Does the Garmin Forerunner 70 Track Open-Water Swimming?

No: Garmin’s inspected US Forerunner 70 manual lists Pool Swim, but no Open Water swimming activity. Treat it as a pool-swim watch when choosing a model for swimming.

What does the Forerunner 70 track in the pool?

Pool Swim records lengths and intervals, with distance calculated from completed lengths and your chosen pool size. Garmin also documents stroke identification, SWOLF, automatic or manual rest, and drill logging.

For more context on the activity choice, read our pool versus open-water watch mode guide . Decide where you will swim before comparing the rest of the specification sheet.

How should you set up Forerunner 70 pool swimming?

Set pool size before starting, then use consistent wall turns and choose how to record rests. Garmin’s pool workflow puts those controls ahead of interpreting your totals.

Before and during your swim

Select Pool Swim and confirm pool size Follow the on-screen pool-size prompt or enter a custom size. The watch remembers this setting; use activity settings and Pool Size when visiting a different pool.
Swim full lengths with clear turns Use one stroke type throughout each length. Garmin recommends a strong push off the wall and a glide before the first stroke to help length counting.
Choose automatic or manual rest Auto rest creates a rest interval when you rest for more than 15 seconds. Keep arm movement minimal at the wall; choose manual rests for short breaks or precise interval timing.
Handle drills separately Pause the activity timer or use the drill log. For logged drills, open the drill screen, start and stop its timer, then select the completed distance before returning to normal swim screens.

Plan your next pool session in the AquaPlan free workout builder . Treat session planning and watch compatibility as separate checks; this guide does not verify workout-file import support for the Forerunner 70.

Which Forerunner should open-water swimmers compare?

Start with the Forerunner 170: its inspected US manual explicitly lists both Open Water and Pool Swim. Use that explicit profile listing as the starting point for your shortlist.

Documented swimming activities

	Forerunner 70	Forerunner 170
Pool Swim	Listed	Listed
Open Water	Not listed	Listed

Garmin Forerunner 170 watch

Buying decision

Compare the 170 if an Open Water activity is essential.

Its manual names the profile you need. Confirm the exact listing and current documentation before buying; this recommendation is based on documented activities, not a test of tracking accuracy.

Check Forerunner 170 on Amazon

To widen your shortlist, use the Forerunner 170 versus 570 comparison or the Garmin swimming watch buying guide .

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing pool size let the Forerunner 70 track a lake swim?

No. Garmin describes pool distance as completed lengths multiplied by the selected pool size. Changing that setting does not establish open-water tracking support; the inspected Forerunner 70 activity list names Pool Swim only under Swimming.

Does the Forerunner 70 record kick sets?

Garmin documents a pool drill log for kick sets, one-arm swimming and other drills. Time the drill, then enter its completed distance in increments based on the selected pool size.

Can you scuba dive with the Forerunner 70?

No. Garmin says the device is intended for surface swimming and warns that scuba diving may damage it and void the warranty. Do not interpret swimming support as a dive rating.

Sources and verification limits

Sources checked October 3, 2026: Garmin’s US owner-manual pages, version 2, September 2026. Limitations: this is a documentation comparison, not first-hand testing; firmware, regional documentation and product listings may change.

Automated editorial check (daily-ai-v1): this article was authored using AI and checked through an automated editorial process. No human expert review is claimed.

Article publisher

Published and maintained by AquaPlan. The article above identifies its evidence sources and automated editorial process; no human expert review is claimed.