I have a compass on my console.
Some dives I use it not at all. Follow line down to wreck which is a big hunk of metal so compass is not reliable. Then follow line back up to boat.
However, for all other dives it is used some. In others it is used a lot. Especially if there are areas of reduced viz or lack of landmarks like mud flats.
Just because you start with a guide does not mean that you are 100% sure to finish with a guide. Especially if there are more than one buddy pair with the guide and vis is not great. As noted above it is good to try to have at least a rough idea of where you have been and where you are going even if you have a guide.
On shallow reefs usually I am pretty good at getting back with natural/compass navigations but once in a while it is time for the go to the surface, and spot the boat, take a bearing, signal ok, and go back down gambit. Without a compass it would not be very easy to make sure you are heading toward the boat unless you want to surface swim which I don't. In this scenario the natural navigation only helps you keep on the desired bearing and not to find your way back.
Some dives I use it not at all. Follow line down to wreck which is a big hunk of metal so compass is not reliable. Then follow line back up to boat.
However, for all other dives it is used some. In others it is used a lot. Especially if there are areas of reduced viz or lack of landmarks like mud flats.
Just because you start with a guide does not mean that you are 100% sure to finish with a guide. Especially if there are more than one buddy pair with the guide and vis is not great. As noted above it is good to try to have at least a rough idea of where you have been and where you are going even if you have a guide.
On shallow reefs usually I am pretty good at getting back with natural/compass navigations but once in a while it is time for the go to the surface, and spot the boat, take a bearing, signal ok, and go back down gambit. Without a compass it would not be very easy to make sure you are heading toward the boat unless you want to surface swim which I don't. In this scenario the natural navigation only helps you keep on the desired bearing and not to find your way back.