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How to Navigate With an Underwater Compass

Navigating with an underwater compass is probably one of the coolest things you�ll ever experience. It feels a lot like you�re an explorer surveying an unknown territory.

Underwater navigation is an essential skill for all divers to master, especially for anchored dives where you have to find your way back to the dive boat. And make no mistake, underwater navigation can be a little trickier that navigating on land especially because of the currents.

But there are a few ways to make navigating underwater a little easier.

Here�s how you do it:

First make sure you have a dive slate. You�ll need this to draw rough sketches of your landmarks and write down your bearings.

Next you will need an underwater compass (of course). When you first hit the water, find your first landmark or watermark, not sure what technically correct.

For me it�s usually the boat�s anchor. Draw a rough sketch of an anchor then find another landmark about 20 to 25 feet (6 to 7.5m) away and take a bearing.

The way to take a bearing is to hold the compass with both hands with the red line (or lines) parallel to your body.

Point the red line at your next landmark. Now turn your bezel (the circle thing that spins around the face) so that the arrow is on North.

Now look at red line.

The number furthest from you is your bearing and the number closest to you is your reciprocal bearing (your way back).

Now draw a rough sketch of your next landmark (maybe a coral formation that looks like Mickey Mouse) and write down your bearing and your reciprocal bearing between the two landmarks.

When you get to your destination you can explore the coral formation, or whatever it is you were interested in, then find another target and repeat the steps mentioned earlier.

Just make sure you make a note of what your landmark looks like when you�re swimming away. A coral head can look very different when you�re looking at it from different directions.

Underwater Compass - What sort of markers do I use?

Remember that anything can be a landmark.

I once did a beach dive that was so littered with trash that I was navigating using golf balls and beer bottles. Anything goes as long as your landmarks will stay put for the duration of your dive.

When you�re ready to head back to the dive boat, just look at your dive slate and work your way through your landmarks in reverse order using your reciprocal bearings to guide you home.

Should I "wing it" or use an Underwater Compass?

Right now you might be thinking, �This sounds like a lot of work! I�ve got a good sense of direction, I�ll just wing it.�

If that�s what you�re thinking then think again. You�d be amazed at how turned around and disorientated you can get underwater.

I once spent an extra 10 minutes exiting a beach dive because I ignored navigation signs. I knew that sand ripples ran parallel to the beach, but I felt even surer that the beach was off at a 20 degree angle from those ripples. I was wrong and as a result, I surfaced about 200 yards away from my entry point.

No matter how good you think your sense of direction is, use an underwater compass and pay attention to navigational clues.

Your dive will go a lot smoother and you won�t have to worry about surfacing 200 yards from your dive boat.

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