FIT file export lacking a bunch of dive data

Flops · 22 Dec 2024, 00:10

I bought a Suunto Tank Pod together with the Suunto Ocean, and I do not use the Suunto App for anything but dive computer/watch (Ocean) syncing, and I’d like to access and log all that data that’s being recorded regardless.

First things first, I really love the Suunto Ocean, and I can only recommend it so far. But there are a few things that still need fixing and stitching.

When exporting a dive log entry as a FIT file in the app, currently a lot of information won’t be added to the FIT file.

That includes but is not limited to:

Gas consumption (if a Suunto Tank Pod is synced to the watch, data appears in the app but not in the FIT data) &/ Tank Pressure
All the data required to create something similar to the “Dive Route” map (possibly relative locations or gyro-, accelero-, or magnetometer data, or however that data is stored)
Meta data such as weather, wind speeds
Gas type

Is there any way to access this data outside the Suunto app? If not, could we get that data added to the FIT files? If necessary, in an “extended FIT file” export option or something alike?

Or possibly add compatibility for the Suunto Ocean to the SuuntoLink software?

Or export the data as a binary dump, in whatever way it’s saved in the app & document this somewhere?

Really, any kind of way at all to access this data outside the app would be great.

Mff73 · 23 Dec 2024, 11:55

@Flops
If you have an android device you can make a dump of SA data, including raw data of your activities. They might contain what you need, but in a format you will need to handle (json)

Flops · 2 Jan 2025, 22:51

@Mff73 Good idea but it’s not ideal for 4 reasons:

Reason 1: Requires an additional device with the ADB Kit downloaded
Reason 2: Using ADB voids your devices’ warranty
Reason 3: Takes a few steps to complete (& unless you want permanent USB Debugging active, also a couple of switches on your mobile after every dive (day) to sync
Reason 4: Not an option for a lot of people not familiar with technology as some others may be

Hence it may be simpler if it just were a feature within the app.

Anyway, I went ahead and gave it a shot. I wrote a little guide in case anyone else is interested and wants to just follow a (hopefully) rather simple guide:
Guide on GitLab pages

HMU if you have any questions.

Patrick Hutchinson · 2 Jan 2025, 22:51

@Flops Looking at the FIT file viewer from fitfileviewer.com it looks like the Suunto App doesn’t include a lot of dive data as you mentioned. I was surprised that the tank pressure data isn’t included. It also is disappointing that if the location is selected in the app (even without GPS) that the data isn’t included in the exported FIT file. I’m on IOS so I don’t have the ADB option. Any other ideas on how to export this basic data so I can use it with my Dive logging software?

Flops · 1 Mar 2025, 13:16

@Patrick-Hutchinson No, sorry. I don’t have any Apple devices for this exact reason. Apple is a minefield of restrictions when it comes to development and customisation without jailbreaking your device… Which itself requires some expertise if you don’t want to void cybersecurity or risk bricking your device. I don’t know how you can get any of this data at the current stage. My hope is that Suunto employees may see this forum thread and follow up on it.

IF it ever becomes a viable option on Apple, lmk. I’m working on something. I made some Reddit posts on it:

Detailed breakdown of data you CAN access through the FIT file export
Mock up a program to visualise dive data from the Suunto Ocean with some screenshots.

It would be helpful if an Apple user, again, if it ever becomes available, could provide me data of a dive or a few extracted from an Apple device so I can make my software compatible for that as well.

My goal was: You can save the raw data without any third-party app or without having to rely on the Suunto app (especially being able to transfer it to your PC) and then later use any program (e.g., mine) to read & visualise it, independent from any app storage. -> Aka perfectly compatible.

Sorry I couldn’t answer your question but hopefully, this gave you some hope on future projects. Maybe I’ll find an Apple user who knows how to extract their data on such an Apple device. If I do, I’ll let you know!