Can dive shallow water using a Military compass?

[BLoaf]

I was wondering if anyone knows how well those military tritium compasses used for land nav hold up in the water. I would think they are good to at least 60ft?

 

[Searcaigh]

As long as a compass is waterproof it will work underwater.

 

[JamesK]

It would depend on the compass. Some lensatic compasses do not have a fluid filled chamber, and others do. If it does not have a fluid filled chamber it could build up condensation inside or develop a leak. Either way the compass would not be readable. They also only have less then 10 degrees of allowable tilt.

I would just stick to one desinged for underwater use. You can pick up a cheap XS Scuba for less then a military lensatic compass.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I'm with JamesK here. You should use equipment designed for underwater use- especially an important navigation tool like a compass. Try diving sometime with your "waterproof Timex. It won't survive, especially in salt water, more than a few minutes, because that is not its designed use. I can survive getting a few rain drops, or a sprinkler hit, maybe even dropped in a sink and immediately retrieved and dried. So too a land compass.
DivemasterDennis

 

[knotical]

Googling tritium compass, at least one site says:

The Copper Induction Damping System slow the rotation of the magnet without the use of liquids.

Which means it is not fluid-filled, and will therefore likely crush at fairly shallow depths.

 

[DukeAMO]

They also only have less then 10 degrees of allowable tilt.

Allowable tilt is definitely a useful feature to look for. It's very difficult to keep your compass precisely horizontal in the water, because you don't perceive gravity in the same way. If your compass gets out of horizontal alignment, the needle will stop turning freely, and you may turn off of your heading without realizing it.

 

[BLoaf]

Thanks guys. I have like 10 of these things and live on the GI bill which equals low $, lol. Il buy a proper one. I have used them in shallow water during training but was never told how far they can go, and they dont say anything on the frame.

 

[JamesK]

Heck, if you have ten, give one a try!

 

[BLoaf]

Heck, if you have ten, give one a try!

You have a point.

 

[RJP]

I was wondering if anyone knows how well those military tritium compasses used for land nav hold up in the water. I would think they are good to at least 60ft?

You'd be wrong.