Is basic navigation taught in OW?

[tdtaylor]

IN our classes navigation is taught. Last weekend, in a class of 8, 4 were down on the platform for skills with the Instructor and a DC, and I was on the surface with the other 4 working on nav skills, which they had been introduced to on land. After 20-25 minutes, they went down and the others came up and we repeated. On the second round we discussed how to use heading combined with natural navigation, proper body posture, using a Buddy to control depth while one navigated, always taking a heading before entering the water, being familiar with the direction of land, etc. For the second day, they used compass navigation on their dives, often just from a platform 75 yards to the dock, but with visibility which was 4-5 feet. These small incremental steps have yielded a high level of success.

We are SSI and all students are provided a identical compass with their rental gear. Can't speak for other SSI programs, but our shop feels strongly about Navigation.

Terry

 

[tracydr]

I forgot how to use it after I took my class. We only did a quick straight line out and back. When I bought my used gear it didn't include a compass and for the longest time I didn't have one. I didn't seem to need one on the dives I did with reefs as I could use familiar sights for reference.
when I met my husband ( an instructor), he taught me my Advanced class first time we went on a trip together and I had a hard time using the compass. Since then, I've been practicing. I use it every dive now and so does he. I find it very useful, especially on night dives.

 

[Progen]

I forgot how to use it after I took my class. ...

You're not alone. I think the majority of recreational divers who only dive a few times a year or when they're on vacation don't bother with it at all since they'll be following a guide. To me, it's important because I'm practicing, gearing and training up to go on solo dives because I like spending my time underwater watching certain animals for a looooonnnngggg time.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It is taught in OW according to standards.

What's this compass you speak of?
If we went diving together, there's a good chance I wouldn't have a compass either. By good chance: I'm certain I wouldn't bring one. I don't even know where mine is. I haven't used it in almost two decades.

You don't need a compass in a cave.

As to the OP's question ... learning the basics of reading a compass, and following a reciprocal heading, is a standard part of NAUI's Scuba Diver course (the equivalent of PADI's OW). It's not much ... and the whole notion of counting kick cycles is silly, to my concern (nobody does that in real life) ... but underwater navigation is introduced in the class, and having a compass as part of your kit is required in order to meet that standard.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Captain Bil]

You don't need a compass in a cave...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Really? How do you survey? A compass is indeed used in caves, and rather extensively.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

 

[James R]

My goal when I teach OW is to have dive 4 w/compass skills be a lot more than a few skills then the out and back with a compass, followed by camping out on a platform for the rest of a 20min dive. To me, that is not teaching diving.

Here's a recent example - yesterday's OW dive 4 (after the rest of the required skills & surface compass swim etc). These are done in a quarry with 8-10' viz at most, FWIW. Below 20-22' the viz is much less and it's quite a bit colder as well - keeps them from descending too far!

• North then south out & back with compass 25 kicks with the wall as a semi-visual reference
• NE then SW out and back in mid-water, no visual reference, return to edge of platform.
• Due E across quarry to other side then turn north 10 kicks, then W back across quarry (repeat this a few times for each buddy). It's a 150' swim across at the widest, then narrows as you move north.
• Square pattern N, E, S, then W, no visual reference a few times each
• Lead them out to the middle of the quarry turn them around a few times to disorient then point to "Shore without pier" on my wrist slate- they each would then set compass to get us to the far side of quarry.
• Repeat the above with "Shore with pier" to get us back to the side of the quarry where the pier is.
• Demo SMB deploy while hovering, ascend to 15' for safety stop.

That dive took 51min, and we had a great time. They did very well with the compass and by the time we finished they were really solid with the skills, watching depth as they navigated, etc. I am convinced this will make AOW NAV a breeze since they've done almost all of it already in OW. Of course not every person in every class can do the above at this point, but it is the goal I work towards.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Really? How do you survey? A compass is indeed used in caves, and rather extensively.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

... most people who dive in a cave aren't surveying ... they're following a line, based on a dive plan they developed while looking at a map.

Let's keep things in perspective, shall we ... not everyone explores virgin caves. In fact, on the whole, those who do comprise an almost miniscule percentage of divers ... even among those who dive in caves ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[SPARKMEL]

I am heading to Spain in 2 weeks time to complete my OW refferal dives. As part of the certification according to the refferal criteria, campass navigation is an element above and below the water. The padi manual has 3 pages on basic compass reading and how to navigate. Does not sound too complicated and judging by the experienced divers on this site it is straight out and back. Sounds good to me. Never used a compass before, never had too, until now.
MARK

 

[Progen]

... Never used a compass before, never had too, until now.
MARK

Take it seriously, Mark. Learn it and practice it on your own after your certification because one day you might need it. I'm still typing away today dry and comfortable because I didn't treat it as just some horse**** to be demonstrated to the instructor and forgotten.

 

[tracydr]

You're not alone. I think the majority of recreational divers who only dive a few times a year or when they're on vacation don't bother with it at all since they'll be following a guide. To me, it's important because I'm practicing, gearing and training up to go on solo dives because I like spending my time underwater watching certain animals for a looooonnnngggg time.

I actually dove quite a lot but the diving I did at the time allowed me to use natural features for navigation.
Now we do a lot of night diving, lower visibility diving and diving which requires us to return to an exact exit point or we can't get out of the water. Not nearly as many clear water dives with a guide or an easy reef to follow with a simple exit point.
Even the year I was in Puget Sound it seems like the natural features were pretty easy to follow and exit points were simple.