First Impressions
Straight out of the box and turned on, the most striking feature of the G2 is its 1.2-inch AMOLED display. Compared to the G1’s monochrome matrix screen, this strikingly clear color screen is a big step up. Like the Mk3i, it also features a touchscreen of sapphire crystal glass, making it easy to read in bright sunlight.
The Garmin G2, especially the black version, is very much a mini Mk3i. It weighs 25–45% less than the Mk3i (depending on the size), so the G2 is arguably more comfortable on the wrist for everyday wear. The G2 also comes in a shell Pink—a sort of peach fuzz meets salmon pink—which personally I wasn’t fan of. The G1 came in a pleasing pigeon blue, aqua, and light gray, so perhaps divers can look forward to more diverse colorways of the G2 later on.
All the Dive Modes
When discussing the features—especially the dive features—of the G2, comparisons to the Garmin Descent G1 are inevitable. When it comes to diving functionality, not much has changed with the G2. It is still a standout recreational and technical dive computer. The dive modes on the G2 are single-gas, multi-gas, CCR, apnea, apnea hunt, and gauge. The depth rating is 330 feet (100m).
The G2 can support up to 11 different gas mixes, so it is suitable for even the most complex decompression dives. Whether you’re planning a simple nitrox dive or a trimix expedition with multiple deco gases, the G2 handles gas switching with confidence and clarity. The G2 also supports Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR), but since we at DIVEIN are more recreationally-focused, we did not test its technical capabilities.
One G2 upgrade we noticed is the inclusion of pool apnea as well as regular apnea. However, this is more a generic upgrade of the smartwatch features, since the G2 now supports many more sports. We were hoping for an air integration upgrade, though arguably this would bump up price and weight—and then it basically becomes an Mk3i.
The digital compass integration works seamlessly, offering accurate navigation data that’s particularly useful during limited visibility dives or when following precise underwater routes. We could mark a heading, set a reciprocal heading of 180˚ or set it to 90L or 90R, which is 90˚ to the left or right of your marked heading.
During our dives, the compass provided consistent readings that helped maintain proper navigation. Like most modern dive computers today, the compass has tilt compensation, so it’ll always be working.
Crisp and Colorful Display
The best part of the G2 in our opinion, is the shiny new AMOLED 1.2-inch display. Even at 100 feet (30 m) with limited natural light, the display remains crisp and easy to read without being distractingly bright.
The customizable data screens allow divers to prioritize the information most relevant to their diving style—whether that’s basic depth and time for recreational dives or comprehensive gas monitoring for technical diving.
Great Garmin Battery Life
Whenever we are testing and reviewing a new dive computer, we check its battery life in dive mode, and Garmin always performs above and beyond what the company promises.
We tested the advertised 27-hour dive battery life in dive mode, and in our pressure chamber it reached 39 hours—40% more than advertised. It did better than the Shearwater Peregrine, which completed 31 hours in testing, but less than the Suunto Ocean, which got to 51 hours.
In smartwatch mode, the 10-day battery life means you can comfortably use all the fitness tracking features without worrying about charging cycles during dive trips. One main difference is that the G1 has solar versions so that it can charge on the go, and this is missing from the G2. The G1 Solar versions did come after the original release of the G1, so perhaps a solar G2 is planned for the future.
Sports Watch Capabilities
Aside from the display, the other big bump for the Garmin G2 is an increased range of sporting activities. Whereas the G1 features 30 sports, the G2 has over 100. For example, the G1 has just tennis, but the G2 has eight racket sports from padel to pickleball. The G2 also includes some totally new genres of sports, such as motorsports and gaming.
Like any Garmin, the G2 is first and foremost a sports watch. Divers can track a ton of data from their general heart rate, sleep, steps, calories burned, and stress levels, to specific metrics like stroke rate, GPS tracking, lap pace, and more. The G2 isn’t a basic fitness tracker bolted onto a dive computer—it’s a full-featured Garmin smartwatch that happens to be an excellent dive computer.
The Garmin Connect ecosystem integration means your dive data seamlessly syncs with your overall fitness and activity tracking. For divers who are also serious about land-based fitness, this unified approach eliminates the need for multiple devices. Heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring provide valuable insights that can actually inform your diving readiness and recovery.
Smartwatch Features
The G2 functions as a complete smartwatch for everyday use, sending notifications on calls and messages directly to your wrist. It is not as functional as the Apple Watch Ultra or Garmin fēnix 8, with which you can reply to messages and answer calls.
The G2 also supports contactless payments through Garmin Pay, music storage through Spotify for offline listening, and weather forecasts, features that prove particularly useful during dive trips when you want to minimize the devices you carry.
Smart alarm functions wake you gently for early morning dive departures, while the find-my-phone feature helps locate misplaced devices in resort rooms or on liveaboards.
How the G2 Compares
Garmin G2 vs. Garmin G1
For the most part, the Garmin G1 and G2 are very similar. The main differences are in the fitness watch capabilities and the display. The G1 remains a solid choice for recreational divers and is a good choice for professionals who want a little bit of everything but also don’t want to break the bank.
→ Display: The Garmin G1 has a relatively simple black-and-white matrix display with a small data window. The G2 has a much crisper color display, which is also touchscreen.→ Sports watch: The G1 has 30 sports activities and the G2 has been upgraded to over 100 sports. Unless you’re after a specific sport, such as wakeboarding, or snowmobiling, then the G1’s sports range might be enough.
→ Smartwatch: The smartwatch capabilities are the same for both the G1 and G2.
→ Dive computer: The dive modes are the same for both the G1 and G2. The G1 did perform better in our battery tests, lasting 139 hours. The G2 did last 39 hours, which is still pretty decent.
Garmin G2 vs. Suunto Ocean
→ Display: Both the G2 and the Suunto Ocean’s menu are easy to read and navigate underwater.
→ Sports watch: Both the G2 and the Ocean cover a wide range of sports. The main difference here is that the Ocean lacks the depth of Garmin’s training ecosystem and long-term health insights.
→ Smartwatch: Both these watches can receive notifications on calls and messages, but can not directly answer calls or reply to messages.
→ Dive computer: Suunto has air integration capabilities that the G2 lacks, making it appealing for divers who prioritize wireless tank monitoring. Suunto won in our battery test—51 hours versus 39 hours. A big plus for the G2 is the extensive technical diving capability. The watch can accommodate CCR and trimix, and can support 11 gases.
Garmin G2 vs. Shearwater Teric
Against Shearwater’s Teric, the G2 holds its own in technical diving capabilities but excels in all activities and metrics above the water.
→ Sports watch: The Shearwater Teric is a dive-only computer, whereas the G2 has the full Garmin sport and health tracking universe.
→ Smartwatch: The Teric only has an alternate watch mode, a minimal display for everyday wear. The G2 can receive notifications on calls and messages, and has features like music controls and Garmin Pay.
→ Dive computer: The Teric is a purpose-built dive computer with excellent underwater performance as well as air integration in the TX versions. If you only need a dive computer, Shearwater wins on pure diving performance and air integration. The G2 is unmatched for divers who like to have fitness tracking in the same device.
Price/Quality Ratio
The Garmin G2 comes in at a mid-range price, which is pretty decent considering its dual nature as both a sophisticated dive computer and comprehensive smartwatch. The most direct comparison in terms of functionality would be the Suunto Ocean, which costs $200 more. The Ocean is transmitter-compatible, however, so it does win there, but it lacks any technical dive modes, such as CCR, which the G2 does have.
More comparable in price would be the Shearwater Peregrine TX and Tern TX. The main difference here is that the Shearwaters can both have air integration (for the extra cost of a transmitter), but have no fitness features at all. If you can spend just shy of $1000 for a dive computer, we recommend the Shearwaters. The G2, aside from air integration, is equally as capable and is a sports watch.
For divers who would otherwise purchase separate devices for diving and fitness tracking, the G2 represents excellent value. A G2 investment makes sense for active divers who want advanced technical diving capabilities combined with comprehensive fitness tracking.
Do we recommend the Garmin G2?
The Garmin G2 excels as a technical dive computer that doesn’t compromise on everyday functionality. If you’re an intermediate to advanced diver who values both serious diving performance and comprehensive fitness tracking, the G2 delivers exceptional value in a single device.
The G2 makes the most sense for divers who regularly engage in technical diving, appreciate advanced dive planning capabilities, and want their dive computer to serve as their primary fitness watch. However, if you’re primarily a recreational diver or prefer air-integrated computers, you will need to consider other dive computers.
Specs & Features
| Display type | AMOLED; sapphire lens |
|---|---|
| Display size | 1.2 inch |
| Screen resolution | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Battery | 27 hours dive; 10 days smartwatch; clip-on USB charger |
| Size | 45.5 x 45.5 x 15.2 mm |
| Depth rating | 330 feet (100 m) |
| Number of gases | 11 |
| Dive modes | Single, multi-gas, apnea, apnea hunt, nitrox, trimix, CCR |
| Alarms | Audible and vibration |
| Dive log capabilities | Store & review dive logs on watch and the Garmin Dive app |
| Transmitter compatible | No |
| Weight | 61 g |
| Number of buttons | 5 |
| Compass | Yes |
| Wrist straps | Silicone |
Take a moment to look at this.
