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Using Tides on Compatible Instinct Watches
Some Garmin watches have the ability to display tide information1 on the watch face and in the Tides app, including the tide height and when the next high and low tides will occur. This information can be customized to display tide data from a specific location of your choosing. To see if your watch is compatible with receiving tide data, search your owner's manual for "Tides".
NOTE: Tide information requires an active connection to the Garmin Connect™ app on a paired smartphone to download tide data.
Viewing Tide Information
Once you have set a location, if you have an active connection with the Garmin Connect app you can receive tide data for that location from the nearest tide station. Tide data will be good for 3 days, but as always you should be alert for changing conditions. To see tide data for a location, select your device below.
Instinct® Solar - Surf Edition
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Choose an option:
To use your current location when you are near a tide station, select Current Location.
To select a recently used tide station, select Recent.
To select a saved location, select Saved.
To enter coordinates for a location, select Coordinates.
Select Get Tides.
After you have selected a location, a 24-hour tide chart appears for the current date.
Select a previously entered location to see tide data, or see "Adding and Removing Tide Locations" below to add a tide location.
Press GPS for options:
Set as Favorite: puts this beach at the top of the list. You can only have one favorite tide location, otherwise locations will be listed in alphabetical order.
Set Alerts: to set up an alert for a warning before high or low tide at this location.
Select a previously entered location to see tide data, or see "Adding and Removing Tide Locations" below to add a tide location.
Press GPS for options:
Set as Favorite: puts this beach at the top of the list. You can only have one favorite tide location, otherwise locations will be listed in alphabetical order.
Set Alerts: to set up an alert for a warning before high or low tide at this location.
Watches can store up to 10 saved tide locations. Once 10 tide locations have been added, the Add option will be removed. You will need to remove locations in order to add more after reaching the limit of 10. To add a saved tide location, follow the directions below.
Instinct® Solar - Surf Edition Watch
Adding a Saved Beach
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select Saved.
Select Add New.
Select an option:
To use your current GPS location, select Current Location.
To enter coordinates for a location, select Coordinates.
Removing a Saved Beach
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select Saved.
Select a saved beach.
Select Delete.
Instinct® 2 Series and Instinct® Crossover Series Watches
Adding a Saved Tide Location
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select Add.
Select an option:
Current Location: to use your current GPS location.
Saved Locations: to choose a previously saved location.
Coordinates: to enter coordinates for a location.
Removing a Saved Tide Location
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select the location you want to remove.
Press GPS.
Select Delete.
Instinct® 3 and Instinct® E Watches
Adding a Saved Tide Location
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select Add.
Select an option:
Current Location: to use your current GPS location.
Saved Locations: to choose a previously saved location.
Coordinates: to enter coordinates for a location.
Removing a Saved Tide Location
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select the location you want to remove.
Press GPS.
Select Delete.
Displaying Tide Information on the Watch Face
When using a watch face that supports the tide graph, tide information1 can display on the watch face after setting a favorite location and syncing to the Garmin Connect™ app. Select your watch model below for instructions.
Instinct® Solar - Surf Edition Watch
Hold MENU.
Select Watch Face.
Press UP or DOWN to preview the watch face options.
NOTE: In order to see tide data, you must select the small graph watch face which supports the tides graph.
Press GPS on the desired watch face.
Select Set Favorite Beach.
Select an option:
Select a saved location from the list.
Select Add New to save a new location. You will then be prompted to select Current Location, or Coordinates if you are not currently at the beach you wish to set. After following these prompts, the watch will return to the list of saved locations and you can select the new location from the list.
Instinct® 2 - Surf Edition and Instinct® 2 Solar - Surf Edition Watches
In order to view tide data on the watch face you must be using the watch face with the small graph in the upper left. You must also have that watch face set to show the tide graph rather than any of the other data options. Search "Customizing the Watch Face" in your owner's manual for instructions on how to set up your watch face.
Press GPS.
Select Tides.
Select a previously added location or add a new one (see instructions above).
Press GPS.
Select Set as Favorite.
Tide data for that location will now appear on the watch face.
Troubleshooting Missing Tide Data
If you have trouble getting tide data to display on your watch, there are a couple of things you can check. First, check your owner's manual to be certain that your watch is compatible with receiving tide data. If your watch is compatible, but you are not seeing the Tides app listed in your activities list, you may need to add it; instructions for adding activities and apps can be found in your owner's manual. If you are not seeing the Tides app in the list to add to the watch, you may need to update the software on your watch; your owner's manual has information about how to update the watch as well.
If your tide data is not updating or shows a message that it is waiting for data, check the connection with your smartphone; see - Garmin Connect App: Device Is Paired but Not Connecting to App. Your watch must be connected to the Garmin Connect app to download new tide data. If using an iPhone®, make sure to leave the Garmin Connect app running in the background in order for new information to sync to your watch.
If you are seeing tide data in the Tides app but are unable to get tide data on your watch face, note that only Instinct Solar - Surf editions or Surf editions of the Instinct 2 watches are compatible with showing tide data on the watch face. If you have a Surf edition, check the steps above for displaying tide data on the watch face and setting a Favorite location for your watch face.
1 Tide data is supplied for information purposes only. It is your responsibility to heed all posted water-related guidance, to remain aware of your surroundings, and to use safe judgment in, on, and around the water at all times. Failure to heed this warning could result in serious personal injury or death.