1. Keep an untouched backup of your DM5 archive
Before exporting or converting anything, make a backup of your existing DM5 data. Historical dive logs are difficult to replace, so keep the original files separate from the copies you use for conversion.
A backup is especially important if your archive contains dives from older computers such as Suunto Zoop, Vyper or Cobra models.
2. Export the dives as XML
Use the export function in Suunto DM5 to save the dive data you want to migrate. Confirm that the exported file has the .xml extension before uploading it to a converter.
DM5 versions can look slightly different, so the exact menu wording may vary. The important point is to preserve the structured XML data rather than copying only a screenshot or summary of the dive.
3. Organise your XML files before conversion
Store the exported XML files together in a clearly named folder and keep the untouched backup somewhere safe. If you have a large archive, it can help to test a small group of dives first before processing the full collection.
Once the XML files are ready, they can be converted into Garmin-compatible FIT files for import into Garmin Connect.
Try the conversion workflow
Suunto DM5 XML → DiveLog Converter → Garmin FIT → Garmin Connect → Garmin Dive
Open DiveLog Converter or return to Help & Support for more answers.
Related guides
DiveLog Converter is an independent project and is not affiliated with Garmin or Suunto.