Merits of a digital compass

[hmoffatt]

Is the digital compass built-in to some dive computers worth having, or would I best ignore it and choose the computer on other grounds?

I expect you would have to press a button to access it which would be a nuisance.. but then I read the newest Suuntos have 45 degrees of tilt which seems to exceed some analog compasses... that would be useful.

The Gekko seems to suit me but I'd consider getting something better if the compass was worthwhile.

thanks
Hamish

 

[vixtor]

I think it is good as a backup, but not as a primary tool. I own a Suunto Vyper Air and a Suunto SK-7, and I always use the compass, not for the computer.

In the case of Suunto Vyper Air, the compass needs to be started by pushing a button for 2 seconds (the long push, not short push, which is anoying), and doesn't remain on continuously (probably to save power). If you push to short, you save a bookmark instead.

 

[El Orans]

Even though my D6 has a compass, underwater I still rely on my SK-7.

 

[Diver0001]

A couple of my friends have digital compasses built into their computers and they say it's junk. Apparently they have to be held so flat and so still when you read them that it's impractical to use them for diving.

R..

 

[vladimir]

A couple of my friends have digital compasses built into their computers and they say it's junk. Apparently they have to be held so flat and so still when you read them that it's impractical to use them for diving.

R..

The Suunto D7's compass actually tolerates quite a bit if tilt. However, as others have said, it is not that convenient to use and the legibility isn't that great. I rely on it for my typical dive in warm water with 100+ feet of visibility, where navigation usually amounts to "keep the reef on your right going out, on your left coming back, and surface when you see the boat." I would want a dedicated compass on dives requiring real navigation.

 

[TheScubaBOB]

I'm on my second Sunnto DC with a digital compass.

First was the Vyper 2, the compass had a tilt allowance of +/- 5 degrees. Even on dry land it was difficult at best.

Currently I'm using a Vyper Air, they've improved it to +/- 45 degress of tilt but I still find that it seems to be off even when calibrating at the dive site.

I'm just going to buy a couple of SK-7s.

 

[DevonDiver]

I rarely use the digital compass on my D9. It eclipses too much dive information and tends to switch back off again when I need it.

Occasionally, I might use it for a quick confirmation of heading, but never for dedicated navigation tasks.

Mostly, I rely on my little Suunto button compass to back up my natural navigation.

 

[Colliam7]

Is the digital compass built-in to some dive computers worth having, or would I best ignore it and choose the computer on other grounds?

Even though my D6 has a compass, underwater I still rely on my SK-7.

A couple of my friends have digital compasses built into their computers and they say it's junk. Apparently they have to be held so flat and so still when you read them that it's impractical to use them for diving.

I'm on my second Sunnto DC with a digital compass. … but I still find that it seems to be off even when calibrating at the dive site. I'm just going to buy a couple of SK-7s.

I rarely use the digital compass on my D9.

I think we have a confirmed sighting of a very rare creature - a SB consensus. I have a digital compass in my X-1. I don’t use it. I prefer my SK-7. Choose a dive computer on other grounds.

 

[zf2nt]

I have a Galileo Sol, and I really quite like the compass in it. It reads accurately at full tilt and tracks very smoothly. I set the computer so that once I turn on the compass it stays in the compass display mode until I turn it off and go back to the regular display mode. While in the compass mode, I still get a display of depth, dive time, tank pressure, and NDL.

Bruce

 

[Damselfish]

I have a regular analog compass and haven't had occasion to try a digital one underwater. But digital compasses just never seem very intuitive to me. For very casual/occasional use ("land is that way") maybe it would be OK but if I really needed it to navigate I'd want a to have a real (analog) compass.

It seems like a feature they added because it make some people want to buy the product more, but doesn't necessarily mean it's a very good feature. (Happens with a lot of things.)