Navigation?

[TheRedHead]

A good tactic I have learned through trial and error is to do two thing: Keep an idea of the 'big picture', and swim to points.

For the big picture, keep a mental image of what the dive site looks like, and move yourself around in your mind to keep track of where you go. Swimming to points basically involves looking around, finding an obvious landmark, swimming to it, finding another landmark, swimming to it, and so on. Then you just follow them back. Depending on vis, it's possible to follow the same landmarks in and out but see different things by going to either side of the landmark.

Hey teknitroxdiver,

Swimming to points sounds logical to me. It's the way I learn to drive to a new place: turn right at the Texaco and then left at the 2nd red light... I can see how you can apply this to diving navigation.

Thanks!

 

[TheRedHead]

The class is normally a briefing on the above, and one dive. You be the judge of its value to you at this time.

Personally I would save the money and do i tmy self for now. IMHO with a dive buddy, you could very eaisly practice this yourself in the ocean of your choice. The land practice is very usefull too.
I hope this helps. In the end only you can determine if it is worth the $$ now for you to take the course.

Pasley,

Thanks so much for the practical advice and I shall take up towel navigation. Maybe at the office during lunch while everyone is doing Tai Chi in the breakroom? Seriously, your tips were invaluable and I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.