I'm not sure if we have anyone with official answers monitoring here, but I can answer a few of your questions.
Salt water, I really can't say. I wouldn't expect it to be an issue, but I don't see anything in the specs. It operates primarily on counting laps, so functionality will be pretty limited in open water.
With regards to salt water, since it is a pool swimming device it would not be ideal for open water swimming. The distance calculations will not be accurate.
Regarding UK availability, limited quantities are already being shipped within the UK. In short, you should start seeing the product very soon in the UK.
You can use this watch in salt water swimming pools. Just be sure to rinse it thoroughly after each use (this is recommended regardless of pool water type).
The device is for Open Water and Pool use. That's why there are 2 settings there. It is most definitely not just a pool swimming device.
While the GPS may not be too good in the open water, the post processing algorithm together with the data it does collect gives a very good result in the open water.
Wile only time will tell, there seems to be absolutely no reason at all not to use it in salt water. We used the 310XT in the sea and have already had several swims in the sea with the 910XT. I would not expect there to be any degradation in the 910XT as a result of swimming with it in the sea.
NOTE: The Garmin Swim watch does NOT have GPS and will NOT be able to track your distances in open water! It is strictly a pool swimming watch. I believe you may be confusing this forum with the 910XT which does have two settings (for open water and pool swimming).
The device is for Open Water and Pool use. That's why there are 2 settings there. It is most definitely not just a pool swimming device.
While the GPS may not be too good in the open water, the post processing algorithm together with the data it does collect gives a very good result in the open water.
Wile only time will tell, there seems to be absolutely no reason at all not to use it in salt water. We used the 310XT in the sea and have already had several swims in the sea with the 910XT. I would not expect there to be any degradation in the 910XT as a result of swimming with it in the sea.
I was ready to buy the Swim based on Rainmaker's review (since the beta firmware went down to 15m), but as it is the same as the 910XT it's a no-sale now.
Spent £380 on the 910xt and had to spend another 2 days on writing a small utility that fixes the recorded data...
