Fitbit Sense open water swimming

[DoubleDHerts]

When I investigating the Fitbit Sense, I found info online that suggested you could use this watch for open water swimming.  if that is so, how do I switch this option on? 

many thanks 

Moderator edit: subject for clarity 

[Marrrmaduke]

@DoubleDHerts same as with pool swimming - open Exercise app on your watch and select swim. You may still see estimated pool lengths. See more info here.

[t.parker]

You may do as @Marrrmaduke says. Know however, there is no actual support for open water swimming. If you mean swimming + GPS, there is no such thing on Fitbit devices.

[DoubleDHerts]

All so disappointing as I have spent a lot of money on something that does not actually do what I thought it would do 

[Dr_J]

Agreed. It is so disappointing that fit bit have not resolved this issue for open water swimmers and continue to mislead buyers.

[Etheshuffler]

I understand GPS devices can't pick up satellite signals when submerged as in swimming, regardless the brand, such as Fitbit, Garmin, etc.. I believe Fitbit's work in pools because they sense the "back and forth" laps and do not need to rely on constant GPS signals. I was disappointed to learn this when I tried open water swimming in a Fitbit to no avail, but had the same results with a Garmin device. 

[Paulnewton]

Most GPS enabled wrist worn devices struggle with this....on my fitbit i select exercise as run then place my fitbit in my safety tow buoy...run mode activates gps tracking and as tow buoy is always above water stays locked on to gps perfectly...tracks swim perfectly including speed etc.....no Heart rate data but an optical wrist worn sensor in water will struggle with this anyway......its my work around and works for me

[Justwearit]

How to unlock the little padlock on the left screen.

[DoubleDHerts]

You have to double press the left control button on the watch ...this got me too initially 🙂

[Justwearit]

I did double press the left button, but pause the start swimming and show resume icon as I press the resume the little padlock appear again.

[msmoni]

I will try this ..... thanks Paulnewton

[Etheshuffler]

I gave up on Fitbit a year ago and changed to Garmin Forerunner 745 which has open water swimming built into its menu. I find in calm open water Garmin is within 5% accuracy for distance when worn on my wrist and it tracks heart rate reasonably well, too. 

[Justwearit]

Thanks

Sent from my iPhone

[Stefan_G]

If you're using the tow buoy anyway, why not keep the fitbit on wrist for at least imperfect heart rate monitoring and have your cellphone in the buoy to leverage its GPS?

[t.parker]

@Stefan_G because if you use your watch in the water without a touch screen lock it will start acting up weirdly (random touch presses). I tried that several times in the swimming pool to get HR (Swim activity turns off HR tracking) and every time activity got paused and/or ended eventually.

[Justwearit]

Yes you’re correct, no wonder.
Thank you for your response.

Sent from my iPhone