Huge discrepancy in step count

[pwjohnson]

I recently bought a Suunto Ocean for diving, but also to replace.mu previous 2018 Garmin Vivomove 2 in other physical activities and heart health monitoring. It went fine in 2 pit diving, though a bit conservative in ascend rate alarms (triggering at 10 meters per minute while other brands as the Mares have max ascend rates at 13 meters per minute).

However I was disappointed with step count. I took both watches for a walk yesterday, the Suunto on my left wrist the Garmin on the right. Here is the count:

Suunto : 11586
Garmin : 14005
More than 2400 difference.

While the Garmin with the step widget was incrementing the count step by step, the Suunto Ocean was not.

In the past years I have found the Garmin step count quite reliable.

If the Suunto Ocean has receptors that can allow it to draw a 3D map I the ocean, why can’t it properly count steps?

I also had a bad experience swimming, but here both watches over-estimate swimming pool laps.