Descent MK1 Dive Feature Suggestions/Changes

Ok, we all know that this watch is loosely based on the 5x so any features that pertain to any other sport function can be posted in the 5x forum. I’ve had this watch since the beginning of January and I’ve had enough time to formulate opinions and/or suggestions. I’ll post mine and for those of you that would like to post yours here, you’re more than welcome to:

1. Posted and submitted this as an issue but will reiterate it, the Diving Compass only looks at True North, not Magnetic North like most compasses. Allow the user to choose MG or TN for their Diving Compass or have it default based on your normal Compass widget setting.

2. Have an option to turn off “Auto Dive” on the watch. As an Instructor, I’m always up and down with students in the pool. I have all the necessary skills timed out and look at my analog clock as a reference. I do not need the watch to go into dive mode when I’m in the pool. It’s quite annoying. So there should be an optional n to “turn off” that feature.

3. The normal “Barometer” widget is effected after a dive (picture below). Maybe disable the widget from trying to read while in the water.

ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1319115.jpg

0 Larrabee over 6 years ago

LOL, yeah, that looks annoying.

I agree that ultimately we are responsible for our own safety, but the tools should not provide us a way to screw up.

If you are not interested in tracking your up and downs or pool time, then why are you wearing the watch? I'm sure there is a clock in the pool.

0 Odie21 over 6 years ago

I didn’t spend my hard earned money to have to take off my main watch. I got rid of my Tissot Sea Touch a few years ago because of a similar issue of going into dive mode. Though, I have a feeling that the Descent is a bit “smarter” than the Sea Touch was.

Not to beat a dead horse but I’d like to use it as a watch when I want and use it as a dive computer when I want. Fix this issue, along with resolving the issue to the “Diving Compass” and I’ll be quite the happy camper :)

0 Mark_H20 over 6 years ago

Just a band aid over an open wound. Also, not necessary to really need any readings when you’re in a 4-10’ swimming pool unless the user wants it.

There should be an option to disable the auto dive function.

I agree on this, I use the watch as a timer when working with students in the pool and do not need it giving me 10-15 dives during a long pool session. Having the ability to disable auto start would be nice. Though the Descent is my backup dive computer, just do not trust it right now to use it as a primary dive computer

0 atj777 over 6 years ago

Given the screwy implementation of "End Dive Delay", could you increase the delay significantly during your pool sessions so that it just records as a single dive which is easier to delete?

I know it isn't the answer you want but it might be a workaround until (and if) Garmin make the change you have requested.

0 Mark_H20 over 6 years ago

Given the screwy implementation of "End Dive Delay", could you increase the delay significantly during your pool sessions so that it just records as a single dive which is easier to delete?

I know it isn't the answer you want but it might be a workaround until (and if) Garmin make the change you have requested.

Not really, even at the max value to 10 minutes I would still end up with multiple dives during a single pool session. Not a huge problem as I am using the Descent as my everyday wear watch and my backup dive computer.

0 Odie21 over 6 years ago

Given the screwy implementation of "End Dive Delay", could you increase the delay significantly during your pool sessions so that it just records as a single dive which is easier to delete?

I know it isn't the answer you want but it might be a workaround until (and if) Garmin make the change you have requested.

Funny you should say that, I tried this last week. As Mark said, it still records more dives. Also, the longer your delay is, the longer you CANNOT switch out of dive mode into another widget/app and so on.

Just easier to have Dive Setting/Auto Dive On or Off. But what do I know...

0 Odie21 over 6 years ago

Ok, we all know that this watch is loosely based on the 5x so any features that pertain to any other sport function can be posted in the 5x forum. I’ve had this watch since the beginning of January and I’ve had enough time to formulate opinions and/or suggestions. I’ll post mine and for those of you that would like to post yours here, you’re more than welcome to:

1. Posted and submitted this as an issue but will reiterate it, the Diving Compass only looks at True North, not Magnetic North like most compasses. Allow the user to choose MG or TN for their Diving Compass or have it default based on your normal Compass widget setting.

2. Have an option to turn off “Auto Dive” on the watch. As an Instructor, I’m always up and down with students in the pool. I have all the necessary skills timed out and look at my analog clock as a reference. I do not need the watch to go into dive mode when I’m in the pool. It’s quite annoying. So there should be an optional n to “turn off” that feature.

Got an email after numerous explanations about the compass being incorrect in regards to Magnetic North not being an option and this is what the final email stated:

“Hello Chris,

My name is Mick, and I am happy to offer further support. We have responded to this feature request by customers and are currently testing to add this to a software update. You should have the choice between Magnetic and True North. Thank you for your input, we value and respect this.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions or issues, please let us know.

Thank you for choosing Garmin,

Mick
Product Support - Outdoor Team”

So hopefully this is actually implemented.

I also thought of an idea in relation to the “Auto Dive” feature being disabled and thought of a better resolution. What about having the option to disable it but have it automatically enabled again after 12 or 24hrs? That may be a reasonable compromise.

0 Mark_H20 over 6 years ago

Got an email after numerous explanations about the compass being incorrect in regards to Magnetic North not being an option and this is what the final email stated:

“Hello Chris,

My name is Mick, and I am happy to offer further support. We have responded to this feature request by customers and are currently testing to add this to a software update. You should have the choice between Magnetic and True North. Thank you for your input, we value and respect this.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions or issues, please let us know.

Thank you for choosing Garmin,

Mick
Product Support - Outdoor Team”

So hopefully this is actually implemented.

I also thought of an idea in relation to the “Auto Dive” feature being disabled and thought of a better resolution. What about having the option to disable it but have it automatically enabled again after 12 or 24hrs? That may be a reasonable compromise.

You can change the compass to Magnetic North

Go to Settings/Sensors & Accessories/Compass/North Reference

And there does not seem to be much movement on addressing the other issues, Garmin is moving very slowly. I was doing a deep dive recently and the NDL was changing rapidly rather than slowly and smoothly, Garmin told me that this was how it was designed to work. I really doubt they have "dive professionals" assisting with the features or testing of the Descent. This has so much potential, assuming Garmin can get their act together on the software.

0 Odie21 over 6 years ago

You can change the compass to Magnetic North

Go to Settings/Sensors & Accessories/Compass/North Reference

And there does not seem to be much movement on addressing the other issues, Garmin is moving very slowly. I was doing a deep dive recently and the NDL was changing rapidly rather than slowly and smoothly, Garmin told me that this was how it was designed to work. I really doubt they have "dive professionals" assisting with the features or testing of the Descent. This has so much potential, assuming Garmin can get their act together on the software.

That was one of the first things I tried. In fact you can do it the same way of choosing the Noth Reference by doing it from within the Compass Widget settings. But the Dive Compass is set by default to True North with no adjustment possible. Give it a try, stand in one position and try both compasses.

I’m disappointed that there is no representation from Garmin really partaking in any of these forum problems or discussions.

This Descent watch feels like an abandoned product.

0 atj777 over 6 years ago

This Descent watch feels like an abandoned product.

That is how Garmin are with all of their products. I had exactly the same experience with the Vivoactve and the Forerunner 310XT. The only differentce with those was they had more users so there was more "support", but that came from the other users and not Garmin.