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My Garmin Dive Computer is Stuck in Dive Mode

There are a few circumstances where a Garmin dive computer could start a dive erroneously. Large pressure changes, such as during a flight, can cause the watch to automatically start a dive activity. If this occurs, the watch will no longer show the watch face but instead display only the dive screens and will disable the back button.

Resetting Surface Pressure on a Dive Computer

If the dive computer starts a dive activity incorrectly, you can reset the surface pressure by connecting it to a personal computer. The dive computer must connect to the computer and show the USB symbol on the face in order to reset the surface pressure. After unplugging from the computer, the surface pressure will be reset as the dive computer reboots.

If you do not have access to a computer, you can reset the surface pressure manually. Select your device below for instructions for your specific model.


Descent G1™ watches

  1. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT until the watch powers off.

  2. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT to turn the watch back on.

  3. When the Garmin logo appears, hold Watch with circle on left middle side UP/MENU.

  4. Release Watch with circle on left middle side UP/MENU when the message "Reset surface pressure?" appears.

  5. Wait on the prompt for 60-90 seconds.

  6. Select Yes to set the current pressure as the surface pressure. 


Descent™ G2

  1. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT until the watch powers off.

  2. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT to turn the watch back on.

  3. Hold Watch with circle on left middle side MENU when the Garmin triangle loading screen appears.

  4. Continue holding Watch with circle on left middle side MENU until the "Reset Surface Pressure?" prompt appears.

  5. Wait on the prompt for 60-90 seconds before selecting Yes. Waiting allows the watch to calibrate the correct surface pressure.

  6. Choose Yes to set the current pressure as the surface pressure. 


Descent™ Mk1

  1. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT until the watch powers off.

  2. Hold Watch with circle on left middle side UP/MENU and press Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT to power on the watch.

  3. Release Watch with circle on left middle side UP/MENU once the message "Reset surface pressure?" appears.

  4. Wait on the prompt for 60-90 seconds.

  5. Select Yes to set the current pressure as the surface pressure.


Descent™ Mk2 watches | Descent™ Mk3 watches

  1. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT until the watch powers off.

  2. Press Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT to power on the watch.

  3. When the product logo appears, hold Watch with circle on left middle side UP/MENU.

  4. Release Watch with circle on left middle side UP/MENU once the message "Reset surface pressure?" appears.

  5. Wait on the prompt for 60-90 seconds.

  6. Select Yes to set the current pressure as the surface pressure.


Descent X50i

  1. Hold BACK/PWR (far-left button) until the dive computer powers off.

  2. Hold BACK/PWR (far-left button) to turn the dive computer on.

  3. When the Garmin logo appears, hold NEXT (inside-right button).

  4. Release NEXT (inside-right button) when the "Reset surface pressure?" prompt appears.

  5. Wait on the prompt for 60-90 seconds.

  6. Select Yes to set the current pressure as the surface pressure.


fēnix® 8 Watches | tactix® 8 Watches

  1. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT until the watch turns off.

  2. Hold Watch with circle in top left corner LIGHT to turn the watch on.

  3. When the product logo appears, hold Watch with circle on left middle side MENU until you are prompted to reset the surface pressure.

  4. Press Watch with black circle in upper right to reset the surface pressure.

Once these steps are completed, the surface pressure will reset and the dive will end after the normal end-of-dive timeout.


Adjusting Auto Dive Settings

Some dive computers offer the ability to snooze or turn off the auto dive setting on the device. If you know that you are going to be in a situation when the watch might enter a dive, such as swimming without starting a swim activity or flying in a plane, you may want to adjust the auto dive setting to avoid the device erroneously starting a dive.

Select one of the dropdowns below for specific steps to adjust your auto dive settings.


Descent™ G2 | Descent™ Mk3 watches

  1. Hold Watch with circle on middle left side MENU.

  2. Select Dive Setup.

  3. Select Auto Dive.

  4. Select an option:

    • Mode: Choose for auto dive to use either the last dive or the last scuba type accessed on the watch.

    • Snooze: Choose to temporarily disable auto dive for 1 hour or until tomorrow. Snoozing until tomorrow will count down until midnight. After the snooze timer ends, auto dive will automatically reengage. If you have snoozed auto dive, you can also choose to end the snooze early from this menu.


fēnix® 8 watches | tactix® 8 watches

  1. Hold Watch with circle on middle left side MENU.

  2. Select Watch Settings.

  3. Select System.

  4. Select Depth Sensor.

  5. Select an option:

    • Auto Dive: Choose for auto dive to use either the last dive or to turn off the auto dive feature.

    • Snooze: Choose to temporarily disable auto dive for 1 hour or until tomorrow. Snoozing until tomorrow will count down until midnight. After the snooze timer ends, auto dive will automatically reengage. If you have snoozed auto dive, you can also choose to end the snooze early from this menu.


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