Garmin Descent MK1 Titanium kompasa misleading

Hey guys,

I was wondering if someone had an issue with compass on MK1??

I was diving couple days ago, practicing navigation in Dutch springs with only MK1 and got completely lost... ended up in a middle of the lake....

Then I took the manual compass all together with MK1 and found out why I got lost.... the heading numbers on compass are changing a lot... it would go from 201 to 237 to 180 to 50 all in one second....and I could see that on manual one I am not rotating at all... it is staying at one heading....

Is there some software update I am missing or something that can help me with it? Thanks.

  • First, what software version are you on? Second, did you calibrate the Compass before your dive?

  • The compass on my Mk1 works well and I use it quite often.  I find that it is quite stable and the heading doesn't change all that much.

    I dive with my Mk1 mounted on my camera rig so it's right there in front of me.  I swim with my camera rig held out in front of me and it doesn't move around much at all.

    Large metal objects and even manual compasses can have an impact on the compass.  To see what I mean: Go into dive mode and load the compass; take the Mk1 off and leave it on the table so that the heading is stable; bring your manual compass in close and move it around the Mk1 and watch the heading change.

  • My software version is 8.00 (9f5f70e)

    And I just calibrated it manually... will go dive in 2 weekends and will let you know if that worked.... thanks thou, I didnt know there is calibration of it.