Find your way, above and below the surface
Divers are intensely fascinated by navigation. It allows them to make their way back to a special spot discovered on an earlier dive, and to find an ideal exit point at the end of a dive without the need for an uncomfortable surface swim.
Your SDI Underwater Navigation course will help you overcome the obstacles inherent to finding your way underwater. You'll learn how easy and simple navigation can be. During this course, you'll review natural aids, such as sand ripples and reef formations, which can accurately predict your route, and master both mechanical and digital compasses.
Setting a bearing: 050° NNE
Rotate the bezel until the red N gate aligns with the needle tip. The orange lubber line at the top confirms your heading direction — read your bearing right there.
Natural cues, compasses & distance estimation
- The aquatic environment, vision, light, sound
- Tides, currents, waves, and surge
- Natural navigation, bottom contours
- Depth and amount of light
- Underwater objects as landmarks
- Compass types, analog and digital
- Compass features and correct use
- Estimating distance, kick cycles and time
- Out and back patterns
- Square and triangle patterns
- Surface compass orientation
- Descent line as reference point
- Buddy contact during navigation
- Equipment setup and dive planning
What you will demonstrate in the water
- 1Equipment setup, dive planning, and pre-dive checks
- 2Surface compass practice, out and back, square, triangle
- 3Perform a square pattern on the bottom using compass
- 4Perform a triangle pattern on the bottom using compass
- 5Orient yourself using natural navigation cues
- 6Maintain buddy contact throughout all navigation exercises
- 7Disassemble equipment and log all dives
What's in it for you?
- Return to any special spot you've found, every single time
- Exit at your planned point without a long surface swim
- Counts towards a single specialty rating for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program