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Garmin · Descent Mk3i 43 mm

Descent Mk3i 43 mm

A smaller 43 mm AMOLED Descent with air integration and SubWave features in a more wearable case
Market statusCurrent compact premium air-integrated multisport watchChecked Aug 15
Reference price$1,399.99 current baseCurrent Garmin Mk3 series reference
Product cyclecurrentRelease history under review
EvidenceWell supported5 publishers · 3 independent
Next full checkAug 22, 2026Price checks run sooner
01

Ready to buy

Confirm the exact machine and complete setup

The retained reference is $1,399.99 current base. T2 is separate unless bundled. Confirm band, transmitter, software and display readability. Confirm the current configuration, included parts, support path, return terms and the work that must be preserved before ordering.

Buying stageMarket familiarity
02

Current market

The facts that change the ownership choice

Each line carries its own check date because price, software, specifications, and product cycle do not age at the same speed.

QuestionCurrent answerFreshnessBasis

Current price

$1,399.99 current base

T2 is separate unless bundled. Confirm band, transmitter, software and display readability. Confirm the checkout price and package before paying.

Checked todayDirect source1 evidence item

Market branch

Compact premium multisport air integration
Checked todayOur synthesis2 evidence items

Purchase boundary

The smaller body gives up display area and substantial battery life relative to Mk3i 51
Checked todayOur synthesis2 evidence items

Dive rating

200-meter dive-rated case
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items

Air integration

T2 pressure and SubWave support
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items

Battery

Up to 30 hours retained dive-mode reference
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items

Format

43 mm AMOLED watch case
Checked todayDirect source2 evidence items

Current verdict

The premium Garmin for smaller wrists

Mk3i 43 makes sense when daily comfort matters enough to accept shorter dive battery life and a smaller underwater display.

Checked todayOur synthesis7 evidence items
03

Other paths

The alternatives change what the Descent Mk3i 43 mm is worth

These are not generic competitors. Each one represents a different way to buy into the same market.

01lower upfront

Garmin

Descent Mk3 43 mm

$1,199.99 current direct
Best fit
Premium multisport without air integration
Tradeoff
Air integration cannot be added later to a non-i Mk3, so the savings lock in that choice
Open the source
02ownership

Shearwater

Tern TX

$805 current base
Best fit
Watch-style dedicated recreational
Tradeoff
The smaller display improves wearability but can be less readable through task loading, poor visibility or aging eyes
Open the source
04

What changed

The product has a history

Older observations stay in the ledger when the current view changes. That lets a buyer tell the difference between an old complaint, an active issue, and a problem that was corrected.

  1. notable

    Current market position retained

    Descent Mk3i 43 mm was checked against its manufacturer record, the current category collection and the nearest ownership alternatives.

Price record

The price history starts here

Each amount stays tied to its source and capture date. Conflicting prices remain visible until the seller resolves them.

  1. $1,399.99 current base

    Current reference priceA structured timeline will begin with the next source capture

05

Owner experience

What repeats after the purchase

Owner discussion repeatedly returns to wearability versus underwater legibility rather than specifications alone.

These are self-reported experiences from a changing mix of owners, conditions and software versions. They identify questions to test, not a failure rate.
SignalWhat owners reportOur readEvidence

Wearability versus underwater legibility

Divers repeatedly distinguish large-screen readability, watch form, owning a regulator for air integration, rental habits, backup gauges and the value of trying computers in person.

Try the display with mask, gloves and exposure protection before choosing the smaller case.

1 evidence record
06

Sources

Why we believe the current view

The page separates what a source states directly from what we conclude across sources.

01
Descent Mk3i 43 mm product recordGarmin · identity

Garmin identifies Descent Mk3i 43 mm as a smaller 43 mm AMOLED Descent with air integration and SubWave features in a more wearable case

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
3bdfb55bda977273…
Use
store excerpt
Open Garmin
02
Descent Mk3i 43 mm current offerGarmin · price

$1,399.99 current base was retained from the current manufacturer or authorized-market record with package and availability qualifications kept visible.

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
a00046914565f656…
Use
store snapshot
Open Garmin
03
Descent Mk3i 43 mm support and specificationsGarmin · specification

Garmin publishes setup, compatibility or service material that makes this purchase boundary explicit: The smaller body gives up display area and substantial battery life relative to Mk3i 51

Source type
support
Content hash
e56db3f5a59b0d90…
Use
store excerpt
Open Garmin
04
Current air-integrated computer collectionShearwater · price

The current collection preserves the live price and role ladder from Peregrine TX and Tern TX through Perdix 3, Petrel 3 and rebreather monitors.

Source type
retailer
Content hash
81d0f231bce4a8d7…
Use
store snapshot
Open Shearwater
05
Garmin Descent Mk3i in-water reviewDIVE Magazine · specification

An in-water editorial review separates display, messaging, transmitter dependence, watch functions and price after real dives.

Source type
editorial
Content hash
48d6026640941d86…
Use
store excerpt
Open DIVE Magazine
06
Suunto Ocean in-water reviewTechRadar · consensus

Club dives and daily wear show how display, battery, app, tank integration and topside features shape a modern dive-watch purchase.

Source type
editorial
Content hash
fd6689531ca0d830…
Use
store excerpt
Open TechRadar
07
Current Tern TX, Peregrine TX and Suunto owner comparisonr/scuba · consensus

Divers repeatedly distinguish large-screen readability, watch form, owning a regulator for air integration, rental habits, backup gauges and the value of trying computers in person.

Source type
community
Content hash
0216bf4c5de26132…
Use
store excerpt
Open r/scuba
08
Descent Mk3 43 mm alternative recordGarmin · alternative

Descent Mk3 43 mm represents the premium multisport without air integration branch at $1,199.99 current direct.

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
4e5213fa55f83383…
Use
store excerpt
Open Garmin
09
Tern TX alternative recordShearwater · alternative

Tern TX represents the watch-style dedicated recreational branch at $805 current base.

Source type
manufacturer
Content hash
cc13464b89a5cdb4…
Use
store excerpt
Open Shearwater

The manufacturer record, current market collection, support material and independent category evidence were checked on August 15, 2026. The checkout package and regional support path still need verification. Owner reports are retained as bounded experience, not a reliability rate.

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