|
RL - Tides and currents do not affect the combat diver - at least that's what they told me in Key West. Pete has given you the "textbook solution". It's properly referred to as a compensated launch point. Porpoising (QRQ30's suggestion) is also (properly) referred to as a tactical peek. Definitely not the school solution if you're trying to pass the CDQC but it is the most accurate. Unfortunately, it requires considerable practice to do it effectively - without compromising yourself. Sdiver hit it on the head for the average diver who will not be conducting tactical infiltrations over extended distances. Stay on the bottom (if possible) and fin hard. Observe the natural environment to determine actual current (grass, sand ripples, etc) and swag a (minute) compensated heading into the direction the current is coming from. If you have a good swimming pace and excellent technique you can be very accurate with practice. I would need to know more about what caused you to ask the question to give you a better answer. The type of swimming we are used to from combat diver training - bury your nose in the TAC board and swim like mad until your head hits the beach - is (almost) never required in the real world. True tactical underwater navigation with compass and stopwatch (extended distances with doglegs) is something of a lost art at least in the SF diving community. Even the SEALS are exploring high tech solutions to the problem. And most recreational divers have a hard enough time with buoyancy control without task loading a navigational problem. FWIW - Peregrino
|