downview or side view

[sujo]

Looking to buy a chartplotter' and being a diver, want to see/find what structures are below. Not sure if I should buy one with downview or sideview. Which would be better? Thanks

 

[Water Boy76]

Sideview is good to find the structure and get a general outline of it.
Downview to target a specific area on the structure (bow of wreck, terminus of ledge) and get a better idea at what you are looking at. ie: A rock pile holding bait instead of a big red blob.

Both is best of course. IMHO Downview is more useful for divers. Mainly because You can find plenty of spots with traditional sonar. It's a real benefit to know exactly what your diving on.

I have a buddy that loves sidescan and marks everything with it. So he has thousands of marks and has no idea what most of them are. How many spots can you possibly dive in a year, or ten years....

 

[sujo]

Thanks, I have seen a few consoles with both.