KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Garmin Malaysia unveiled the Descent S1 Buoy, a new advanced device designed to significantly improve communication and situational awareness for divers and their surface support. This innovative addition to Garmin’s dive lineup aims to enhance safety and peace of mind for both those exploring underwater and the crew topside.
The Descent S1 Buoy leverages Garmin’s proprietary SubWave™ sonar networking technology, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with compatible Garmin dive computers. This system enables crew members on the surface to track and monitor up to eight divers simultaneously. Furthermore, it facilitates two-way communication, allowing preset messages to be exchanged between the surface crew and divers equipped with a compatible dive computer and Descent T2 transceiver. For divers, the buoy provides crucial situational awareness, showing them the distance and direction back to the buoy, thereby offering clear guidance on where to surface.
“Garmin is focused on creating essential products designed to help keep divers safe,” said Mr. Scoppen Lin, Assistant General Manager, Garmin Asia. “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.”
Advancing the Diver Experience:
For the diver, the Descent S1 Buoy offers several key benefits:
- Find my buoy: Divers can see the distance and direction to the buoy, whether it’s tethered or drifting, providing a clear reference point for navigation back to a designated area.
- Diver-to-surface messaging: Using a connected Descent dive computer, divers can send preset messages to the surface, communicating their location, intentions, if an early ascent is needed, or their remaining decompression time.
- Extended diver-to-diver messaging: The buoy extends the range of underwater diver-to-diver messaging capabilities. Divers with compatible Descent dive computers can exchange preset messages with each other up to 100 meters away, fostering better coordination underwater.
- Post-dive review: After surfacing, divers can review underwater heatmaps on the Garmin Dive smart-device app, offering a visual record of their exploration paths.
Revolutionizing the Diving Experience from the Surface:
Topside crews can significantly enhance their monitoring capabilities when utilizing both the Descent S1 Buoy and the Garmin Dive app:
- Remote diver monitoring: Crews can track essential data such as tank pressures, diver location, and depth for divers equipped with a compatible dive computer and Descent T2 transceiver. Automatic alerts can notify the topside crew if a diver’s tank pressure falls to a low level.
- Surface-to-diver messaging: The buoy allows surface crews to send preset messages to connected Descent dive computers underwater, enabling communication with divers and the ability to initiate a diver recall if a dive needs to be shortened.
- Diver location tracking: Crews can track the approximate range to each diver within the SubWave sonar network, up to 100 meters away from the buoy, enhancing overall awareness of the dive group’s spread.
Rugged and Connected Design:
The Descent S1 Buoy is engineered for the rigors of the marine environment. It is compact, weighing approximately 2 pounds (around 0.98 kg), and boasts an IPX8 water rating, allowing it to function at depths of up to 10 meters. Its rechargeable lithium battery provides up to 15 hours of life, sufficient for typical weekend dive trips before requiring recharging. For surface connectivity, the buoy uses Wi-Fi technology to wirelessly connect to the Garmin Dive app, with a range of up to 60 meters.
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The introduction of the Descent S1 Buoy marks a notable step forward in dive safety and communication technology, aligning with the growing demand for enhanced real-time awareness and coordination in underwater activities. This innovation can prove particularly valuable for dive operators, instructors, and recreational dive teams who prioritize safety and efficient group management.
The Descent S1 Buoy will be available from August 2025 with a suggested retail price of RM10,879. It can be purchased through various channels including the Garmin e-store, Shopee, Lazada, AECO e-store, Garmin Brand Stores, and all authorized retailers across Malaysia.
