GARMIN TECHNOLOGY
Dive Science - 2 divers diving in the ocean
Reference Point

Reference Point

Reference point is a tool for navigating above the water to a specified waypoint. It can be used for tracking distance and direction to a dive site or entry point. This can help a diver navigate on the surface to precise GPS coordinates to ensure they begin a dive at the desired location, such as over a wreck or reef.

Reference point is available from the activity menu or the control menu.

Using Reference Point

Open the reference point tool from the control menu or activity menu.

Press Start to add a reference point.

The list will offer saved waypoints as well as known dive sites. You can also select an entry or exit point from a previous dive that was recorded on your watch.

Once selected, the reference point screen will show a compass plus the deviation from your current heading to the reference point and the distance to that point. The point chosen will remain selected until another reference point is selected — or until cleared — even if another activity is started.

The watch will need a GPS fix to calculate the distance and direction to a point. To ensure GPS fix, keep the watch above the water. Reference point will not work during a dive.

When using reference point while swimming to the start of a dive, the heading will be based on your direction of travel. To use the reference point tool while swimming, stay on your back with your arm held out of the water to ensure an accurate GPS fix.

Swim so that deviation is zero until you reach the dive site. When the distance to the reference point is zero, you are there.

Activity Menu

From the watch face, press Start/Stop to enter the activity menu. Scroll down to Reference Point.

Control Menu

Hold Light to enter the control menu. To add reference point to the control menu, hold Menu → Add Controls → Reference Point.

Once the control is added, it can be accessed from the control menu by holding Light and scrolling to the reference point icon.

The control menu can be accessed during certain activities, such as a hike or during an apnea surface interval, making this a reliable way to find and navigate to a waypoint without exiting an activity.