Diving is a risky activity, whether you’re doing it for leisure or work. While divers rely on dive computers to stay safe underwater, the topside crew plays an equally critical role. The tragic case of Tom and Eileen Lonergan—who were accidentally left behind during a dive trip—is a sobering reminder of how crucial surface monitoring can be. This is where the new Garmin Descent S1 Buoy Dive Safety Technology steps in.
This compact, 2-pound smart buoy isn’t just a floating marker. It’s an underwater communication hub that links surface crews with up to eight divers via Garmin’s proprietary SubWave sonar network. Using a compatible Descent dive computer and the T2 transceiver, divers can exchange preset messages with each other and the crew above. They can even relay key info like location, air levels, remaining decompression time—or request an early ascent.
And it’s not just diver-to-diver or diver-to-surface; the crew can also send recall messages if a dive needs to be cut short. For added safety, divers can navigate back to the buoy, thanks to directional and distance guidance displayed right on their wrist.
Topside, the Descent S1 connects to the Garmin Dive app over Wi-Fi (up to 60 meters or about 197 feet away), giving the surface team real-time access to diver location, depth, and tank pressure. Automatic alerts notify the crew if someone’s running low on air—if, for some unknown reason, the divers weren’t aware.
With up to 15 hours of battery life, rugged IPX8 waterproofing (to 10 meters), and the ability to create underwater heatmaps post-dive, the US$2,499.99 S1 Buoy is a must-have for charter ops, instructors, and serious dive teams.
This isn’t just a safety tool. It’s peace of mind in bright orange.
Images: Garmin.
