Almost every day of our lives we use some form of navigation. We use simple navigation, often subconsciously, when driving to work, or going to school; we reference landmarks and recognize visual cues. Consciously, we use more complex navigation when we reference a compass, GPS device or map.
There are visual navigation cues under water, like on the surface, that divers can use as references to mark the beginning and ending points of a dive or the location of the boat.
The use of an underwater compass assists divers with more accurate navigation and it is the ideal tool for pinpointing locations under water.
Underwater navigation is a challenging, yet very rewarding activity that requires the diver’s attention and will engage his complete skill set. It is recommended that a diver maintain neutral buoyancy while using a compass in order to keep it level; additionally, divers will use kick counts while swimming maintaining a specific depth to determine distance.
Utilizing the buoyancy control techniques covered in the previous chapter will help the diver achieve these goals.