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Dive Mode: True North vs. Magnetic North (Compass)

Odie21
over 6 years ago
I noticed this while playing with this and I tried various different areas and also compared to several ABC watches I had in the house. The standard compass on the Fenix 5/Descent line allows for you to choose between Magnetic North or True North. But I’m noticing the compass in the “Dive” mode, only reflects “True North”.

There should be an option in the “Dive Settings” to choose between Magnetic or True North. I’m a Dive Instructor and one of the big allures to me going with this watch was the underwater compass options with the Direct Bearing, Recp. Course, etc for guiding students but their compasses will reflect Magnetic North, while the MK1 reflects True North.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    To add pictures, you’ll notice that the watch and compass (both pointing to Magnetic North) are spot on on but in the next picture the Diving Compass is pointing to True North whereas the Compass points to MN. Again, there should be an option in “Dive Mode” to choose what type of compass you want to use.ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1296958.jpg
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    While the device is equipped with a magnetic compass, you can customize and calibrate the feature on the device, when you have the widget enabled. From the watch face> you can navigate to the ABC page>press and hold the menu button>ABC options> here you have several options where you can Calibrate, Display, North Reference and mode. North Reference is where you can select if you like to use true north, magnetic, grid or user defined. The settings of the compass are defined in the manual on page 27found here. Remember that you should calibrate the electronic compass outdoors. To improve the heading accuracy, do not stand near objects that can influence magnetic fields.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    While the device is equipped with a magnetic compass, you can customize and calibrate the feature on the device, when you have the widget enabled. From the watch face> you can navigate to the ABC page>press and hold the menu button>ABC options> here you have several options where you can Calibrate, Display, North Reference and mode. North Reference is where you can select if you like to use true north, magnetic, grid or user defined. The settings of the compass are defined in the manual on page 27found here. Remember that you should calibrate the electronic compass outdoors. To improve the heading accuracy, do not stand near objects that can influence magnetic fields.


    Thank you for the response but that was was done (set to MN) when I first got the watch. The issue isn’t with the the standard compass, you have the options of changing from MN to TN. It’s with the DIVING Compass that the issue exists. You do NOT get the option of switching between TN to MN.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Odie21 I've passed this along to my contact on the Garmin Descent team, and can confirm that the issue is on their radar. I suspect this will be addressed in a firmware update, although I don't know which direction that will take... having it honor the existing setting, or adding a dive-specific compass setting.

    For the purpose of full disclosure, I'm not employed by Garmin and certainly can't make any promises on their behalf. I'm just part of a group of people who helped to perform early testing of the Device.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Odie21 I've passed this along to my contact on the Garmin Descent team, and can confirm that the issue is on their radar. I suspect this will be addressed in a firmware update, although I don't know which direction that will take... having it honor the existing setting, or adding a dive-specific compass setting.

    For the purpose of full disclosure, I'm not employed by Garmin and certainly can't make any promises on their behalf. I'm just part of a group of people who helped to perform early testing of the Device.



    Thank you for the update :)
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    I’ve been hard on Garmin due to the lack of support lately but I will give credit where it is due...They fixed the Diving Compass today with the update, thank you :)
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Odie21, have you found a complete list of updates for the Descent software? I can find it for some other products, but not for the Descent.
  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Odie21, have you found a complete list of updates for the Descent software? I can find it for some other products, but not for the Descent.


    Just what it said about the diving compass issue and a backlight issue fix.

  • +1 over 6 years ago

    This issue has been fixed in the 2.50 software. Once your device has been upgraded to 2.50 software, your Descent Mk1 will have the option of both Magnetic North and True North settings for the compass.

  • 0 over 6 years ago
    Now if I could only get the 2.50 software, Connect tells me that 2.30 is the most current and there are no updates at this time. Though this is how phased rollouts work.....