But how do I read my compass at night?

BarryNL · May 30th, 2006, 08:44 AM

I normally have my compass in the usual DIR position on the left wrist but my lamp in the right hand and computer (let's pretend its a bottom timer) on the right wrist. At night this is fine, the computer is backlit and I can use the lamp to read the compass, but with the lamp in the left hand, how to you read the compass in the dark? And I guess this also applies to the manometer. I couldn't really figure this out without switching the lamp to the right hand every time I wanted to see where I was going or how much gas I had.

davy · May 30th, 2006, 10:00 AM

Just take the light momentarily in the right hand, no need to use the goodmann handle for this short time to read your SPG.
Also both SPG and compass can be "charged" with your light from time to time so they will glow for a while.
In cave for example we keep our light pointed forward while we take it with our right hand so our buddy can always see it, when we unclip the SPG with the left hand, we move the light for a second onto the SPG and then bring it back to the front so your buddy can still see it, you can than read the SPG since the fluorescent layer is still emitting light.
clip off the SPG again and move the light back to the left had.
If you did it cerrectly your buddy shouldn't have noticed that you checked your gas.
Third solution is teamwork...and can be difficult at first... when the dive calls for a long period of navigating, your buddy can be a little behind you and light your compass...

Also When you get more experience you don't have to check your gas every 2 mins... you will *know* how much gas you have left and the SPG is just there for verification from time to time.

BarryNL · May 30th, 2006, 11:24 AM

Hmm, Ok, I guess it can work but it also begs the question of why not just have the lamp in the right hand? Then the left hand is free for compass use, to read the pressure guage and also for adding/removing air from the wing.

What is the logic of having the lamp held in the left hand at all?

Jonathan · May 30th, 2006, 11:30 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by BarryNL)

Hmm, Ok, I guess it can work but it also begs the question of why not just have the lamp in the right hand? Then the left hand is free for compass use, to read the pressure guage and also for adding/removing air from the wing.

What is the logic of having the lamp held in the left hand at all?

So you can donate the long hose with the right hand.

caverkevin · May 30th, 2006, 11:31 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by BarryNL)

What is the logic of having the lamp held in the left hand at all?

Because that is a nice place for the light when you have a scooter handle in your right hand.

Kevin

krautrob · May 30th, 2006, 11:58 AM

To me the obvious question now is: Why the compass on the left wrist rather than on the right next to the computer (read: bottom timer)? I guess, this is where the scooter comes in again...

PfcAJ · May 30th, 2006, 12:18 PM

Not that I dive with a scooter, but magnets over time will mess up a compass permanently, not just for brief moments. Scooter have magnets in them, and I'm certain it wil throw off your compass.

caverkevin · May 30th, 2006, 01:05 PM

For the compass. It has been taught for years (long before GUE and guage consoles) the compass is on the left wrist. When swimming with the compass, you stick your right arm straight out. Grab your up right arm with your left hand. That puts the compass right in your face. You look at the compass and out to the limits of you field of view. Try and line up a object to swim to. Helps to refernce that object or spot off your extended hand.

Scooter or in general, I just take a quick look at the compass to know my general heading. Natural navigation is typically is more useful to the dives I am doing.

Right now I am just using a small scubapro compass on the strap of my guage. It would be nice to have one of those sunnto sk7's.

As for the magnetic field of the scooter. Just don't stick your hand in the prop and try and read the compass at the same time.

Kevin

*Clare Gledhill* · May 30th, 2006, 03:15 PM

My suunto compass glows. Really glows - without being charged up with the light.

I didn't know this until I was in a cave last week with no lights..... over an hour later it was still legible.

krautrob · May 30th, 2006, 03:23 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by caverkevin)

For the compass. It has been taught for years (long before GUE and guage consoles) the compass is on the left wrist. When swimming with the compass, you stick your right arm straight out. Grab your up right arm with your left hand. That puts the compass right in your face. You look at the compass and out to the limits of you field of view. Try and line up a object to swim to. Helps to refernce that object or spot off your extended hand.

Why shouln't that work with left and right exchanged? In that case, the pointing hand also holds the torch which might be a plus.

May 30th, 2006, 08:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
BarryNL(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 51	But how do I read my compass at night? I normally have my compass in the usual DIR position on the left wrist but my lamp in the right hand and computer (let's pretend its a bottom timer) on the right wrist. At night this is fine, the computer is backlit and I can use the lamp to read the compass, but with the lamp in the left hand, how to you read the compass in the dark? And I guess this also applies to the manometer. I couldn't really figure this out without switching the lamp to the right hand every time I wanted to see where I was going or how much gas I had.

May 30th, 2006, 10:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 275	Just take the light momentarily in the right hand, no need to use the goodmann handle for this short time to read your SPG. Also both SPG and compass can be "charged" with your light from time to time so they will glow for a while. In cave for example we keep our light pointed forward while we take it with our right hand so our buddy can always see it, when we unclip the SPG with the left hand, we move the light for a second onto the SPG and then bring it back to the front so your buddy can still see it, you can than read the SPG since the fluorescent layer is still emitting light. clip off the SPG again and move the light back to the left had. If you did it cerrectly your buddy shouldn't have noticed that you checked your gas. Third solution is teamwork...and can be difficult at first... when the dive calls for a long period of navigating, your buddy can be a little behind you and light your compass... Also When you get more experience you don't have to check your gas every 2 mins... you will know how much gas you have left and the SPG is just there for verification from time to time. Last edited by davy; May 30th, 2006 at 10:04 AM.

May 30th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill(Offline) GUE Instructor Site Admin Pacman Champion! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,540	My suunto compass glows. Really glows - without being charged up with the light. I didn't know this until I was in a cave last week with no lights..... over an hour later it was still legible. __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

May 30th, 2006, 11:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
BarryNL(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 51	Hmm, Ok, I guess it can work but it also begs the question of why not just have the lamp in the right hand? Then the left hand is free for compass use, to read the pressure guage and also for adding/removing air from the wing. What is the logic of having the lamp held in the left hand at all?

May 30th, 2006, 11:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jonathan(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 215	Quote: (Originally Posted by BarryNL) Hmm, Ok, I guess it can work but it also begs the question of why not just have the lamp in the right hand? Then the left hand is free for compass use, to read the pressure guage and also for adding/removing air from the wing. What is the logic of having the lamp held in the left hand at all? So you can donate the long hose with the right hand.

May 30th, 2006, 11:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
caverkevin(Offline) Doing It Caverkevin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Kackilackie Posts: 360	Quote: (Originally Posted by BarryNL) What is the logic of having the lamp held in the left hand at all? Because that is a nice place for the light when you have a scooter handle in your right hand. Kevin

May 30th, 2006, 11:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
krautrob(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Berlin/Munich Posts: 60	To me the obvious question now is: Why the compass on the left wrist rather than on the right next to the computer (read: bottom timer)? I guess, this is where the scooter comes in again...

May 30th, 2006, 12:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
PfcAJ(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 139	Not that I dive with a scooter, but magnets over time will mess up a compass permanently, not just for brief moments. Scooter have magnets in them, and I'm certain it wil throw off your compass.

May 30th, 2006, 01:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
caverkevin(Offline) Doing It Caverkevin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Kackilackie Posts: 360	For the compass. It has been taught for years (long before GUE and guage consoles) the compass is on the left wrist. When swimming with the compass, you stick your right arm straight out. Grab your up right arm with your left hand. That puts the compass right in your face. You look at the compass and out to the limits of you field of view. Try and line up a object to swim to. Helps to refernce that object or spot off your extended hand. Scooter or in general, I just take a quick look at the compass to know my general heading. Natural navigation is typically is more useful to the dives I am doing. Right now I am just using a small scubapro compass on the strap of my guage. It would be nice to have one of those sunnto sk7's. As for the magnetic field of the scooter. Just don't stick your hand in the prop and try and read the compass at the same time. Kevin

May 30th, 2006, 03:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
krautrob(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Berlin/Munich Posts: 60	Quote: (Originally Posted by caverkevin) For the compass. It has been taught for years (long before GUE and guage consoles) the compass is on the left wrist. When swimming with the compass, you stick your right arm straight out. Grab your up right arm with your left hand. That puts the compass right in your face. You look at the compass and out to the limits of you field of view. Try and line up a object to swim to. Helps to refernce that object or spot off your extended hand. Why shouln't that work with left and right exchanged? In that case, the pointing hand also holds the torch which might be a plus.