Dive compass confusion

[rligon]

One rule I haven't seen mentioned, make sure your compass is close enough to level that it is free to swing. Most compasses will tolerate being 10-15° off level, but beyond that they can't spin so you can be locked on a bearing and not even realize it. If you aren't sure, rotate the compass a little and make sure it continues to point north rather than following your rotation, then come back to your heading. Another option if this is a problem for you, get a Suunto SK7 (+/- 30°). Have fun

 

[aquanaut10]

For diving at sites that have good vis but also may have currents, like the Keys, I suggest not folowing a heading while continuously looking at your compass. The better method is to look out in the direction your compass is pointing, fix on a landmark, then swim to that point. After you get there, look for another landmark in the same direction, and swim to that point, etc. By this method, cross currents won't matter because you know you will have travelled in the desired direction. Coming back follow the same method. You don't have to use the same landmarks, just pick new ones along the line your compass is pointing. For very poor visibility this method isn't as exact. However, compass navigation in poor visibility when cross currents exist is almost futile anyway. Let me know if this helps.

 

[rk288]

My training taught to never dive alone and if you're going somewhere you've never been before contact local dive professionals.
Just after my OW cert and even now when I'm going to someplace new I want to be in the company of professional divers. Have them work with you on your nav skills.

 

[Hatul]

My training taught to never dive alone and if you're going somewhere you've never been before contact local dive professionals.
Just after my OW cert and even now when I'm going to someplace new I want to be in the company of professional divers. Have them work with you on your nav skills.

That's a dogma that went away with "the never dive reverse profile". It's nicer to dive with a good buddy, but solo diving is ok even in new dive sites.

Adam

 

[jonathon50]

hold the compass in front of you, flat and level. i like to look down on it, some people look through the viewing window, each to their own. decide on your out bearing, turn the bezel till ithe lubber line points to your bearing rotate till north is between the 2 notches, thats your bearing. now look at the side of the compass at "this" end of the lubber line, thats your return, easy peasy! it helps if you can cross reference from under water markers, i.e reef, wreck, tall funny plants somebody mentions that will be on your bearing, use them to make sure that not only are you on track, your actually on the right path! so, you come to the wreck, and its on your left, its got to be on your right going back along your recipitical bearing. if your in poor viz, prob a good idea at first not to go too far, use kick cycles or say fin for 3 mins at your normal speed, use same on return. the best without a tape measure is arm spans, if you dont mind funny looks or comments back on board, use that!

 

[BuoyantC]

Lot's of good info here. I'll add my 2 cents. When using a compass to swim a heading, most new divers make two mistakes. Firstly, they speed up and try to fly like an arrow. Sight down the compass lubber line and pick out something in the distance and swim to it at your normal pace enjoying the trip. You will be on course even with current. The second mistake made is they fixate on the compass and forget depth. Again, same fix as above. Another often made error is turning the compass to align the lubber line with direction of travel like a steering wheel. Doesn't work.

Now for diving Key Largo, and I'm no expert though I've been there, is much of it seemed to be coral fingers with not a lot of straight line swimming. I don't remember a compass being all that useful compared to memory and notes on a slate. Another general good practice is to always note the mooring line depth as a guide for retuning. And one more is to note important landmarks along the way and turn back to make a mental image of the opposite view. It can look entirely different on your return.

Good luck and enjoy your diving. The interest you show in wanting to be prepared will undoubtedly leave you in better shape than others you may meet on the boat!

 

[diverdad87]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I appreciate the advice everyone seems to lend. I had a great time on my dives and didn't have much of a issue at all with navigation and finding my way back. I didn't have a compass so it was a nice relief to know I could do it.

I went through this thread and noticed someone asking why I was concerned about wreck diving without AOW done, well the City of Washington is a 'wreck' by definition and its at.........25ft.

Also, compass navigation, even with PADI, isn't taught at the basic OW level AFAIK.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Also, compass navigation, even with PADI, isn't taught at the basic OW level AFAIK.

Granted that my Open Water teaching slates are (Rev 4/02); The required "Dive Flexible Skills" slate includes;

4. 50 Meter/yard Straight Line Surface Swim with Compass
..........Perform a 50 meter/yard surface snorkel swim in a straight line keeping the face in the water and using the compass only for direction reference.

and;

7. Underwater Navigation with Compass
..........Perform a navigation swim with a compass in a straight line out and back on a reciprocal course.

These are Required Performance Skills of the PADI OW Course. If you did not satisfactorily perform these skills during your Open Water training dives your PADI OW certification was in violation of Standards.