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Setup and Use of the SubWave Diver Distance Feature
This article will provide instructions to use SubWave™ underwater communication network diver distance feature. The SubWave underwater communication network allows you to pair multiple transceivers to a Garmin® dive computer with air integration abilities and view information about tank pressure, depth, distance from you, and send or receive messages for everyone in your dive group. See the Related section for more information about additional features.
Requirements
In order to use the diver distance feature you and everyone you wish to see information for must meet the following requirements:
A compatible dive computer:
Descent™ Mk3i dive watch on software version 16.25 or above
Descent™ Mk2i dive watch on software version 26.10 or above
Descent™ X50i dive computer
Descent™ T2 Transceiver on software version 2.24 or above OR Descent™ T1 Transmitter on software version 3.10 or above
For help installing the latest software - see Troubleshooting below.
I Meet the Requirements. What Is Next?
To see diver distance to your dive buddy or group, everyone must pair their Descent transmitters to everyone else's dive computer. Diver distance can show you the approximate distance to every active paired transceiver. You can pair up to 5 Descent T1 transmitters or up to 8 Descent T2 transceivers to your air integrated dive computer.
Select a topic below to jump to the section with more information:
Pairing a Descent Transmitter
Slowly pressurize the first-stage regulator.
NOTE: This will wake the Descent transmitter out of low power mode, and you should hear an audible tone.
On the dive computer:
Dive watches hold the MENU/UP button. Skip this step for the Descent X50i dive computer.
Select Dive Setup.
Select Air Integration or Dive Network & Air Integration.
Select Transmitters.
Select an available option:
Add New: if you have a Descent Mk2i watch and are adding a new transmitter.
Add Other Divers: if you have a Descent Mk3i watch or Descent X50i dive computer and are adding transmitters for members of your dive group.
Add Your Tank: if you have a Descent Mk3i watch or Descent X50i dive computer and are adding your own transmitter.
Select the ID for the Descent transmitter you are pairing.
If using a Descent Mk2i watch, select My Tank or Another Diver, whichever is appropriate.
If using a Descent Mk3i watch or Descent X50i dive computer, you can select multiple Descent T2 transmitters to pair for other divers in one step. Then select Add to pair the transmitters.
The Descent dive computer will show Connected when the Descent transmitter has been paired.
The transceiver ID is printed on the housing. We recommend that you complete the first-time installation and set up of the transceiver at a dive shop. The next time you begin a dive the dive computer will automatically search for previously paired transmitters. Your transceiver's owner's manual also includes tips for how to best wear your tank and get the best reception: see Descent T2 Transceiver - Transceiver Position Tips or Descent T1 Transmitter - Transmitter Position Tips.
Using the Diver Distance Feature
The diver distance feature allows you to know approximately how far from you members of your dive party are, which can be helpful in cases of low visibility. Diver Distance cannot tell you the direction they are from you, only the distance. To have accurate measures, line of sight must be maintained between all transmitters and dive computers. The maximum distance that the dive computer can show is 30 feet or 10 meters, and distances will show in increments of 10 feet or 3 meters. You can view diver distance from the Divers screen during a dive, or by adding the Diver Dashboard data screen to your dive data screens.
Viewing Distance Through the Divers Screen on a Dive Watch
During a dive, press START.
NOTE: If you are on the Diver Dashboard data screen, you will need to first scroll to a different data screen to access the dive menu.
Select Divers.
Information will show for any paired transceiver, including public tank name, tank pressure, approximate distance from you, and diver depth.
Viewing Distance From Divers Screen on a Descent X50i Dive Computer
The Descent X50i dive computer comes with a preprogramed shortcut button to show you the Divers screen during a dive. Hold the PREV (inside left button) during a dive to view diver information.
Viewing Distance From Diver Dashboard Data Screen
The diver dashboard is a data screen that can be added to any dive mode which uses air integration. To add the data screen follow the steps below.
Dive watches hold MENU/UP. Dive computers skip this step.
Select Dive Setup.
Select Display Settings.
Select the dive mode you wish to adjust.
Select Data Screens.
Select + Add New.
Select Diver Dashboard.
Press START or ENTER.
Use MENU/UP and DOWN buttons or NEXT and PREV buttons to reorder the data screen.
Press START or ENTER to save changes.
When you scroll to the Diver Dashboard during a dive, the information available will vary if you have a dive computer or dive watch. For dive watches the first page will show the pressure of each paired tank. Press the START button and the screen will show the depth of each paired tank. Press the START button again, and it will show the distance from you to each diver. You can continue to press the START button to cycle through those 3 screens. To scroll to a different data screen, press DOWN or firmly double tap the dive computer face. Up to 6 transmitters show on one screen, so if you have 7 or 8 transmitters paired, you will also need to scroll to see the information for those divers. Due to its larger size, more information is able to display on the screen for the Descent X50i dive computer.
Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble with the SubWave network connection, there are a number of things to check.
I Am Not Seeing Information for Someone in My Group
Their Descent transmitter might not be paired with your dive computer. See the steps above for Pairing a Transmitter .
Confirm that all devices are up to date on software. You may receive a warning message when connecting if any device in the group is out of date on software.
Stay within range of the other divers in your group. Maximum range for distance information is 10 meters (about 30 feet). If a diver is further than 10 meters from you, you may lose connection and distance information may show as dashes.
If your transmitter is not connected to your dive computer, move your arm until the connection has been restored.
If your transceiver and dive computer lose connection often, search your transceiver's owner's manual for "My transmitter and watch lose connection underwater" and try the recommended troubleshooting.
Try changing your position. For the best reception, all transceivers in your group should have a direct unobstructed path to all dive computers.
I Am Not Seeing A Name for My Dive Partner
- If a Public Tank Name is not set for a transceiver, messages, tank, and distance information will show as coming from that transceiver's ID number. The owner of the transmitter can set a Public Tank Name in the transceiver settings from the dive computer. For some dive computers you can also set a Nickname for any paired transceiver from your own transceiver settings; nicknames will only be visible on your own dive computer. Search your owner's manual for "Transceiver Settings" to find available settings and instructions for adjusting those settings.