GPS Technology for Divers

[scoupland]

Here are couple of links to information about new underwater GPS technology that is being designed for divers. This could be amazing if they can scale it down and make it cost effective.

http://scubadiverlife.com/2016/03/05...gps-for-divers

http://www.ariadna.tech

[Benderr]

Divers cannot use terrestrial GPS satellite technology, as the high-frequency signal can only penetrate approximately 2 millimeters into the water.

^ Pretty much says it all.

Every time I go to DEMA, there's a new company promising GPS, or GPS-like navigation underwater. Believe it when I see it.

[Webmaster]

I'm sure they used GPS to describe it for marketing purposes because most people are already familiar with it.

"Ideally" this would be great for cave surveying, but the accuracy is usually poor and the drift adds up quickly.

[Germie]

For normal dives for myself: I don't need it. I trust my compasss in open water and the lines in caves (but there I still wear a compass).

But for exploring and survuying I see possibilities, if the system works of course.

[tursiops]

It is already being done for special purposes (think Navy SEALS) at a high price.
The three issues to be solved are precision, packaging, and price.
Their target underwater is <5m; not bad at all, certainly as good as the GPS itself!
The packaging needs to be small enough to be comfortably worn, and not use too much power.
The price is the likely obstacle: science and commercial divers probably don't care too much, but if it is not under $1000 it is not going to have much of a recreational market. It is not going to be able to do a high-precision job, by the nature of the tools.