How to read a 3D dive-site map
DiveSight turns depth data into an interactive 3D model of the seafloor. Here is how to open a site's 3D map and read its terrain before you dive it.
- 1
Open a site and find the 3D map button
Open any mapped dive site in DiveSight. On sites with 3D coverage you will see a 3D map button under the depth map. Tap it to load the interactive model. High-definition sites are labelled so you know when you are looking at the highest-resolution terrain.
- 2
Orbit, zoom, and pan
Drag to orbit around the site, pinch or scroll to zoom, and use two fingers to pan. Circle the terrain the way you would swim it, from the entry point across to the feature you came for, so the shape of the walls, slopes, and pinnacles is familiar before you descend.
- 3
Exaggerate the relief up to 6x, then Reset
Use the vertical-exaggeration control to stretch the relief up to six times so subtle ledges, drop-offs, and gullies stand out. Exaggeration changes the look, not the real depths, so tap Reset to return to true scale whenever you want an honest read of the terrain.
- 4
Switch to satellite
Toggle the satellite texture to drape real imagery over the model. It helps you tie the underwater terrain to what you see on the surface and to line up your entry and exit with landmarks above the water.
- 5
See the neighbours
Nearby dive sites appear as orange pins on the model, each labelled with its depth. Tap a pin to jump to that site, which makes it easy to plan a multi-site day or to find a shallower or deeper option close by.
- 6
Check the sources
Open the sources panel to see where the depth data came from and who to credit. Some sites are built from multiple surveys, so the panel lists each contributing source, its attribution, and its resolution so you can judge how much detail to trust.