Navigation Problems

[RooMont]

I have a hard time navigating. Is there some sort of underwater "GPS"? I know real GPS can not work underwater, but can I buy some sort of beacon that I hook to the boat and wear something on my wrist that will say... swim here idiot!

Thanks!

 

[redacted]

Diver Navigation

I did not dig for the price, but I'm betting it will be steep.

 

[Reku]

With more dives comes better navigation skills under the water. I think given enough time you will improve.

 

[tursiops]

I have a hard time navigating. Is there some sort of underwater "GPS"? I know real GPS can not work underwater, but can I buy some sort of beacon that I hook to the boat and wear something on my wrist that will say... swim here idiot!

Thanks!

Yes, you can buy small acoustic beacons to hang from the boat, and carry a small receiver that points toward the boat. But it doesn't work well in diver-depth water with variable topography and sound-reflecting surfaces (like hard coral). You are much better off paying for a good u/w navigation class from a good instructor. And then practice with your compass and estimating distance with fin kicks. There are even techniques for navigating in currents.

 

[Altamira]

Navigation is all about maintaining spatial orientation, and that is a skill that can be developed and fined tuned through practice, which you can work on above and below the water. There is a lot of good information on developing navigation skills on this board as well other internet sources. I would highly recommend you work on the basic skills for navigation long before you hit the water so you can think about and analyze the process without having to worry about buoyancy, air management, and all of the other issues that come into play under the water. Go to a park or open space to practice using a compass, a watch, and a basic map that you can draw on a dive slate. Once you have the basics down pat, you can start to think about the effects of current direction and strength on your navigation route. When on land, you can substitute the wind for water currents to help you visualize what heading adjustments you may have to make for more precise navigation. Just be patient with yourself. The skills will come.

 

[Reku]

This doesn't help for boat dives but here's what I do in small lakes and such - I have two compass, the left points to where I came from, the right points to where I am going. Simple. The left compass does not change until the next dive.

 

[Steve_C]

You have not said what kind of conditions you dive in. That makes a huge difference.

If you are diving from a boat in real low viz, run a line unless well defined structure.

If you have some viz then notice markers. Sight along the compass to a target. Swim to the target and repeat. Just looking down at the compass is a good way to go in circles.

Make sure you know where go is. If as in NC you go down the line. Explore the anchor area first so you can recognize it and know how it is placed.

In places like the Keys I tend to run figure eights where I go out and come back to sighting of the boat and then leaf out in another direction. The exception to this is where there is well defined structure like an intact wreck or a ledge or wall or long coral channel. Then it is easier to navigate.

 

[TMHeimer]

Compass use in even a mild current can be challenging. There are was to compensate, using distances, number of kick cycles, angles, etc., but they are somewhat complicated. If diving deep there is usually a lot less, or no current. If diving real shallow, I try to just generally go a bit more into the current than exactly the direction I have my compass pointed to. Then if shallow enough, there is no harm in surfacing to just see how close you are to where you want to be.

 

[RooMont]

Thank y'all so much for your responses. I am now on my 60th dive and am not happy at all with the fact that I still can not find the boat. I have read about fin kicks, etc. I am going diving again in June in the Keys. I am fairly certain I will spend my entire time practicing. I was just hoping that I could find something that I could hang around my neck to help me until I learned how to use my compass and notice my surroundings better.

 

[kafkaland]

Liquivision makes an ultrasound-based system where you can attach a beacon to the anchor line of the boat. And also track your buddies if they are on the same system.