For any activities out on the water, nautical charts are indispensable to make your day enjoyable and safe. Navionics Boating has detailed location-based map views that provide important information on things such as terrain, water level and seabed areas.

Here are some key features of the app that will enhance your activities, whether you’re planning on diving, surfing, fishing or sailing.

Having a clear sense of direction on the water is crucial. The app’s Terrain and Satellite overlays (tap the Map Options icon on the bottom left of the map to choose an overlay) help you identify key landmarks such as shorelines, lighthouses, bridges and buildings. For those into kayaking or canoeing, you can search for routes to beaches or ramps and find places to take a break from paddling.

Shallow waters can be treacherous and dangerous, so using the app’s SonarChart layer on your map can help you recognise them. The Relief Shading overlay can provide additional information and the colour palette allows you to quickly identify shallow waters. If you need more information, you can switch to the Satellite Imagery or Satellite (Bing) overlays. They’ll enable you to identify things that are not visible on regular maps, such as shallow reefs, shoals or channels in marsh areas.

Thorough preparation is essential for diving, so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the area you want to explore. With Relief Shading and its detailed depiction of the seabed, you can identify underwater cliffs and even wrecks in advance for exploration later.

If you’re looking for a good area to land some catch, check out the Relief Shading overlay for insights into the seabed structure and look for slopes or underwater channels that could be promising fishing spots. The Satellite Imagery overlay is also a good option to look for marsh areas or shallow waters – if the water is clear enough you might even spot sandbars or shoals.

Sailing enthusiasts should always check conditions in advance, especially in areas where you haven’t sailed before. Use the Terrain overlay, then tap anywhere on the map and the weather icon will appear – tap it to see the wind direction, tides and currents for the day ahead. Using this information, you can decide whether to follow a route along the coast or sail a bit further away.