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Greg - 1/24/2015 6:22 AM 
I have not tried it...but it’s cool that this type of tech is becoming a reality for recreational divers. It appears to use a combination of GPS and sonar. I’m sure the Navy seals have used something similar for many years already.
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GPS signals don’t penetrate water, subs use internal navigation and they get corrections when they raise the periscope so "Requires only small transmitter hung from boat or buoy" That transmitter is getting the GPS signal and your position is relative to it.
As for maps of the dive site, if it’s mapped then we really are not exploring, we’re just tourist :(
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The GPS receiver is on the surface and transmits to the diver taking into account the divers position relative to the transmitter.
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Interesting. No surprise considering the amount of storage and computing power that can be squeezed into a cell phone these days. The next generation will include a camera and the ability to watch your favorite movies during safety/deco stops. The generation after that you’ll be able to post your dive pix during your dive. Something like this could obsolete dive guides eventually. Computer: "Now kick eastwards as fast as you can." "Stop kicking and drift with the current." "The reef has ended. Inflate your SMB and surface."
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Don’t forget to update your Facebook status.
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LOL. Future Facebook status: "102ft deep and 8 minutes left until deco."
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About 10-15 years ago there was an Israeli firm showing a similar unit that never went into production but without the maps or GPS. It showed the boat, your buddy and any other divers within range wearing the unit. You could send a text from a list to your buddy or an SOS to all.
That unit would have been about $350 per unit and the boat unit came in two flavors, basic marking the boat for about $200 or a base unit that allowed you to send and receive text with the boat crew.
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There is another device from Aqwary that has similar functionality (relative location vs. GPS). I have to admit that, for the most part this seems like a solution looking for a problem. I think the technology peaked at the compass with a 20 degree tilt. Having said that... when they can fit this functionality in my existing dive computer (hint hint... license deal...) then I’d probably opt in but as an add on device... nah I’m good thanks.
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I think it has a place. Getting back to the boat in low vis without having to run a line or ruin your dive by watching your compass instead of the fish. Seems expensive but very useful.
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The Navimate was a hot subject 3 or 4 years ago at the big dive equipment shows around the country. They had some pretty slick mockups but never a working model. As others have said, gps signals won’t penetrate water very well. Navimate was supposed to employ some hyper sensitive electronics and proprietary software to detect the weak signals. Another problem they needed to overcome was gps signals travel in waves like any other radio signal and are refracted when traveling from air to water which would cause an error in actual position under the water.
Looks cool....I hope they make it work someday!
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