SSI Navigation Speciality
Most of the certified open water divers do learn the fundamentals of navigations during their course but never use them. They do intend to follow the dive-masters end to end during their dive. Having the ability to navigate a dive site not only increases your confidence, and comfort zone but also increases your safety, and diving personality.
The SSI Navigation specialty teaches you to acquire the unique navigation skills to master the marine environment. Our experienced instructors assist you to get these skills habitual by repetitive practice while scuba diving in Andaman.
Natural Navigation
Using geographic formations has always been an ideal way to navigate. The seamen, explorers, and fishermen generally used to use this technique in the old days. Geographic formations underwater such as Walls-DropOffs-Ledges, Coral Heads, Rock Formations, Outcroppings, and a kelp bed assist us to navigate underwater easily.
There are a few man-made references too, they are wrecks, docks, buoys, descending line, and a sunken anchor. They do help us to navigate our way from the starting point of the dive to the exit point.
Your instructor presents you a descriptive briefing about each geographical aid and a man-made reference point in detail during the course. So that you can understand how, and when to use the skills. There are two open water dives included in the specialty course. So that you can practice and master the skills during your scuba in Andaman.
Your Compass and Navigation
A compass can be very helpful equipment when natural navigation is close to impossible due to poor visibility. It does give you a perfect sense of direction along with the confidence to navigate. Especially, when you are new to a dive site.
For using a compass underwater, you do not have to be a pro like a pilot. I am sure that you have already used the compass before at some point in time. Here, You need to learn certain techniques and body movements to use a compass while swimming underwater. These common techniques are widely used by scuba divers to navigate underwater.
1.Take the compass heading
2.Make a note of the heading on a slate
3.Realign the north arrow after entry
4.Swim with proper body and arm position
5.Take time to enjoy the dive site
6.Calculate your return setting by adding or subtracting 180 degrees
7.Reset your compass for your reciprocal course
8.Turn your body to realign the north arrow and come back to the point you started at.
Your instructor demonstrates how to use a compass efficiently on the land, and makes you understand its functionality. You should practice making a few straight lines, square and triangle navigation on the land before you try a compass for navigating underwater.
Your instructor shows you how to swim, how to keep your arms together, and how to adjust the compass during a confined water session. He/She does insist you repeatedly practice the skills to master navigation. Besides two dives are included in this specialty course, We recommend you to do a few more dives for practicing navigation while scuba diving in Havelock.
Combining Natural and Compass Navigation
Smart and well-experienced scuba divers always combine natural and compass navigation for adding an extra sense of safety and fun. During your diving holidays. Even if you know that the visibility is very good, and you are well aware of the dive site too. A thermocline can ruin your navigation ability as well as your scuba diving experience.
What is a thermocline?
Well, Thermocline is a layer of mild current-carrying shivering cold water mixed with silt. That causes poor visibility and makes you lose the sense of direction. Then, The compass heading plays a crucial role in getting you back to the shore or ascend line safely.
We do recommend including compass headings while planning your dive. This habit lets you have a clear vision of how your diving is going to happen. Having good knowledge and skills not only enhances your driving ability but also impresses other divers.
Your Special Navigation Situations
It gives you a sense of relief knowing that you can easily find your way to and from your exit point. The requirement of navigation skills is higher to dive in a limited vision such as night dive or during a mild current at the dive site.
During these special situations, you need your navigation performance to enjoy your dive uninterrupted with safety. However, there is a limited vision/night diving specialty course, if you might find it interesting.
The oceanic current makes it very difficult to navigate during the dive and return to the exit point. There are three types of currents.
1. Longshore current
2. Rip current caused by submerged bar
3. Rip current from the bay inlet.
Each current influences your swimming ability and drifts you off course. Your instructor will teach you in detail how to set a course while returning to your exit point facing a rip current or alongshore current.
These skills need more and more practice in real diving situations. This is why we recommended signing up a few extra dives to master the skills as the scuba diving in Andaman cost is comparatively cheaper than anywhere else. After completing the navigation specialty. You do get a special discount of 30 % on every fun dive you book with us too.
Thanks a lot for reading our blog. The next blog will be about night dive/limited vision specialty. You will get it very soon. Till then, stay tuned.
Originally published at http://seahawksscuba.wordpress.com on July 27, 2021.
