View Full Version : Compass/Bottom Timers at night
Aquamaniac
February 5th, 2003, 08:53 AM
I recently did a few night dives with low viz that required extensive navigation.
For the best part of the dive, the navigator was watching the compass full time.
My config is standard with compass and light on left arm, Bottom timer on the right.
What I found was that it was awkward to swap the light from hand to hand to see either instrument.
A simple solution may have been to have both instruments on the one arm.
Anyone have any comments.
Dave
Jonathan
February 5th, 2003, 09:16 AM
I know I will get flamed from certain quaters for this but I wear a miniQ40 on my mask which make checking instruments and reading a compass in the dark a lot easier.
Well that's my method and I like it! :out:
MechDiver
February 5th, 2003, 10:41 AM
Jonathan once bubbled...
I know I will get flamed from certain quaters for this but I wear a miniQ40 on my mask which make checking instruments and reading a compass in the dark a lot easier.
Well that's my method and I like it! :out:
I actually have a lite smaller than the Q40. And I agree, works great. I also don't use a compass on my arm as it gets in the way and is not used that much in normal diving.
MD
MikeFerrara
February 5th, 2003, 11:06 AM
Things can get busy and we only have two hands. I plead guilty to putting my ligh in my right hand from time to time like when looking at a compass or adjusting buoyancy. I also will at times drape the cord (can light) over my neck if I need bothe hands to do something.
Others may have better techniques and I'm willing to listen but when wearing a light on your left hand with a Goodman hadle the light gets flashed all over the place when adjusting buoyancy. If the compass is on the left I don't see any way to see it without putting the light in the right.
Duncan Price
February 5th, 2003, 11:36 AM
MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Others may have better techniques and I'm willing to listen but when wearing a light on your left hand with a Goodman hadle the light gets flashed all over the place when adjusting buoyancy. If the compass is on the left I don't see any way to see it without putting the light in the right.
Of course the easy way is to mount your lights on your helmet.... :-)
Duncan
MechDiver
February 5th, 2003, 11:42 AM
Duncan Price once bubbled...
Of course the easy way is to mount your lights on your helmet.... :-)
Duncan
Yea, but when I pulled the visor down, it cut off my air. After 4 or 5 times on lifesupport I finally gave it up :rolleyes:
MD
O-ring
February 5th, 2003, 11:43 AM
I have a Suunto SK-7 and I keep my light in my left hand. When I want to look at my depth gauge/computer, I either turn on its backlight or shine the light on it (gauge on right wrist). When I need my compass (on left wrist), I switch the light over to my right hand and hold the reflector against the compass for a few seconds and then put the goodman back in my left hand. The compass is now "charged" and glows for a minute or two, which is plenty long enough for me to use it to find the next waypoint.
Pez de Diablo
February 5th, 2003, 01:27 PM
I use a Princeton Tek head lamp.
I have modified my hood with some Velcro, glue and neoprene, works great. I keep thinking about going to a helmet, I use one while caving, climbing, biking and skiing, why not wreck diving?
Just remember that when you look at someone, be carefull not to shine the light in thier eyes.
Aquamaniac
February 5th, 2003, 01:37 PM
I have a few issues with head mounted lights.
I did a dive in an overhead environment a few months ago with a guy who was wearing a mask mounted light.
1st Problem.
The diver tended to switch his focus between the light from the head mount to the light from his handheld. Whenever I needed to give the "OK" signal, by circling his light, I was always usure what light to circle, at times, he missed my signals completely.
2nd Problem.
When we did OOA drills, it was almost impossible to stop him from looking into my face and blinding me. Task loading tends to make the diver forget he is blinding you!
Dave
MechDiver
February 5th, 2003, 01:56 PM
O-ring once bubbled...
or shine the light on it (gauge on right wrist). When I need my compass (on left wrist), I switch the light over to my right hand and hold the reflector against the compass for a few seconds and then put the goodman back in my left hand. The compass is now "charged" and glows for a minute or two, which is plenty long enough for me to use it to find the next waypoint.
My b/t or computer does not have a backlight. When I hit them with my HID, I blind myself. Hitting a white slate is also a joy :)
The mask light I have is quite dim and works well for reading close stuff without interfering with my primary, or blinding my partner.
MD
O-ring
February 5th, 2003, 01:58 PM
MechDiver once bubbled...
My b/t or computer does not have a backlight. When I hit them with my HID, I blind myself. Hitting a white slate is also a joy :)
The mask light I have is quite dim and works well for reading close stuff without interfering with my primary, or blinding my partner.
MD
So I don't have that problem...
wetlettuce
February 6th, 2003, 11:03 AM
Hi
I have a Vytec (experimenting in guage mode thanks to UP and other scubaboard members!!) on my right wrist and a suunto compass and Suunto Bottom Timer on my left. That should solve your problem.
The vytec has a light if I need it and the bottom timer is for redundancy.
If you get a second bottom timer or dive watch you can view either wrist.
Kindest Regards
WL
