Bubblesong
Contributor
I am curious if people have any stories about using the compass for navigation in lower visibility dives?
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You were lucky. Using a compass near a wreck is quite problematic.I did a dive on a wreck last year where the viz was 10' or less. The wreck was broken into 2 chunks with a little bit of a gap in between.
I descended on one part of the wreck, swam to the break and wanted to go over to the other part. It was not so far that I felt like I needed to run a line, but it was far enough that I could just barely see the edge of the other chunk from the very edge of the chunk I was on. I took a compass heading from one part to the other then swam over. I swam around for a while, with some swimthroughs and what-not. I got a bit turned around, so when it was time to head back to the anchor line, I wasn't sure which way to go to get back to the break between the wreck chunks. I could have just picked a direction and gone. If it was the wrong way, turn around and go the opposite direction. But, that might have taken too long. I checked the compass heading I had taken, swam the reciprocal, and got right back to the break, crossed over, and back to the anchor line.
I have 3 computers that all have electronic compasses built in. If I'm getting in and think there's any chance I'll actually want to use a compass during my dive, I still take my $39 DGX Tech compass with bungee cord rigged to hold it on the back of my right hand. I find having it on the back of my hand makes it a lot easier to swim and stay on a heading than if I have it on my wrist or forearm. And it's nice that I don't have to hold it.
Tech Compass w/Bungee Mount and Cord
You were lucky. Using a compass near a wreck is quite problematic.
LOL. One clue it is happenng is that no matter which way you turn, it is always North.Good point. I have read that, even though I haven't noticed it happening.