netdiver
Contributor
I consider a compass to be essential gear.
When I first started diving I carried it for "safety's sake" just because it seemed prudent but never really used it. I guess the main idea was that if we got separated from our group or the boat we would at least be able to swim towards the shore.
Then my girlfriend and I did our first shore dive which was the first time we were without a group or DM to follow around. After coasting around a beautiful reef for about 15 min I realized I had lost the direction to the shore and the reef was uneven such that the incline/decline of the bottom was not helpful to indicate the direction of the shore. We surfaced to reorient and we hadn't gone too far. I took a compass reading then and was able to make our return trip under to our exit point after that.
I now take a reading every time before we drop in for a dive.
I had a PDC that has an electronic compass but I found it too difficult to read in low viz, and I didn't like using the small buttons if I had gloves on. I now have a compass on a retractor. I chose that format over a wrist-mount because it provides a larger compass that easier to read and provides a larger range of operation with respect to tilt. You can get those in a wrist-mount as well but I find having an object that large protruding from my wrist to be awkward and inconvenient.
Compasses must be plumb to work correctly to avoid drag. I chose the Suunto SK7 because it has the largest range of tilt operation that I could find at +/- 30 degrees. It's available in wrist-mount and retractable styles.
When I first started diving I carried it for "safety's sake" just because it seemed prudent but never really used it. I guess the main idea was that if we got separated from our group or the boat we would at least be able to swim towards the shore.
Then my girlfriend and I did our first shore dive which was the first time we were without a group or DM to follow around. After coasting around a beautiful reef for about 15 min I realized I had lost the direction to the shore and the reef was uneven such that the incline/decline of the bottom was not helpful to indicate the direction of the shore. We surfaced to reorient and we hadn't gone too far. I took a compass reading then and was able to make our return trip under to our exit point after that.
I now take a reading every time before we drop in for a dive.
I had a PDC that has an electronic compass but I found it too difficult to read in low viz, and I didn't like using the small buttons if I had gloves on. I now have a compass on a retractor. I chose that format over a wrist-mount because it provides a larger compass that easier to read and provides a larger range of operation with respect to tilt. You can get those in a wrist-mount as well but I find having an object that large protruding from my wrist to be awkward and inconvenient.
Compasses must be plumb to work correctly to avoid drag. I chose the Suunto SK7 because it has the largest range of tilt operation that I could find at +/- 30 degrees. It's available in wrist-mount and retractable styles.