SCUBA Compass

[mugwump]

A story that roundabout leads to a question.

Wife's sisters <shudder> came into town over the holidays, so the daughter and I skipped off wall-diving in Grand Turk for a week. Dove all week with a Playboy model ("What a coincidence! I like scuba diving and long walks on the beach TOO!"), and two days with a very fat Belgian . He saw me checking my daughter's safety gear (folded snorkel, strobe, sausage and spool, a good mirror, flashlight, whistle, 1-pint Platypus w/ fresh water, bandanna) and said "You Americanzzzzs. So much! You even waste energy when yeeeou play." Well, that's rich coming from a lardgut who needs 22 (!) pounds of lead to sink his skinny ass. Screw him, it all fits in one pocket. I may be paranoid but we've drifted for seven hours off Tobago playing "Open Water" and all that stuff falls under "lessons learned."

Well, daughter and I go seven coral cuts south against the current and seven cuts back. Beautiful dive. Turn right, find the mooring block, hmmm, no cable. We do our hang and come up to lardgut and spouse thrashing and moaning. No boat. Little tiny speck skidding away -- broke its mooring (very stiff trades blowing, very small boat, old moring cable) and took off. ("Can you say 'Irony?' Sure, I knew you could.") The divemaster, who can't stand the Belgian, says "Mon, you'd better swim in and get a boat. I don't want to drift past the north end of the island -- there are a lot of bullsharks there this time of year." LOL, you should have seen Belgian's face. I hand over my strobe, sausage and mirror to the divemaster and he, Hottie, and the Belgians stay put while daughter and I swim for shore (it was only about a mile, but much more than the Belgians could make). Made it about halfway when an eagle-eyed fisherman on shore saw the sausage I was towing and picked us up (big tip and nice steak dinner for Mr. Fisherman and his wife). The current was running pretty good out past the wall where they were and they'd drifted a piece but we saw their sausage and picked them up pretty quickly.

OK, end of story and now the query: What's a good SCUBA compass that is tolerant of less-than-perfect level? When we were swimming back there was some fairly decent swell and my compass needle constantly got hung up. Went northeast for a spell when I thought I was going east. I remember a spherical dive compass on a chain back in the day that couldn't hang up but I can't find one on the 'net.

Any recommendations gratefully accepted.

[x SF med]

Mug-
Have you thought of one of the digital, sealed dive compasses? they can't hang up. Just a thought.

http://www aqualung.com/products/d9.html (add the dot after www to make it work)

[mugwump]

Originally Posted by x SF med

Mug-
Have you thought of one of the digital, sealed dive compasses? they can't hang up. Just a thought.

http://www aqualung.com/products/d9.html (add the dot after www to make it work)

No I didn't. Thanks for the idea, I'll look into them.

[Snaquebite]

Suunto makes good stuff

http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/ar...=1132533105448

[mugwump]

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

Suunto makes good stuff

http://www.suunto.com/suunto/main/ar...=1132533105448

Thanks. The SK-7 looks good: "The superior SK-7 has an exceptional tilt potential of +/-30 degrees, which is 2-3 times larger than in conventional diving compasses. "

[Sdiver]

Yes the SK/7 from Suunto is a great digital compass. But don't fall into the trap of, just because you have the latest "bling", that you don't forget and stick with the basics.

Mug,
Not pointing a finger at you, this is just a general refresher for any and all who use a compass, whether U/W or Above Water/snorkeling.


When using a compass above water, while snorkeling or doing a surface swim...

1) Look at the conditions of the water and how and which direction the wind is blowing. Is there much of a chop? Can you tell which way the current is going? Can you see the surf breaking? If not, this will be something that you will want to take into accounting, the closer you get to shore.

2) Pick out a very distinguishable land mark. (I used to tell my students to pick out two.) I say distinguishable, because hotels/condos/buildings can all look the same the closer you get to shore. (that is, if you are doing pin point surface nav.) If you aren't doing pin-point surface nav, and are just attempting to get to shore, it is still advisable to pick out a land mark.

3) Once you have you land mark picked out, align your compass heading with that land mark. Mark it/lock it in, depending on which compass you're using.

4) Begin your swim on your heading.

5) After a set amount of time, whether you are using a watch or kick cycles to mark your time, after a set amount of time, stop where you are. Check your heading on your compass to the land mark(s) that you have picked out. Adjust accordingly. Repeat this process several times. Don't just trust in one or two or even three readings. Check, check, check, and re-check, over and over.

6) As you approach the shore, what are the conditions of the surf. Can you see any foaming water away from the beach? This could denote a sand bar or two. If so, there is most likely a rip tide/current between those sand bars. How are the waves "crashing" on shore? Adjust accordingly.

Remember, the best way to use a compass while on scuba/rebreather or even on snorkel is under water, and close to the bottom. You don't have to tend with the wind affecting you, and the currents are somewhat less towards the water's floor.

[82ndtrooper]

Originally Posted by mugwump

Thanks. The SK-7 looks good: "The superior SK-7 has an exceptional tilt potential of +/-30 degrees, which is 2-3 times larger than in conventional diving compasses. "

Ya beat me to the punch ! This is the only compass I have ever owned for diving. Yes, +/- 30 degree tilt. SK-7. Then again I still use the old tried and true Aqualung Rocket Fin I also.


http://www.suunto.com

[mugwump]

I'm just really disappointed that a QP hasn't asked to see pictures of the Hottie -- I'm pretty sure Daughter took some.

[x SF med]

Ok, I'll bite...... Pics or it never happened!!

(all better now? Remember, this is a family site.)

[Sdiver]

Originally Posted by mugwump

I'm just really disappointed that a QP hasn't asked to see pictures of the Hottie -- I'm pretty sure Daughter took some.

No.....we're diapointed that YOU haven't posted them up yet with sayings like...."Look who I got to dive with.", or...."Ahhh, a great day to be alive.", or "Ghtfdr kngh igsbfh ojdbgvf...."

So, now I'm pointing a finger at you....POST 'EM UP !!!!

[mugwump]

Originally Posted by Sdiver

No.....we're diapointed that YOU haven't posted them up yet with sayings like...."Look who I got to dive with.", or...."Ahhh, a great day to be alive.", or "Ghtfdr kngh igsbfh ojdbgvf...."

So, now I'm pointing a finger at you....POST 'EM UP !!!!

Asking her permission...I doubt she'll mind. How's that for not having your ducks in a row!

[The Reaper]

Tease.

TR

[mugwump]

Grand_turk981.jpg

She said OK on this one...She wants artistic control on the rest (she's a dirrrrector now). The other pics have her boyfriend in them, I'll crop and get approval.

It was difficult to look her in the eye. My daughter said "I was dieing to ask her if those things hurt."

Set the Tivo for "Dangerous Isolation" on Lifetime Network in the next few months. Hottie's Boyfriend had been filming in Grand Turk and my daughter got a big speaking part as a police dispatcher in a last-minute "fill shot" (killed the afternoon dive): "You can't do that! What will the Chief say?" She got a pina colada and a manicure out of the deal. Not exactly big budget cinema; I don't' think she'll get a SAG card. We just missed the skinny Baywatch babe, the only one on that old show without bolt-ons. Can't remember her name -- she was the heroine of the movie. We did meet Nick Turturro from NYPD Blue. I have no idea what the movie's about but the release said it was PG rated for "theatrical violence."

Edited: Oops, I don't know how the "attached thumbnails" got hooked on here but I can't remove it. She sent me that one in the return email but it's not from GT. She needs new trousers.

[mugwump]

Roger on the modesty, Sir. That one is more modest than some pics of her in the restaurant. Hottie was actually a very sweet transplanted Wisconsin girl. Even our old island friend, Miss Ivy (an iron-rod, foundation-garment wearing, Pentacostal force of nature if there ever was one) liked her in spite of how she dressed. Boyfriend was very nice too, even if my daughter once had to give him a sharp elbow shot to the solar plexus. It was...reassuring...to see how she handled herself.

[Peregrino]

MW - God bless you (and her) for sharing (especially her!). You get extra points for having her contact info (and the courtesy to ask before sharing). It's nice to see Wisconsin is still a "wholesome goodness, dairy products state" with a generous export program. Though I'm still trying to figure out why she'd put up with a boyfriend so crass as to deserve an elbow in the ribs from your daughter. As for snorkels - I said I hated them and would go to great lengths to avoid using them, not that I didn't carry one. Your Belgian "buddy" would have had a field day with me. (Just another flavor of Frenchman.) I carry a standard snorkel and a full complement of survival/signaling gear whenever I'm on the open ocean. (The same way I never jumped from a USAF fixed wing without at least web gear, even on admin Sicilly jumps.) I dive wings almost exclusively and keep a full sized snorkel under the bungees, out of the way yet easilly accessible. It's more durable, less breathing resistance, fewer failure points, and CHEAPER than the collapsible ones. I'm impressed you carry as much as you do and that you pre-checked your daughter's equipment. That's rare in the recreational dive community. Your story about the bounce dive doesn't surprise me in the least. If you hear of them succumbing to their imprudence, please send me the details. Mike Ange is a friend of mine and I'm sure we can get him to squeeze it into his next book.

x SF med - Good old SF MAROPS. The Danish school was mostly a 10th Gp thing and I was 5th, 7th, and finished DOTD, SWCS. (Not bad for a guy who can get seasick standing on the beach watching the waves come in.) It's one of the few things I'll actually throw the SME card for.

Peregrino