Accurate compass??

[Darin]

I suppose this forum is as good as any...

Does anyone know who makes a good quality, ACCURATE dive compass? I'm sick of the standard 10 deg graduated "dive" compass. I know most liquid-filled compasses would be fine for diving but I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is something specific.

I cut my teeth on a good lensatic compass, but I am disappointed because of the poor resolution of dive compasses.

We dive a bunch in local lakes where vis is OK some of the year, horrible the rest.

I just want a good dive compass!!

Any ideas?

Darin

 

[Spratman]

Suunto SK7. IMHO, it's the best on the market. It sits higher on your wrist but has a 30 degree tilt which makes it way easier to read.

Good luck!

 

[cap_bert]

I agree in full with Spratman. DSS makes a nifty wrist boot (https://www.deepseasupply.com/index.php?product=47) for it too with a slightly lower profile if you don't like the awkward suunto wrist strap. Also available in a console mount. I hope this helps.

Bert

 

[The Mighty Thor]

I too have the Suunto Sk-7 . Great compass. Very accurate. I have it in a retractor model, which I find more accurate than the wrist mount, but most people seem to prefer the wrist mount, and retrofit to a DSS bungee mount

 

[mwhities]

I concur with all of the Suunto SK7 compass comments.

Suunto SK7 Compass

Michael

 

[Scared Silly]

High resolution does not mean a high accuracy
High accuracy does not mean a high resolution

High precision does not mean a high accuracy
High accuracy does not mean a high precision

These are all different beasts.

http://www.carlton.srsd119.ca/chemical/Sigfigs/accuracy_and_precision.htm
http://www.carlton.srsd119.ca/chemical/Sigfigs/recording_results.htm

That said, I would say that one diving compass is as accurate as another and as accurate as most land compasses.

The difference is that the resolution is less on some diving compasses and less than a land compass. My old Sherwood (aka Pelagic) has tick marks every ten degrees. My Suunto's SK-7 has tick marks every 5 degrees. They probably have the same accuracy but the Suunto has better resolution.

So, if both compasses are accurate and precise but the one has better resolution it means that you have a better chance of getting to where you want to go depending on how accurate and precise you can swim .

If you want more resolution you will probably have to go to a digital compass. But Suunto does not list the resolution or accuracy in their digital compasses.

 

[hunter991]

You may want to try one of the Suunto land navigation compasses underwater. They have a finer resolution. I am thinking of one of the flat clear compasses you can use on a map.

Brent

 

[SteveAD]

Darin

The precision of the lensatic compas is necessary when travelling miles or determining exact grid coordinates to call in airstrikes or artillery, but divers rarely travel as much as one mile underwater, so a 5 or 10 degree resolution is quite adequate. plus it is unlikely that you could read a lensatic to its full accuracy underwater.

 

[dkktsunami]

I too have the Suunto Sk-7 . Great compass. Very accurate. I have it in a retractor model, which I find more accurate than the wrist mount, but most people seem to prefer the wrist mount, and retrofit to a DSS bungee mount

Ditto for the Suunto retractor. Compass can be held directly in front of the diver for a more level, accurate reading and can easily be detached from bc when not needed.

 

[Thalassamania]

Get a Mk 107 Mod 0 Hydrographic Mapping Unit (HMU), what SEALS now use as their standalone navigation aid instead of the familiar tactical board. It has a fluxgate digital compass to navigate underwater accurately as well as sonar for finding obstructions and can record images of underwater objects. It was developed by the Applied Research Laboratories of the University of Texas at Austin and is built by Teledyne RD Instruments in San Diego who continues development of a commercial Map-Tac navigator for other users.