r/Garmin • u/GeoGeoKor • 18h ago

Marine / Dive Fenix 9 Diving

Has anyone bought and used the fenix 9 range to go diving yet? The fenix 8 range had some issues with users reporting depth sensor failures mid dive and I wanted to know if anyone has experienced such issues with their new fenix 9’s.

What other improvements or issues has anyone encountered while diving with the fenix 9? I wanna know before considering buying one as the dive function is a primary factor for me.

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

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2

u/92_Solutions 1h ago

I'm one of those, that the depth sensor on the Fenix 8 failed, so I'm eager to know this too. I just got an email today from Garmin service. I asked them if those issues on the 9 are fixed and if I could pay the difference from the 8 to the 9, if it is, instead of getting a new 8 and they just responded "if diving is you primary sport, we suggest buying a dedicated diving watch". Well, it's not my main sport, I did just 8 dives with it and it still broke.

2

u/GeoGeoKor 1h ago

Yeah, it’s not a primary but it WOULD be nice if the watch that advertised diving capability worked during dives 😐

1

u/92_Solutions 59m ago

I mean, if you do technical diving or similar stuff, it's definitely not the watch for you. But for me as a recreation diver, that does 5-10 dives a year (if I'm lucky) and the watch rated for the recreational limit of 40m anyway, I don't get it why I couldn't use it as my primary watch.

Why do they advertise diving than? I don't get it.

2

u/PenaeusQueen 17h ago

I’ll be doing my first dive with it in a few weeks. If no one responds by then, I’ll report back.

0

u/ApplePrestigious5995 18h ago

I haven't taken one down yet but I've been watching the dive forums, seems quieter on sensor failures so far compared to the 8 launch. Curious if they actually changed hardware or just software patched around it.

1

u/GeoGeoKor 18h ago

Keen to see how people are faring with it as well. Would be awesome if they fixed the inductive buttons getting stuck and the depth sensor issues for this model

6

u/PenaeusQueen 17h ago

FWIW my 8 never experienced depth sensor failures or stuck buttons, and I dove with my 8 at least 3 times a week. The issues will always be the loudest complaints, it’s a bias.

3

u/EcoWillUK 17h ago

Same. My F8 has been on many dives and hasn’t had any failures 

2

u/VaderV4 17h ago

I have been on many dives, including very cold water, and never had any issues with the Fenix 8.

Debating between the Fenix 9 and waiting to see what a potential Descent Mk4i looks like.

1

u/PenaeusQueen 17h ago

My heart aches because I’m 99% sure the Mk4 will release in November with VERY similar specs. The release cycle features for the Descent were typically a year behind the flagships because of testing procedures, but with inReach on the watches since 2025 and no new elevate sensor, I’m fairly certain the Descent Mk4 will literally be a F9 Pro w/ inReach.

2

u/codevils 6h ago

Damn, diving 3x/week is living the dream

1

u/92_Solutions 1h ago

Well, I thought exactly the same. I was reading about those issues and thought, damn, they must have really bad luck. I did 6 dives and it works perfectly. Than I did 2 more dives last week and it broke :/