Garmin or Suunto sports watch GPS at sea?

[partha]

Has anyone tried the GPS function of a sports watch to mark/navigate dive sites at sea? Can the Garmin fenix 5 or 6 or Suunto 5 or 7 GPS be used at sea accurately?

I currently use a Garmin marine GPS unit and am just wondering if I can replace it with a sports watch unit.

thanks

 

[rhwestfall]

Navigation (to me) is really best on a larger screen. Chart plotter, tablet, or phone (even a PDA in days past) - use all of those. I also have a Garmin Rino. Can't really think I would like a watch screen as a primary means. Full disclosure, I am soon to get a Garmin Instinct, purchased more for messaging access, but I will be evaluating it for land based navigation (hunting). It is more an accessory to a phone/tablet than the principal means...

Perhaps a good back-up?

YMMV

 

[ActinopterygiiGuy]

I have the Garmin Descent Mk I which can pin dive spots accurately (does this automatically for entry and exit points). Given the Descent is basically the Fenix 5 with a dive mode I'm sure it would suffice, though you'd need to manually tag spots.

I would also just counsel against Suunto in general because of their own deco algorithm, the descent (like virtually everyone else) uses Bühlmann ZHL16 GF.

Depends where your priorities are, but if GPS is the feature you really want the garmin can indeed do it.

 

[TuckerIdaho]

Why would you want to replace a chart plotter unless you're going with someone else and looking to poach their spots?