected Descent dive computer, divers can inform surface teams of their location, intended direction, any need to ascend early, and remaining decompression time. This feature is vital for dive safety, allowing for timely interventions if necessary.

Additionally, the buoy extends the range of diver-to-diver messaging capabilities. Divers with compatible Descent dive computers can exchange preset messages with one another up to 100 meters away, enhancing coordination and safety during dives.

Post-Dive Review

After a dive, users can review their underwater explorations through heatmaps available on the Garmin Dive™ smart-device app. This feature offers divers insights into their dive paths and areas explored, contributing to a richer diving experience.

Revolutionizing Surface Operations

The Descent S1 Buoy also significantly enhances surface operations. Topside crews can better track divers below the surface, thanks to the integration with the Garmin Dive app. This capability allows for real-time monitoring of tank pressures, diver location, and depth, with automatic alerts notifying crew members of low tank pressures.

Surface-to-diver communication is streamlined through the buoy, enabling crews to send preset messages to divers underwater. This feature is particularly useful for issuing diver recalls if a dive needs to be cut short due to unforeseen circumstances.

By the Numbers: The Descent S1 Buoy can track divers up to 100 meters away and offers up to 15 hours of battery life, making it suitable for a typical weekend dive trip.

Technical Specifications and Availability

The Descent S1 Buoy is compact, weighing just 2 pounds, and boasts an IPX8 water rating to 10 meters. It features a rechargeable lithium battery that provides up to 15 hours of battery life, ensuring it can support multiple dives before needing a recharge. The buoy uses Wi-Fi® technology to wirelessly connect to the Garmin Dive app, extending its connectivity up to 60 meters away.

Available now, the Descent S1 Buoy is priced at $4,449.00 AUD. This new addition to Garmin’s lineup underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing the experiences of adventurers, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.

Looking Ahead

Garmin’s introduction of the Descent S1 Buoy marks a significant milestone in diving technology, promising to revolutionize how divers and surface teams communicate and ensure safety. As the diving community continues to embrace technological advancements, products like the Descent S1 Buoy are likely to become essential tools for dive teams, charter operations, and instructors.

With Garmin’s ongoing dedication to innovation, the future of diving looks promising, offering divers enhanced safety, communication, and exploration capabilities. For more information on the Descent S1 Buoy and other Garmin products, visit the Garmin website.