Overview

The Garmin BlueChart g3 HD HXUS029R is an electronic chart for compatible Garmin chartplotters that covers the Southern Bahamas region on microSD/SD. Coverage runs from Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas to the Dominican Republic, and includes areas such as Great Exuma, Great Inagua, Mayaguana, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the easternmost quarter of Cuba, plus full coastlines for Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

The Bahamas portion features Explorer Charts data. On supported chartplotters, chart layers include Depth Range Shading for up to 10 depth ranges, Shallow Water Shading at a user-set depth, and up to 1-foot contours, which helps when you are navigating shallow banks, lining up anchorages, or watching bottom detail while fishing.

This is chart data only, not a networked electronics component. It is offered as a preprogrammed card version for a chartplotter with a microSD or SD slot, or as a download installed using Garmin Express to a microSD or SD card.

Key features

• Southern Bahamas regional coverage (HXUS029R for BlueChart g3; VUS029R for BlueChart g3 Vision), including Turks and Caicos and surrounding Caribbean coasts
• Explorer Charts data for the Bahamas portion of the coverage area
• Depth Range Shading for up to 10 depth ranges to make target depths easier to read at a glance
• Up to 1-foot contours for tighter bottom detail where supported in the chart data
• Shallow Water Shading to highlight a user-defined depth threshold on the chart
• Auto Guidance support on compatible chartplotters, using your chosen depth and overhead clearance to calculate a suggested route
• BlueChart g3 Vision option adds premium layers such as high-resolution relief shading, satellite imagery overlays, aerial photography, and 3D chart views on compatible chartplotters
• Download format is installed through Garmin Express; card format runs from the inserted chart card

Variants

This Southern Bahamas chart is offered in multiple configurations, based on chart level (BlueChart g3 or BlueChart g3 Vision) and delivery format (SD card or download).

All configurations cover the same Southern Bahamas region; the differences are the chart layer set available on compatible displays and whether the charts come on a preprogrammed card or are installed via Garmin Express.

• 010-C0730-20: BlueChart g3, SD Card. Preprogrammed microSD card with an SD adapter for chartplotters with a card slot.
• 010-D0556-00: BlueChart g3, Download. Installed with Garmin Express to a microSD or SD card for use in a compatible chartplotter.
• 010-C0730-00: BlueChart g3 Vision, SD Card. Adds premium layers such as relief shading, imagery, and 3D chart views where the display supports them.
• 010-D0486-00: BlueChart g3 Vision, Download. Vision chart content delivered in a Garmin Express install format to a microSD or SD card.

Compatibility and fit

Confirm your Garmin chartplotter supports BlueChart g3 maps (or BlueChart g3 Vision, if selecting the Vision version) for external cartography. For card-based versions, the helm display needs an open microSD or SD card slot. For download versions, plan on using a computer with Garmin Express and a suitable microSD or SD card for the chart installation.

If your boat runs multiple displays, check chart compatibility on each unit before purchase. Chart recognition and premium layer availability depend on the specific chartplotter model and software.

Installation and setup

SD card format is straightforward: insert the microSD card (or use the SD adapter), power up the chartplotter, and select the chart source on the unit. Keep the card inserted while underway so the plotter can access the chart data.

Download format is installed with Garmin Express, which writes the chart to a microSD or SD card for your chartplotter. Only one chart can be installed to a single microSD or SD card, so it is best to dedicate a card to this coverage area.

Use on board

This coverage is a good match for skippers running the island chain from Eleuthera through the Exumas and down toward the Dominican Republic, and for crews who want tighter depth detail when navigating banks and cuts. Depth shading and 1-foot contours are especially helpful in waters where a small change in depth matters near reefs, shoals, and shallow anchorages.