PADI Navigation course syllabus?

[danpass]

I suppose the real question is whether or not its worth buying the pak.

Once I 'got' it compass navigation was a no-brainer.

The big difference underwater is that there is no map.

So what key methods is the course teaching to overcome that?


One poster in another thread mentioned the star method and frankly that is the only one that makes sense to me if you're cruising all around a reef. Out to one place and back is no problem but once you start turning left, then right ......

From a boat out on a bearing.
Back to the boat on the reciprocal
Out on another bearing

etc


As far as counting kicks ......... I know that around 25 it'll start becoming "was that 26 or 24?" so I'm thinking elapsed time is a better measure, for me anyway, with a mental note about current direction and it's ballpark time effect.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I am a "nut" for navigation and commend the course to you. I won't, however, give you a freebie here on the board. Fine tuning compass skills as well as using natural features from coral heads to sand ripples to depth etc. are all a part of a good course. I commend the class to you, and that includes the "pak." Especially iof you like going diving independently.
DivemasterDennis