Proper Compass Use

[Wayward Son]

Have you dealt with the public schools or the products they put out in recent years, LOL?

 

[Wayward Son]

Ok, silly question to deal with compasses....

Why wear it on your forearm rather then on your consul???

Mine is on my console. However, I rarely need to use it.

If you do use it, it's a bit more convenient to have it on your wrist for lining up the lubber line. On my console, I have to unclip the console so I can hold it out in front of me to get it lined up properly. Not a big deal, just something to keep in mind.

 

[Blackwood]

Have you dealt with the public schools or the products they put out in recent years, LOL?

Now imagine your average highschool dropout trying to do math narced

 

[diver 85]

Ok, silly question to deal with compasses....

Why wear it on your forearm rather then on your consul???

It's cheaper to buy one that goes on your forearm....just hold your rt. forearm with your left hand(with the compass on your left forearm) & keep north under the mark.........

 

[Charlie99]

Ok, silly question to deal with compasses....

Why wear it on your forearm rather then on your consul???

Wrist mounted compasses and computer/bottom timers are just two more items to remember in your pre-dive check. Put them in a console and if you're breathing off your reg, then you haven't forgotten your instruments. :banana:

Some divers find it a bit easier to take bearings on a wrist mounted compass. It can sometimes be difficult to rotate a console all the way around such that the red lubber line is pointing straight ahead. That's not really an issue for me, since I rarely use the side window for sighting and instead just look down on the compass from the top --- when doing it that way, there isn't any need to have the lubber line pointing the direction you are going.

 

[Garrobo]

When I want to get back to the boat I just turn around and go the opposite direction. If I get confused I always dive with a buddy who can get us back. No problemo.

 

[spectrum]

We finished certification, but really didnt get into navigation using the compass, So I thought I would start a discussion on the proper use of the compass. How to get a bearing, How to use the Dial, the Red Line on the face, Etc.

Thanks to all !!

There are a lot of ways that you can do this and if you have need to do things mid dive numerically then I'm not your guy.

First and foremost I always want a no brainer way back to shore (my diving is almost exclusively shore diving) Generally when I'm still on the beach I will aim my compass (console mount) straight out perpendicular to shore and set the pointer on the Bezel to wherever N rests. I will not move the Bezel mid dive.

The red lubber lines are essentially redundant on a compass mount, since the inline boot is a very tactile straight item that you aim. If you care to you can still use the lubber lines when aiming. Be sure that the rubber line or compass body is inline with your body direction whenever reading. Also make sure it it level. I will rotate my console a little sometimes to make sure the card is rotating and not jammed in a skewed compass.

Now once I drop down if I keep N on the point I know I'm heading out.

Time to turn? Start turning and you will see E or W come around to the bezel pointer bring it around as much as you want to turn. Get it where you want to be and just swim holding it there. Time to swim back across, just reverse it.

Confused? Just rotate the console a bit to put N on the bezel pointer, now visualize where you are knowing you are looking out to sea.

Time to head for shore? Just swim with S on the Bezel, pointer of with N in the bezel V notch. I do whichever is more comfortable to keep an eye on. Usually there are enough natural features to not need to fixate n the compass.

Go out in an open space and make sense of it all, it's just a tool.

Go dive, start with a simple in and out course. Becoming confident that you will not swim yourself off the continental shelf is more difficult than the actual skill.

Pete

 

[Charlie99]

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?p=2613241#post2613241 gives my recommendations of things you can practice on dry land to get better at compass navigation.

 

[Splitlip]

We finished certification, but really didnt get into navigation using the compass, So I thought I would start a discussion on the proper use of the compass. How to get a bearing, How to use the Dial, the Red Line on the face, Etc.

Thanks to all !!

You mean bezel and lubber line right? What about the pointy thing?
Sorry, it is late.