Underwater Navigation Part 3

[@naa62]

thanks for putting out your videos there are helpful , do you have one showing how to use the window as opposed to looking down on to the compass. I do realize this is a few years old

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello naa62, here is another Navigational Video that has a secret ending that you may find useful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYnZlINqr5eEmas

[@johnmontgomery2735]

Thanks for the navigation info. I do a lot of shore diving and have gotten pretty good with navigation for desired headings and returning to entry point. My delima is when I'm boat diving. Making multiple turns in open ocean then trying to get back to the boat. I know natural navigation plays a big role. Any compass navigation hints would be great!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Take it slow John Montgomery, and practice your navigation skills on every dive.

[@bubbasmith9432]

I know this is a few years old but thank you. I just got my OWS and nav is one of the specialties I am thinking about getting.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Bubba Smith. We hear at Lake Hickory Scuba really enjoy teaching the Navigation Course. Not only is it beneficial to the diver to know how to navigate underwater, it is a also a great confidence booster for the diver as well.

[@calbusa5]

I’d like to see the digital compass in action. How to use the set feature and so forth. Thanks!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello calbusa5, we currently have videos produced and scheduled until late June. I will pass the suggestion on to our production staff. It should be noted, we do teach how to use a digital compass in the Underwater Navigation Course. Some divers prefer them over an analog compass, primarily because they are tilt compensating. I'm an old school diver, I still prefer my analog compass.

[@leewaggers4733]

Great series of videos, really helpful. Thanks very much 👍

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Lee Waggers.

[@jaimehurtado3595]

Love the videos, you guys are awesome

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Jaime Hurtado.

[@jjohn8989]

Another great series. Side note question.... Why did you move the exhaust valve from forearm to shoulder on dry suit? (Guessing that's what the hole is from)

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello J John, the Comfort Zone Scuba Drysuits, just like the SeaSoft Drysuits, and several other neoprene suits, usually will have the exhause valve on the inside of the bicep or forarm area. The slot on the left sleeve is actually for a computer or compass. Its called a computer sleeve. I rarely use it though.

[@dredd183]

great series

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank You dredd183

[@doctordoctor1800]

Thanks alot very good video hope more video on navigation under water

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Doctor Doctor, glad you liked our video.

[@scubatraveler1275]

Good series, Bryan. Any advice on mid-water navigation where visibility is low enough you dont have any visual references? I've ran into this scenario a few times throughout the years and would like to hear your take on it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Practice, practice, practice. The biggest things divers can do to perfect their skills is to practice.

[@benosborne6062]

I assume you use a known distance pool to figure out your (pace count) kicks per distance. How do you compensate for current? Also when you are having to navigate around obstacles how do you keep track of distance and direction when there are multiple turns?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Ally Amber, great questions. Yes we use a pool for confined water training that has a know distance. Ironically, the pool that we use is an indoor heated pool, that has additional jets (which also heat the pool) that create a current for us. It’s quite unique. To answer the final question, in short, Practice Practice Practice. In our Open Water Training area, we have several object sunk at know distances and we can use them as obstructions as well.

[@shanefahey1202]

Biggest obstacle I have found is navigating around objects and not in a straight line Can you do a video on this for the new divers please

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Shane, I will be happy to make a video about navigating around objects. Stay tuned.

[@JURASSICCOASTMODELLER]

Another great video. Would love to see some more in water navigation videos along with sidemount configuration!😁

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hopefully I will have some more of both real soon HobbyManUK. We are in the works of rearranging our training area in front of the shop. This will take us a while to complete, and of course navigation is a big part in how we will do it. So stay tuned, we will try to film as much as we can.

[@JURASSICCOASTMODELLER]

LakeHickoryScuba fantastic...looking forward to future videos!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

We have a ton in the works right now, but we are also traveling and remodeling our store. Its a very busy time for us.

[@history777]

Thank u verry much greets from Germany

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome history777

[@TheDouglash]

Problem with training videos and even courses the training is in near current-less environments like a pool/lake/quarry etc. Many real life scenarios involve currents like from a boat decent line to a parallel reef or wreck 50 yards away with a cross current. How do you run the route with a current perpendicular to your straight line direction to target and just as bad the return route?

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello @TheDouglash, great question. This and several other topics are discussed in the SSI Navigation Specialty Course. I would refer you to your local SSI Training Center for proper training in Underwater Navigation. A SSI Navigation Specialty Instructor will go more in depth than what our videos will. Our videos are simply meant to be review sessions and supplements to proper training at your local training center. As far as training scenarios and locations like pools / lakes / quarries, divers are sometimes limited to their local environments, whether is a budget issue, or they simply choose to dive those areas more than areas with a current. We allow our divers / students to choose where they want to complete their training dives, as long as the training location meets standards, and is safe to dive.

[@stevedugle5238]

Thanks, I needed to relearn this skill

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Glad you liked the video Steve Dugle.

[@scubamystic8860]

Shallow dive across the cove without a dive flag. Wow!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Some call it living on the edge. LOL, in all honesty Scuba Mystic, if you ever visit our facility, we have a large mast at the edge of the docks with a Dive Flag at the top. Here in North Carolina, this suffices the general statue.

[@scubamystic8860]

I thought diving without a flag was a new PADI Specially Stealth diver course I’m just giving you a hard time. Really Enjoy the vids. I Purchased A SMS 75 and actually learned Side mount configuration watching your videos in the water on a rock at cow springs so I could get through the restriction.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Congratulations on switching to Sidemount. I have used Hollis in the past, great gear. PADI does seem to have specialty for everything, kind of like when you here someone say there is an app for that. Glad to hear our videos are helpful for you. If you ever have a question or video idea, feel free to ask. We will be having more Sidemount videos coming out real soon.

[@391wombat]

Bryan i notice that you and james blackman both wear your dive computers on your left wrists and compass on your right. This would seem to take your dive computer out of play when ascending while releasing air from your bc with your left hand extended over your head. You cant really monitor ascent or descent rate or determine when you’ve arrived at safety stop depth. Wouldn’t it be better to have computer on right wrist? Thanks, John

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello 391wombat, this is a great question. In short, I only use my inflator at the surface. Here is an old video we did showing you how we manipulate and fine tune our buoyancy solely with our breathing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGGwgZt5bNOoeKM. Also, it should be noted, the more experience you gain while diving, you will use other methods to judge depth. The gradient factor I feel in my years helps me determine depth with out the need to look at my computer to monitor my ascent rate.

[@391wombat]

LakeHickoryScuba Thanks Bryan. I started diving 50 years ago and gave it up for career, kids, etc. before computers, bc’s, etc. Now that retirement is nearly here I’m getting back into it and will probably be glued to my computer at least initially. Thanks again. John

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome.

[@Binford400]

Great series! Well thought out and explained clearly and simply. Sending it to several new divers I dove with this year. Hopefully next year they won’t have that horrified look 👀 when I say “ you lead this dive” Keep it up 👍 and enjoyed as usual.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank you Binford400. Hopefully our videos will help them out.

[@equusspringsfarm]

If you are given a bearing by someone else... book, friend, etc.... to "find" a target... how do you set the bearing? Can't find this info anywhere. Say the instruction is... from the end of the jetty follow a 230 degree heading to locate the........

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello equusspringsfarm, the simplest method is to set that heading on top of the lubber line, then simply turn your body until the magnetic north needle lines up with your index marks. This will be your desired heading.

[@thejahfox]

Thankyou for the videos! I caught on quick to the diving amd everything else but when it came to the compass nav it was like hitting a brick wall. So again thank you for explaining in depth :)

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome thejahfox, glad to know you found our entire series on Underwater Navigation helpful.

[@bornaluckyman1]

Thank you for the inspiration matey ..

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome David Taylor, glad you liked our videos and found them helpful.

[@divindragon1302]

As always you put out great videos, and this 3 part video in navigation was spot on. I really like the way you explain the concept of the subject in the simplest way possible. Another great video, keep up the good work. As usual dive safe.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thank you divindragon. Glad you liked the video. I have found over the years that its always easier for students to learn, if we break the material down to the most basic form. Navigation work stumps a lot of people simply because they over think the mechanics of it.

[@LittleDrummerBoyLittle]

Cool metal bumper music!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Thanks Little Drummer Boy 1970 Little, glad you liked it.

[@LittleDrummerBoyLittle]

Thanks!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

You're welcome.

[@captaintimbailes7971]

Pretty good for very basic Nav, but what about knowing how far you traveled. I didn't see you cover one thing about measuring distance underwater. Why is that. There was actually a question below about trying to get back to the boat. Where are the "kick cycles" that are needed in real navigation? And you should be showing it using more than one style of kick. I guess this is the deference between the way SSI does it compared to NAUI. I understand this might have only been reciprocal in part 3, but in part 2 the diver did a course change where kick cycles are absolute and you didn't show it or even mention it.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Captain Tim Bailes, during the full Navigation Course, we cover a much wider spectrum of Underwater Navigation than what you saw in this video. This video is not meant to replace your local Instructor. We encourage all divers to seek out their local Dive Instructor for their certifications, not a KZbin video.

[@charlesclements4350]

Mapping? That sounds interesting!

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Its fun, and challenging at the same time Charles.

[@charlesclements4350]

Yikes! Are You talking like Bowditch Navigation type of mapping?

[@lexvanlith8591]

To remove a failurepoint: Don't turn the bazel. Just swim the opposite. Actualy i never use the bazel, just see how the North arrow points at the start of the dive. During the dive i visualise what i do/did in relation to dive time, current (which gives you an offset), depth and airconsumption. Because i'm not depend on the bazel (i don't care how it was turned) it goes alway correct, even if the bazel is, by accident, turned. Now i use a digital compas of my dive computer, so don't have a bazel to turn. Knowing where north is in relation to shore/start of your dive is all you need.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Lex van Lith, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Thankfully, we have never had a compass become a failure point during any of our dives.

[@lexvanlith8591]

@@LakeHickoryScuba I mean (also) a human failurepoint. When using/turning the bazel some do calculate (which is on depth harder) or move a bit to during the turning of the bazel. Then return direction is set wrong. If Caompas is set at start of dive, just never turn is again (if you want to use the bazel anyway).

[@panditreuvers]

Agree with the rest. Although I succeed the Navigation Specialty, It's stil hard and I need practicing and additional information.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Even after 31 years of diving, I still struggle with it at times. We encourage all divers to practice underwater navigation every chance they get.

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Got first and I am a big fan

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Congratulations Ivory, and thanks for being a big fan.

[@jerardwashington7390]

I thank you for your this video was very helpful , you are are correct pratice makes perfect. when you get a chance view my videos as well. just type up my name. Be safe and enjoy the water.

[@LakeHickoryScuba]

Hello Jerard Washington, you are welcome. Glad you liked our video. We will go check your diving videos out as well.