When people first start diving, they often do it in a group. This gives them the luxury of letting their minds drift and taking in the beauty of the scenery. When following a divemaster, you don’t really need to pay close attention to where you are going. As you get more advanced, and go out on more adventurous dives, you will need to start taking note of where you are going and how to get back to where you started.
Natural underwater navigation is a technique that divers use for orientation in a new environment. You need to develop your situational awareness skills along with a keen eye for details. Pay attention to things like the depth of the water. If you notice the water is getting deeper, then you are swimming away from shore. If the depth is not getting deeper, then you are probably swimming parallel to the shore.
Keep an eye out for landmarks that give you an idea of where you are. You can look at reefs, walls and other structures to pinpoint exactly where you are. Take a look at a dive map before you go out on your adventure and familiarize yourself with the layout of your dive site.
Sand patterns and shadows can also help you pinpoint exactly where you are. Sand lines usually run parallel to the coast and can give you a sense of direction underwater. Paying attention to the direction that shadows face can make it easy to decipher what direction you are going in.
Always make sure to pay attention to objects as you swim by them. It is similar to driving a car in an area that you are unfamiliar with. Pick landmarks and use them to identify which way you are going. Look at these object after you swim by them; many objects look different from the backside underwater. Look back and remember objects so you know how to return back to home base.
Underwater navigation techniques help you become a safer and more independent diver. Practice these techniques until you can comfortably navigate around a dive site without having to go to the surface to get your bearings.
