Compass help

[JKSteger]

I've been using a compass for basic navigation since I was in boy scouts. When I became a diver I used a compass on a retractor and it worked very well for me. Then I switched it over to a DSS mount and used bungies to place it around my Left arm (drysuit).
Now I'm having a very hard time using it on my wrist. Just doesn't seem as easy as on my retractor to line up my direction of travel and the red line on the compass. I must be missing some technique or something.

My compass is a suunto SK7 in a DSS mount.

Any tips on ease of use or do I just need to keep practicing.

Thanks,
J:

 

[amascuba]

That's not a very DIR answer Kraken. Since you have to power to make/break rules I'll forgive you this time.

Hold out your right arm straight out in front on you, with your left hand grab your elbow so that you make an upside down L with your left arm and align yourself with your compass from there. You will want your compass to be as level as possible for this. It takes some practice, but it's pretty easy to get the hang of.

 

[Seadeuce]

The best wrist method, i.e. most accurate, I've found is to place the unit "on the bone" of your forearm, not on the top of your wrist like a watch.
This means moving the compass 90degs towards you.

Advantage is thus:
Bend over, as in the horizontal dive position, and swing your arm up to read the compass. You will notice that it is now possible to read it with ease, in one movement, rather than have to make that second movement of wrist rotation.

Swing up - one shake to check the needle's free, then you can get a reading that is very accurate.
This works for top viewing of a compass, not side.

BTW check your finning accuracy while your at it. Take a bearing, swim along it for thirty yards, then re-check the bearing. If you have strayed off course you are finning more strongly with one leg than the other.
Once you become aware of it you can easily correct with practice.

Oh! Another point - it's not necessary to use numerical bearings. When we dive we cover very short distances, relatively speaking, and need not depend on bearings of 337 degs etc.
Treat the compass as you would a clock face. When the bezel is set, say at ten-to-twelve, then you know that the reciprocal is twenty mins after. Also, 90degs left turn would be five past twelve.

Get used to these and your navigation will improve no end!


Seadeuce

 

[Lopaka]

It takes some practice, but it's pretty easy to get the hang of.

Unless your are farsighted as hell, then it is a blur that close. Gauge "reader" lenses stuck on the mask help, but I ended up back on a retractor, much as I hate danglies.

 

[JKSteger]

J,

Take it off your wrist and put it on a retractor.

the K

I put it back on the retractor the last dive and WOW!!! I finally got the group back to were we started from...

...I just really like the idea of the compass on the wrist and out of the way, right there on my wrist when I need it.

Thanks,

 

[JKSteger]

The best wrist method, i.e. most accurate, I've found is to place the unit "on the bone" of your forearm, not on the top of your wrist like a watch.
This means moving the compass 90degs towards you.

Advantage is thus:
Bend over, as in the horizontal dive position, and swing your arm up to read the compass. You will notice that it is now possible to read it with ease, in one movement, rather than have to make that second movement of wrist rotation.

Swing up - one shake to check the needle's free, then you can get a reading that is very accurate.
This works for top viewing of a compass, not side.

BTW check your finning accuracy while your at it. Take a bearing, swim along it for thirty yards, then re-check the bearing. If you have strayed off course you are finning more strongly with one leg than the other.
Once you become aware of it you can easily correct with practice.

Oh! Another point - it's not necessary to use numerical bearings. When we dive we cover very short distances, relatively speaking, and need not depend on bearings of 337 degs etc.
Treat the compass as you would a clock face. When the bezel is set, say at ten-to-twelve, then you know that the reciprocal is twenty mins after. Also, 90degs left turn would be five past twelve.

Get used to these and your navigation will improve no end!


Seadeuce

I will try it out next time on my wrist bone part.
Thanks,

 

[scubak]

The compass on the wrist is a great idea...I am using one of the DSS mounts for mine witht the bungees as well...my problem is when I turn the outer dial...the whole compass becomes out of kilter...it all moves even though I have put the tabs and notches in the correct spots...anyone have any suggestions to correct this?
Thanks,
Kirsten

 

[The Kraken]

That's not a very DIR answer Kraken. Since you have to power to make/break rules I'll forgive you this time.

Hold out your right arm straight out in front on you, with your left hand grab your elbow so that you make an upside down L with your left arm and align yourself with your compass from there. You will want your compass to be as level as possible for this. It takes some practice, but it's pretty easy to get the hang of.

My apologies, all!!!
Evidently I was suffering from a temporary case of rectal/cranial inversion and didn't notice the fact that Jer had posted this in the DIR forum.

Just saw my buddy JK's thread and posted.

I have deleted the disgusting, ignorant and heretical post!!!

Once again, my apologies . . . everyone.

the K-onfused

 

[DIR-Atlanta]

Hold out your right arm straight out in front on you, with your left hand grab your elbow so that you make an upside down L with your left arm and align yourself with your compass from there. You will want your compass to be as level as possible for this.

Just another data point - this is the technique that I have always used, and it has worked very well for me. When diving in proper DIR trim, you arms are kind of out in front of you anyway, so it requires very little extra movement to check your compass in this way.

 

[CompuDude]

The compass on the wrist is a great idea...I am using one of the DSS mounts for mine witht the bungees as well...my problem is when I turn the outer dial...the whole compass becomes out of kilter...it all moves even though I have put the tabs and notches in the correct spots...anyone have any suggestions to correct this?
Thanks,
Kirsten

Twist it back? Perhaps try tighter/thicker/stronger bungee?

Unless I'm missing the point, and you're talking about something else, I'm not seeing anything that counts as a problem here.

Or do you mean you can't turn the bezel at all, in which case it's either not assembled correctly or you have a bad mount and/or compass. Give a call to DSS, perhaps.