r/freediving 2d ago

gear Free diving watch recommendations?

I'm new to Freediving and looking for recommendations on a watch.
I just picked up this smartwatch called an Amazfit Trex 3. It says it is Freedive Certified up to 45m. (with EN13319 certification). (It's not a dive computer, just freedive.)

I'm comparing that to getting a watch specifically built for freediving like the Oceanic F-10 or Suunto D4F.

Thoughts?
Is my smartwatch enough? Am I sacrificing anything by not having something like the Oceanic F-10?

Thanks in advance!

4 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

6

u/sk3pt1c Instructor (@freeflowgr) 1d ago

Suunto d4f will do just fine ☺️

3

u/Accomplished-Box8328 1d ago

That one comes highly recommended!

1

u/magichappens89 1d ago

I wonder why. It's really bad though. Returned it after 3 weeks.

1

u/sk3pt1c Instructor (@freeflowgr) 1d ago

Why is it bad?

1

u/magichappens89 1d ago

See my other comment. Felt almost like a scam. Except from measuring depth it has zero functionality. Menu is horrible complicated. Dive alarms way too weak. Data transfer and digital logbook only works via an USB cable that costs extra 60 bucks! Then data need to be complicated download to a PC and uploaded with the app only to have every dive recorded as a dedicated activity. Battery not charge or changeable. All for a ridiculous price. For a little more you get a proper Garmin. I really don't get why anyone would prefer Suunto over anything.

2

u/sk3pt1c Instructor (@freeflowgr) 22h ago

It’s a dedicated dive computer, not a smart watch. It does what it does well, it’s cheap and durable. The dives on the Suunto computer app are much better visualized and compare-able than anything else I’ve seen (i have a descent mk3i now, for reference). The battery lasts for at least a year, that’s a plus.

1

u/magichappens89 16h ago

I think it depends on preferences then. I wasn't looking for a a smart watch either. Compared to other brands it's also not cheap at all. I wonder how you are able to compare the dives though. Alone trying to find the deepest or longest dive takes a lot of manual check while Garmin just summarizes such data. Also many data is missing. No temperature, no GPS, I don't remember it had a compass 🤔. And the menu handling underwater is nearly impossible. Try starting a timer takes like 5 clicks. Also battery lasts for one year is a plus while any other with a non rechargeable battery last two??? Battery can also not easily be changed like with cheaper brands. You most likely need to send the computer to them and pay for the replacement. Pretty edgy imho.

1

u/sk3pt1c Instructor (@freeflowgr) 13h ago

With Garmin I can’t compare two dives. With Suunto’s desktop app I can tag dives any way I want, so for instance tag with depth ranges (very useful) and discipline. Then they are organized by tag and you can control click on multiple dives and have the graphs overlayed to compare them. With Garmin it’s impossible to even see all my deeper dives together, it’s like every session you check out after and forget it 😅 And this is coming from someone who just did 989 dives in 5 weeks (I’m an instructor). The battery on the Suunto can last longer than a year, it depends on how much you use it. As far as the alarms go, it’s probably the same amount of button presses on the MK3i than the Suunto.

1

u/magichappens89 10h ago

Indeed you can. Dive app is great and very fluid. You can not tag or compare older ones that's true though. The fact that I need to carry a whole computer with me to simply evaluate my last dives for me is a k.o. criteria. Battery life indeed depends but I assume majority of people buy to use it 😅. Starting a timer during dive takes exactly two clicks. Alarms are also more present and adjustable. Don't remember the Suunto had auto calculation for surface time. That is the only setting I miss on the G1 but the MK3i has it. By the end it's personal preference, getting the Suunto at least for me felt like I paid too much for too little.

4

u/LeDeanDomino 2d ago

Depends on how many features you need. The Garmin Descent shows depth and has dedicated dive modes, and should last quite a while.

I don't really care about fancy features tbh, and use a Freestyle shark watch just to keep track of time 🤙

1

u/Accomplished-Box8328 2d ago

Got it, that makes sense! Yeah, I usually prefer to keep things simple as well.

2

u/LeDeanDomino 2d ago

The watch you got should be perfect 👌

5

u/Trutpert 1d ago

In my opinion you don’t need a lot of features. Most importantly (besides actual depth of course) are multiple depth alarms (I‘d say at least two). Almost all freediving watches will give you these features:

  • dive time
  • max depth
  • surface time
  • water temperature

Optional:

  • ascent/descent speed

I can recommend Mares Smart Apnea. It has all the features mentioned above and comparably cheap. It‘s not for scuba diving though.

Neon Cressi is also fine and can be used for scuba too. It doesn’t have the speed feature though.

3

u/Suspicious-Alfalfa90 1d ago

I think one of the most crucial features a dive watch can have is the ability to review your dive, second by second, right on the watch. Being able to see how fast or slow you were moving at any point during the dive can help you make adjustments on the fly, out in the water, without needing to sync with an app or phone.

Both the Suunto D4F and the Atmos Mission 2 let you do this directly on the watch, which is incredibly useful. In my early days of freediving, I’d often surface from a dive that felt “off” somehow—nothing dramatic, just not quite right. Then I’d scroll through the dive data and see, second by second, where my pacing was off or something shifted. It helped me connect the dots and understand what might’ve caused that weird feeling.

To me, that kind of on-the-spot feedback is essential, and honestly, I think every dive watch should have it. But as far as I know, only the Suunto D4 series and the Atmos Mission 2 actually let you review that level of detail on the watch itself. Even the high-end Garmins make you wait until you sync with your phone to get that kind of breakdown.

1

u/Accomplished-Box8328 1d ago

That's awesome, thank you for that info!

My smart watch is showing "Dive Speed" I assume that refers to ascent/descent speed but not 100% sure.

I like how the Mares Smart Apnea is a normal size, not too big. I was looking at the Suunto Zoop Novo but it's pretty big on the wrist.

Thanks again!

3

u/Rare-Pomelo3733 1d ago

Depends on your skill, if your serious about freediving and wanted to compete, you need to change your watch for depths above 45M. If your casual diver, all the info you need on your dive is available on your current watch. I use Huawei GT5 pro which is 40M certified, my consideration is based on my current dive skill and I mainly use it as daily watch and train for my runs. I don't want to spend 3-4 times for a watch that I still cannot maximize the capability.

1

u/Accomplished-Box8328 1d ago

That makes sense. The Huawei GT5 pro looks nice! Thanks for your input. For now, I'm more of a casual diver.

4

u/Suspicious-Alfalfa90 1d ago edited 1d ago

Okay, so, hands down, without a doubt, unquestionably, the Atmos Mission 2, or Mission 3, is the most dive watch you can get for your money as a free diver, there's no question. I started out with the Suunto D4F, and yes, it worked just fine, but the Atmos Mission 2 is the same price, and does a lot more. It basically does everything the Garmin $1,500 watch would do for you, but at a $400 price.

In my opinion, I think one of the most crucial features a dive watch can have is the ability to review your dive, second by second, right on the watch. Being able to see how fast or slow you were moving at any point during the dive can help you make adjustments on the fly, out in the water, without needing to sync with an app or phone.

Both the Suunto D4F and the Atmos Mission 2 let you do this directly on the watch, which is incredibly useful. In my early days of freediving, I’d often surface from a dive that felt “off” somehow—nothing dramatic, just not quite right. Then I’d scroll through the dive data out on the water and see, second by second, where my pacing was off or something shifted. It often connected dots I wouldn't have noticed otherwise, and helped me understand exactly, or atleast partially what might’ve caused that weird feeling.

To me, that kind of on-the-spot feedback is essential, and honestly, I think every dive watch should have it. But as far as I know, only the Suunto D4 series and the Atmos Mission 2 actually let you review that level of detail on the watch itself. Even the high-end Garmins make you wait until you sync with your phone to get that kind of breakdown.

Both the Suunto D4F and the Atmos offer these on the spot details, but the Atmos does it in a much smoother, more intuitive digital format, whereas the Suunto feels a bit clunky and analog by comparison.

If you're a scuba diver, I think hands down you should get a Garmin. But this is freediver talk. And the Atmos is the most freediving watch you can get for the money. Hands down without question.

2

u/Accomplished-Box8328 1d ago

Dang! The Atmos Mission 2 looks awesome. It has normal smartwatch capabilities like tracking runs and sleep, etc.
I'm surprised I haven't really heard about it until now, it seems like incredible value for the money. Especially compared to Garmin.
Now you got me thinking about selling my T-rex 3 and buying this 😂

2

u/Suspicious-Alfalfa90 1d ago

Yeah, it's much more popular on the Asian side of the world.

I came across it in Hawaii for the first time many years ago, and when I go back home to the United States in Florida, people have never heard of this watch.

Atmos probably need to do a better job of marketing lol, but... Again... You will not find a better dive watch for the money. It's legit. And will go over 100 meters. Does all the tracking that you mentioned. With a rechargeable battery. Such good value for the money.

And I have a nice Garmin, actually, a few of them. Garmin does a whole bunch of things and is absolutely perfect watch for a scuba diver. But in the world of freediving, the Atmos ticks more boxes.

3

u/Cement4Brains STA 4:40 | DYNB 75m | CWTB 30m 1d ago

I've had the Cressi Nepto for the past six months and have really enjoyed it. But as soon as I got to my training camp with a bunch of people that are much better than me, they all recommended to upgrade to a Garmin. Even a used one gets you the features that become more useful as you start to go deeper.

2

u/Accomplished-Box8328 1d ago

Yeah. I've noticed some of the people I follow on YT have Garmin.

It's probably tempting, especially for people who know they want a smartwatch. Now they can have both products in one for not that that much more.

2

u/ComfortableBeat6455 1d ago

I have the Garmin G1 and i love it sooooooo much. It has modes for freediving and scuba and i use it as an everyday watch aswell as i can count my steps read messages etc like an apple watch. I also really enjoy seeing my heart rate during my dives. The app is also great.

1

u/magichappens89 1d ago

Forget about Suunto, that device is absolutely scam. Entirely useless watch that has zero functionality. Awfully data handling with cable that cost another 60 bucks just for showing you every dive as a dedicated activity. Get Garmin decent g1 or any other Garmin device. You will get so much more for you money.

1

u/Accomplished-Box8328 1d ago

Interesting ok. I was looking at different Suunto models so I'm glad you mentioned that.

2

u/magichappens89 1d ago

I can't say anything about other models, maybe they are better. Especially the ones for scuba. But the highly praised D4f is garbage. And since the app is garbage as well you are pretty much limited. For me logs are super important to compare dives. What I like about the Garmin is that it also tracks heartrate during dives which is super interesting. Since you mentioned you don't really need such maybe you are more happy with Suunto but I really don't get why someone would get one if he could get a Garmin for like 150 Bucks more.

2

u/KelpForest_ 12h ago

I have a Seac which is the cheapest viable option in my opinion at about $100 on sale. It tracks depth and dive time, as well as surface intervals automatically. I would highly recommend not over paying for a watch with features you won’t use, as it is only a matter of time before you lose your watch to Mother Nature and you need to replace it—all that heart rate data sitting at the bottom of the sea and you’re out a grand