DiverJP
Registered
Hello,
Had an issue this past weekend in Dutch Springs and was wondering if anybody else has experienced the same or has an explanation. We entered on the peninsula west side, followed the line from the platform to the Silver Comet, then to the Cessna. At this point, the plan was to follow the compass heading of 54 degrees shown on the slate to find the helicopter. Now, some things I should mention... I've done this before on prior trips successfully, I am experienced and comfortable with my compass, and I calibrated my compass before entering the water. While swimming through the water at about 40'-50' depth, was having significant difficulty maintaining a heading with my compass. I have a digital compass integrated into my dive computer, and it was virtually impossible to maintain a specific heading on the display. The numbers kept rapidly changing over a wide range almost as if the "dial" was spinning around. Needless to say, we wound up lost and had to surface to get our bearings. Here's the really strange part... After returning to the shore, I discovered in conversation that two other members of our group had experienced the same thing while attempting to follow the same course to the helicopter! Their compasses literally were spinning also. So here's the question... What's in the quarry near there that would cause that much of a magnetic disturbance? Anyone experience the same or have any ideas?
Thanks,
JP
Had an issue this past weekend in Dutch Springs and was wondering if anybody else has experienced the same or has an explanation. We entered on the peninsula west side, followed the line from the platform to the Silver Comet, then to the Cessna. At this point, the plan was to follow the compass heading of 54 degrees shown on the slate to find the helicopter. Now, some things I should mention... I've done this before on prior trips successfully, I am experienced and comfortable with my compass, and I calibrated my compass before entering the water. While swimming through the water at about 40'-50' depth, was having significant difficulty maintaining a heading with my compass. I have a digital compass integrated into my dive computer, and it was virtually impossible to maintain a specific heading on the display. The numbers kept rapidly changing over a wide range almost as if the "dial" was spinning around. Needless to say, we wound up lost and had to surface to get our bearings. Here's the really strange part... After returning to the shore, I discovered in conversation that two other members of our group had experienced the same thing while attempting to follow the same course to the helicopter! Their compasses literally were spinning also. So here's the question... What's in the quarry near there that would cause that much of a magnetic disturbance? Anyone experience the same or have any ideas?
Thanks,
JP
. They blamed it on the Canadian Navigation System but I now blame it on the DS Triangle.
