Overview

The Garmin BlueChart g3 Vision HD is a VEU502S electronic chart for the Azores Islands, offered on microSD/SD and as a download for compatible Garmin marine chartplotters. It adds detailed coastal cartography for island hopping, harbor approaches, and route planning around the archipelago, including port plans for key stops such as Vila Da Praia, Santa Cruz, Horta, and S. Lourenço.

On supported units, you can use Auto Guidance to generate a suggested route based on your chosen depth and overhead clearance, plus tools like Depth Range Shading for up to 10 depth ranges and contour detail down to 1-foot increments in many areas. You also get chart overlays and perspective views (such as MarinerEye and FishEye) that help when you want a clearer sense of what is ahead of the bow and what the bottom is doing below you.

Key features

• Coverage region: VEU502S (Azores Islands) with detailed port plans for major harbors and marinas.
• Integrated coastal cartography built from Garmin and Navionics data for a single, consistent chart view.
• Auto Guidance route planning using your selected depth and overhead clearance (feature support varies by chartplotter).
• Depth Range Shading for up to 10 depth ranges to keep a target depth band visible at a glance.
• Contour detail down to 1-foot increments in many areas for tighter bottom definition when navigating and fishing.
• Shallow Water Shading that can be set to a depth you choose to help the shallows stand out.
• 3D chart views including MarinerEye and FishEye on compatible displays.
• High-resolution satellite imagery overlays and aerial photography in many locations for easier visual confirmation near ports and landmarks.

Variants

This chart is available in two delivery formats, depending on how you prefer to load charts to your Garmin plotter.

The chart coverage and region (VEU502S, Azores Islands) stays the same across the options; the difference is whether you receive a physical card or load the chart to a card yourself.

• 010-C0846-00: Format microSD/SD. A physical microSD/SD chart card that installs by inserting it into the chartplotter’s card slot.
• 010-D0428-00: Format Download. A downloadable chart that is loaded to an SD card for use in the chartplotter using Garmin Express.

Compatibility and fit

This is cartography, not a standalone device. Your chartplotter needs to support BlueChart g3 Vision and have an SD or microSD card slot, depending on the format you select. Feature availability can vary by chartplotter model, so some displays may show the full set of overlays and 3D views while others may show a more basic presentation.

Installation and setup

For the microSD/SD version, insert the card into the chartplotter’s card slot and allow the unit to load the additional mapping. For the download version, the chart is first written to an SD card and then used in the chartplotter the same way. In normal use, the card stays with the chartplotter so the mapping remains available underway.

Auto Guidance is a planning aid and does not replace keeping a proper lookout, following local notices, and navigating with care.

Use cases on board

This chart is a practical fit for skippers running between islands, cruising crews approaching unfamiliar harbors, and anglers who want more defined contour detail when working structure nearshore. It is also useful for charter operations and delivery trips where consistent port plans and clear approach information matter day after day.

Maintenance and care

Keep the chart card clean and dry, and avoid handling it with wet or salty hands. When the card is not in the plotter, store it in a protective case away from heat, moisture, and direct sun.