OK, I'm just getting into diving and bought a Zeagle ranger LTD and Oceanic reg/octo/console stuff. But on to the question, I'm looking at the compass and why in the heck is North lableled 180deg?? North is 0, East is 90, South is 180, etc. What the heck???
OK, am I missing something here...
- Thread starter thymer
- Start date
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in_cavediver
Contributor
thymer:
I am guessing you are looking at the reciprocal headings. Some compasses have both the actual heading and the reciprocal. An easy test is to see if East has a 270 on it.
Mike
thymer:
There's a little window on the side of the compass that you look through with a line on it ( called a lubber line). Turn until you read 180 through the little window and you will see why N has 180 next to it.
Because on a scuba compass, you are supposed to look in the little hole on the side, not on the face.
thymer:
Did you already take your class? No matter...heres the way it works.
There should be a line or pair of line running through the center of the compass. That's what's called a lubber line.
Point it in the direction you wish to go.
Now, rotate the bezil (movable ring) until 0 deg (or 360) lines up with magnetic north.
The heading at the front of the lubber line is the heading that you're on.
ok?
To get back on a reciprocal heading (reverse asmyth) rotate the bezil 180 deg then turn until 0 deg (or 360) again lines up with magnetic north and that's the way back.
Oh...BTW...those directions are for a direct reading compass but that's what I think you have.
Hope that helps
It's like that so you can tell your direction of travel whether you look at the top of the card to read N E S or W, or you look at the window and read 180, 090, 270, or 000(360).
Rick
Rick
I have a pinched nerve in my neck which makes holding the compass up and looking in that little window really hard to do. So I look down on the top of the compass. Wprks for me just fine. If I give compass headings to anyone, I make sure I give them the number in the window.
H2Andy
Contributor
yeah... i always look on the top too. it can be confusing because there are two sets of numbers: one printed on the "card" and one set printed on a movable ring (bezel).
ok... look at the internal N (the one on the card) and see where it is pointing. now rotate the bezel numbers until N matches the direction the interal N is pointing. notice that YOU control which way the bezel N goes.
ok... now rotate your body and notice the INTERNAL numbers will change. you will see that those move relative to where North is. those are the numbers that tell you which way north is.
the bezel is a navigational aid that works jus like Mike said.
hope this doesn't confuse things further.
ok... look at the internal N (the one on the card) and see where it is pointing. now rotate the bezel numbers until N matches the direction the interal N is pointing. notice that YOU control which way the bezel N goes.
ok... now rotate your body and notice the INTERNAL numbers will change. you will see that those move relative to where North is. those are the numbers that tell you which way north is.
the bezel is a navigational aid that works jus like Mike said.
hope this doesn't confuse things further.
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