Help with compass purchase

[Nick Steele]

Thanks @Marie13

No direct experience with any of your choices, however I prefer the DGX pro style.

You probably don't recall, but I use the Oceanic version of this. I wear it on all dives, and use on most, and always on shore diving. I have a lot of headings in my noggin.
I find it easy and quick to reference.
Mounted on LH, dc on RH.

Yeah I remember you using it during the dive but didn’t have an interest at the time due to other new things lol

 

[stuartv]

Several pictures here:

First OW class, lots of gear questions!

The Fisherman's knot on the wrist loop slides, so you can easily size the bungee to fit your bare hand or when you are wearing thick gloves.

 

[Zef]

much prefer this instead of a wrist compass.... More accurate, and more useful since you can also put your waypoints on there, a stick map, etc.

No issues at depth (compression from pressure at depth does not affect the needle/bearing)?

Any issues with the super glue, which tends to be brittle and not have much shear strength, breaking free?

I have thought about making one of these but wanted to test my Silva backpacking compass first by clipping it off on my harness and diving with it, and then I checked the price for what it would cost to replace....it is almost as expensive as the Suunto SK-8 with bungee mount I recently bought. The Silva compass I have is at least 30 years old and going strong....may be considered vintage at this point...not going to chance it.

I will have to see if the decathlon in the next town over (discount sporting goods store) has anything suitable to fabricate a navboard out of for cheap.

-Z

 

[tbone1004]

@Zef mine has been quite deep with no issues. They're liquid filled, so no compression

super glue tends to give out after 2-3 years or so. I take the line that comes with the compass and usually tie it to a second hold just in case the compass pops off.

You can use any map compass you find as long as it is liquid filled. The slate is just sheet plexiglass, home depot, etc have it.

 

[Rred]

My ancient $1.49 auto chain store one-inch ball compass for some reason kept making people upset, so i got a fancy new Suunto, and guess what? Right after submerging, the Suunto simply jammed and refused to rotate at all.

The $1.49 compass has accepted my apologies and been reinstated as Shop Steward and Senior Team Leader among my instruments. For what I do, I don't need five degree accuracy, four cardinal points is good enough.

But the Suunto sure does LOOK better, even if it has this fixation about which side is up.

 

[JamesBon92007]

My ancient $1.49 auto chain store one-inch ball compass for some reason kept making people upset, so i got a fancy new Suunto, and guess what? Right after submerging, the Suunto simply jammed and refused to rotate at all.

The $1.49 compass has accepted my apologies and been reinstated as Shop Steward and Senior Team Leader among my instruments. For what I do, I don't need five degree accuracy, four cardinal points is good enough.

But the Suunto sure does LOOK better, even if it has this fixation about which side is up.

Do you have some kind of bezel on the ball compass to set your course? I'm going to go look for my ball compass in the garage now...

 

[Ghetto Diver]

Hmmmm...the whole map compass thing should work well mounted on my new to me Torpedo...thx

 

[Rred]

"Do you have some kind of bezel on the ball compass to set your course?"
Nope. Matter of fact, since it is a bearing compass? If I want to go east, I just turn till it says "E". Like the Clipper ships that roamed the world, I can make do with 16 standard compass points, and if you need to hold an underwater course within two degrees, you'll just have to get one a them fancier compasses.

 

[JamesBon92007]

"Do you have some kind of bezel on the ball compass to set your course?"
Nope. Matter of fact, since it is a bearing compass? If I want to go east, I just turn till it says "E". Like the Clipper ships that roamed the world, I can make do with 16 standard compass points, and if you need to hold an underwater course within two degrees, you'll just have to get one a them fancier compasses.

You are a better underwater navigator than me. I immediately found my compass but the oil has leaked out. I think I have another one somewhere...

 

[buddhasummer]

I’ve read the sk7’s had a problem with a bubble formation and it caused problems. I haven’t seen this in the sk8 reviews I’ve read is it still a concern?

I own several SK7s always wear one on every dive, must be coming on 10 years now, never had any issues. I put them in the DSS mouths and wear them on top of my hand, not wrist, much more ergonomic and easier to read, no contortion necessary. I have short arms and bad eyes. I can check my heading and read my computer together at the same time without changing swimming position at a glance.