Compasses....and Navigation

[Snappahead]

Hey folks,

Here's the deal: I'm doing my Advanced Open Water dives and will be doing the Navigation dive shortly. I have a cheap "compass" that was included with my Uwatec Smartek. This was fine for the Open Water course, but from what I'm told, the nav course is a bit more detailed.

My question(s) is (are) :

1) Do you use your compass much?

2) Should I invest a decent amount of $ in a new compass?

3) How would you "mount" it: wrist, clipped to BCD, or slate? (Don't have a console, so that option is out)

Many thanks for your input.

Snappa

 

[nolatom]

Mine's on the console. I guess I'd use wrist if i didn't have one. Clipped to BC is probably too much fumbling if you're checking it frequently.

As long as your existing compass works okay, is easy enough to read, and has a rotating bezel to mark your compass heading out and back, I wouldn't spend major bucks on a "better" compass. All they gotta do is point to magnetic north, and be readable.

 

[Peter Guy]

1. Yes, I use my compass on most shore dives;

2. How comfortable do you want to be in knowing where you are and knowing where you need to go? Your choice.

3. I took mine off the console and put it (SK7) in a DSS boot for my wrist.

If you don't care what direction you go, then it doesn't matter how good your compass might be. As I wrote, I use my compass a lot -- but, honestly, I don't know how "accurate" it needs to be. Because of current, looking around while swimming, etc., I tend to use only N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW (that is, accurate to 45degrees). I'm not at all convinced that I could swim any significant distance with any more accuracy than that.

 

[TommyB]

Here's a link for some underwater Nav tips

http://www.geocities.com/k_o_dionysus/scuba/uw_nav/index.html
and a few cheats on how to not use the + 180 deg, or need to turn -35 deg

http://www.geocities.com/k_o_dionysus/scuba/uw_nav/cheat.html

Might help some of readers--

 

[Digger54]

In lower visibility I swim around in circles, thinking I'm going straight, if I don't use my compass. So I use it plenty especially in lower visibility. Mine's on a console, but I'd use a wrist version if I didn't have it on a console.

The Suunto SK-7 is well known for working well without having to hold it perfectly level. Many others will bind or drag if you don't use them very close to level.

 

[Teamcasa]

I use a compass on most dives and all the time on low vis dives.
A compass on a slate is good for learning and practicing navigation.
http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=RetractCompass

Also, there are several places online to get detailed navigation lessons but here is a short version.
Go to the local park, figure out what heading you need to get to a tree in the distance. Have a friend blindfold you, spin you around a few times, then as you keep your head down with a dive mask on, focus on your compass and walk using only your compass heading as a guide. If you hit the tree, you are on your way to learing and passing navigation.

Dave

 

[battles2a5]

I definitely use a compass on shore dives in combination w/ natural navigation as well as in the quary to practice nav. Not as helpful on wreck dives with a big, rusting, iron hull beneath you. I clip off my spg to my waist d-ring, so I wear my compass on my wrist. I like this a lot better because I can bring the compass up and use the eye sight much more easily. I haven't seen much difference between a "good" compass and a bad one. Check ebay. I got my wrist mount for $35 shipped.

 

[Blackwood]

Aye, I even bring mine along when I go on resort-style lead dives. I don't like not knowing my way around, and I don't like trusting others.

I must prefer the wrist mounted variety. Small, out of the way when I don't want to look at it, and more easily accessible than any other variety (just have to move my arm a few inches).

 

[jon m]

the one on your comp doesn't work???

 

[TXScubaBear]

If you can't go wrist or would rather not, I found in OW having one on a slate worked perfect for me, my instructor let me borrow his to get a feel for what it's like versus your arm.....just a personal whim I guess...