Here's the thing with a aow nav dive as I experienced in my own course years ago and what I see happening now. The goals are unrealistic for divers who have no previous experience with a compass other than one time on ow checkouts. They may not take into account low vis, people whose buddy skills need work, have poor buoyancy and trim, or other issues in the same vein. So you use multiple small goals like insisting the buddies stay together and share the task loading. You teach them helicopter turns and the importance of coming to a stop to turn. Having signs or markers on the way points is not cheating. It's reinforcing their confidence by giving immediate feedback. It helps to reduce frustration by giving them a visual clue to get back or stay on track. They should be looking for references like that anyway. It's why I wrote my own nav course materials and guidelines for the uw nav dive in aow. You can't use the same approach, goals, and information universally. Conditions, skills, experience, etc all have to be taken into account or your students are done a disservice. This area you are laying out can be great. Just keep in mind that it is for divers to use and learn from. Not get mad at.