diff --git a/include/libdivecomputer/device.h b/include/libdivecomputer/device.h
index 3e7ebf1..01d17dc 100644
--- a/include/libdivecomputer/device.h
+++ b/include/libdivecomputer/device.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #define DC_DEVICE_H
 
 #include "common.h"
+#include "descriptor.h"
 #include "buffer.h"
 #include "datetime.h"
 
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ typedef void (*dc_event_callback_t) (dc_device_t *device, dc_event_type_t event,
 
 typedef int (*dc_dive_callback_t) (const unsigned char *data, unsigned int size, const unsigned char *fingerprint, unsigned int fsize, void *userdata);
 
+dc_status_t
+dc_device_open (dc_device_t **out, dc_descriptor_t *descriptor, const char *name);
+
 dc_family_t
 dc_device_get_type (dc_device_t *device);
 
diff --git a/src/device.c b/src/device.c
index d0b169d..36f1595 100644
--- a/src/device.c
+++ b/src/device.c
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
+#include <libdivecomputer/suunto.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/reefnet.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/uwatec.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/oceanic.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/mares.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/hw.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/cressi.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/zeagle.h>
+#include <libdivecomputer/atomics.h>
+
 #include "device-private.h"
 
 
@@ -38,6 +48,93 @@ device_init (dc_device_t *device, const device_backend_t *backend)
 	device->cancel_userdata = NULL;
 }
 
+dc_status_t
+dc_device_open (dc_device_t **out, dc_descriptor_t *descriptor, const char *name)
+{
+	dc_status_t rc = DC_STATUS_SUCCESS;
+	dc_device_t *device = NULL;
+
+	if (out == NULL || descriptor == NULL)
+		return DC_STATUS_INVALIDARGS;
+
+	switch (dc_descriptor_get_type (descriptor)) {
+	case DC_FAMILY_SUUNTO_SOLUTION:
+		rc = suunto_solution_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_SUUNTO_EON:
+		rc = suunto_eon_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_SUUNTO_VYPER:
+		rc = suunto_vyper_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_SUUNTO_VYPER2:
+		rc = suunto_vyper2_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_SUUNTO_D9:
+		rc = suunto_d9_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_UWATEC_ALADIN:
+		rc = uwatec_aladin_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_UWATEC_MEMOMOUSE:
+		rc = uwatec_memomouse_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_UWATEC_SMART:
+		rc = uwatec_smart_device_open (&device);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_REEFNET_SENSUS:
+		rc = reefnet_sensus_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_REEFNET_SENSUSPRO:
+		rc = reefnet_sensuspro_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_REEFNET_SENSUSULTRA:
+		rc = reefnet_sensusultra_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_OCEANIC_VTPRO:
+		rc = oceanic_vtpro_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_OCEANIC_VEO250:
+		rc = oceanic_veo250_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_OCEANIC_ATOM2:
+		rc = oceanic_atom2_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_MARES_NEMO:
+		rc = mares_nemo_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_MARES_PUCK:
+		rc = mares_puck_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_MARES_DARWIN:
+		rc = mares_darwin_device_open (&device, name, dc_descriptor_get_model (descriptor));
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_MARES_ICONHD:
+		rc = mares_iconhd_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_HW_OSTC:
+		rc = hw_ostc_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_HW_FROG:
+		rc = hw_frog_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_CRESSI_EDY:
+		rc = cressi_edy_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_ZEAGLE_N2ITION3:
+		rc = zeagle_n2ition3_device_open (&device, name);
+		break;
+	case DC_FAMILY_ATOMICS_COBALT:
+		rc = atomics_cobalt_device_open (&device);
+		break;
+	default:
+		return DC_STATUS_INVALIDARGS;
+	}
+
+	*out = device;
+
+	return rc;
+}
 
 dc_family_t
 dc_device_get_type (dc_device_t *device)
diff --git a/src/libdivecomputer.symbols b/src/libdivecomputer.symbols
index f96e585..75fc18c 100644
--- a/src/libdivecomputer.symbols
+++ b/src/libdivecomputer.symbols
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ cressi_edy_parser_create
 atomics_cobalt_parser_create
 atomics_cobalt_parser_set_calibration
 
+dc_device_open
 dc_device_close
 dc_device_dump
 dc_device_foreach