Has anyone used a non-diving compass for diving?

[Roko]

I've got a good orienteering Suunto compass, the MC-2g...

I'm wondering if anyone's tried using something like that underwater. I ordered a proper diving compass from scubatoys last week, but doubt that it'll arrive in time for diving this weekend. Nonetheless It would be useful to have a compass this weekend, and I like practicing Nav. I was wondering if I could get away with using that compass in a fresh water lake before my diving compass gets here. Maybe 30-60 feet maximum depth.

I'm a bit weary about damaging it, though, since it's a good compass..... Maybe I'll just do without this weekend if no one can confirm that they've used something like that without problems.

 

[redacted]

As long as it is liquid filled, it should survive the experience OK. You will probably have to be extra careful to make sure it is level enough to provide accurate readings. Most UW compasses are designed to be much more forgiving of tilt. What is probably the most expensive and popular compass, the SK-7, is also the most tilt tolerant UW compass available.

 

[Roko]

Luckily, this compass is really forgiving for tilt as well. It's a global compass are gimbaled such that the magnet can be at a really odd angle, and the needle will still freely move, regardless of which magnetic compass "zone" I'm in. Tried tested and true in both hemispheres in my blunderings of the world.

One thing I'm not 100% sure on is if it might suck in some water when the oil inside cools down. (I'm diving a cold mountain lake)

 

[JKPAO]

As long as there are no air bubbles, It should be fine.
See you topside! John

 

[foglesre]

On the advice of a couple of tech divers on TDS, I purchased the Suunto M-9.

Suunto M-9 Wrist Compass from REI.com

It too is a liquid filled surface compass. I used it for a week of cave diving in Mexico. No problems at all. Very nice and compact.

I gave it to my cave instructor as a birthday present. I'll buy another.

Bob

 

[Charlie99]

I have used some Silva orienteering style compasses on a sailboat. Eventually the copper or brass wire clip that hold the bezel in place will corrode, making it nearly impossible to turn the bezel. As an experiment, I have taken that type of liquid filled compass to about 130' with no problem.

Underwater, I sometimes use a little mini-ball compass. It's a little less than 1" diameter sphere and I use it as a zipper pull on my dive bag. When diving with insta-buddies with rental gear that doesn't come with compass, I'll loan it to them. Also good for DIR buddies that have forgotten their wrist-mounted compasses --- that has happened surprisingly often.
360 degrees of tilt, accurate enough for 99% of everything I do. About $2 at Walmart. Good to at least 100' depth.

 

[wjknobles]

When I teach at the University of Texas we hand out your basic cheap liquid filled orienteering compasses to students out at the lake when they do not have one on their gear. They work just fine and we haven't had a problem with them yet ... other than them appearing to grow a set of fins and swim away every now and then. It is a bit easier to take a $12 compass doing that than a $50+ diving compass.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

I've got a good orienteering Suunto compass, the MC-2g...

I'm wondering if anyone's tried using something like that underwater. I ordered a proper diving compass from scubatoys last week, but doubt that it'll arrive in time for diving this weekend. Nonetheless It would be useful to have a compass this weekend, and I like practicing Nav. I was wondering if I could get away with using that compass in a fresh water lake before my diving compass gets here. Maybe 30-60 feet maximum depth.

I'm a bit weary about damaging it, though, since it's a good compass..... Maybe I'll just do without this weekend if no one can confirm that they've used something like that without problems.

Ironically, I have 45 of these for my classroom(science teacher). I decided last year to test it out and see if it would be okay underwater. So far, it has gone a year at deepest 48 meters, with no problems! I just took the black plastic clip off and the mirror plate, and hooked to a retractable line on my bcd. It works great!