I applaud the OP for posting the question, because the diversity of response is revealing. Compass navigation may seem to some to be perfectly simple and straightforward. But, to others - intelligent, educated individuals - it seems obtuse at best. As a parallel example, one of the biggest challenges for pilots during instrument training (and beyond) is mastering the concepts of headings, bearings, relative bearings (and bearings TO and FROM a navigational aid). And lot more time is spent on compass navigation in instrument training than in dive training. I learned compass navigation decades ago, as a Boy Scout, and have had the need and opportunity to use it throughout the years since then and, in doing so, continue to develop some modest level of proficiency. But, I consider myself to still be learning new techniques, and I still catch myself making mistakes. Many divers, and instructors (and DMs, AIs, whatever) learn ONE WAY to use a compass, possibly because their instructor only knew ONE WAY to use a compass, and essentially they memorize how to do it, possibly without a full understanding of why they are doing it that way, or what they are actually doing. Then, they teach that ONE WAY to others, who also memorize how to do it without understanding. And, when students ask 'Why am I doing it this way?', the response is too often, 'Don't worry about it. Just learn it this way, and you will be fine.' My personal bias - the average educated adult in the US couldn't use a compass to navigate from one point to another, on land, if their life depended upon it. Yes, divers get additional training, but they are still a subset of the general population.
I think the original question has been answered. The question was serious, and I doubt the question arose because the OP wasn't properly trained. Actually, I suspect that others have had the same question, but were afraid to ask it. The timing of the post was also interesting to me, because I was just thinking last night about what to do in my NEXT AOW class, to help divers better understand compass navigation, based on an experience I had in my LAST AOW class several weeks ago. The variety of responses, and the variety of approaches to answering the original question, have been very helpful to me in that regard. So, rather than presuming the OP was making a joke, or asking a dumb question, or was not properly trained, it might be useful for all to reflect on how we use a compass, how facile and versatile we really are in that use, AND how we teach others. Just a thought.
I think the original question has been answered. The question was serious, and I doubt the question arose because the OP wasn't properly trained. Actually, I suspect that others have had the same question, but were afraid to ask it. The timing of the post was also interesting to me, because I was just thinking last night about what to do in my NEXT AOW class, to help divers better understand compass navigation, based on an experience I had in my LAST AOW class several weeks ago. The variety of responses, and the variety of approaches to answering the original question, have been very helpful to me in that regard. So, rather than presuming the OP was making a joke, or asking a dumb question, or was not properly trained, it might be useful for all to reflect on how we use a compass, how facile and versatile we really are in that use, AND how we teach others. Just a thought.
