What is your best tip for underwater navigation on a dive?

+2 votes
asked Feb 22, 2017 in Scuba Diving by ricom (175 points)
The couple of times I have been without a guide, I do not feel like I have a good sense of where I am, despite understanding how to read a compass.

4 Answers

+1 vote
answered Mar 17, 2017 by George1224 (5,147 points)
also pay attention to your surroundings noting landmarks as you go.

I know people that will mark sandy bottoms as they go by dragging a fin every so often.
+1 vote
answered Mar 20, 2017 by SCUBATomWetzel (55 points)
Practice on the skill you and your buddy have been taught.  Do triangles, squares and rectangles.

Dive your locations and know profiles.
0 votes
answered Feb 24, 2017 by revgramza (1,095 points)
Practice, Practice, Practice.

Practice on the ground with a compass.  Measure your paces.  Practice distances with walking.

Create a course for yourself and friends (at least a buddy) underwater.  Measure a distance and calculate your number of kicks from point to point.

Get accustomed to noticing your compass during your dives.  Take note of how current affects your movement from point to point.

Get comfortable using your compass when you don't really need it, so when you do need it in cloudy water or night diving, you'll be comfortable.
0 votes
answered May 17, 2017 by hurfish (3,024 points)
Have a good compass and know how to use it. Plan and know the dive site especially shore/boat direction. Descend and get your bering before continuing the dive. Keep a constant eye on your course. Find and locate points of reference, etc...
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