David Walker
02-09-2006, 22:54
Just prompted from another thread, thought i'd describe how I set my compass up. I've had it like this a while now, and although I don't use it much I have used it a few times like this, and find it so much easier to use.
Basically, i've replaced the wrist strap with a boltsnap on a bit of webbing. See the first picture below:
http://temp.scuby.co.uk/Compass1.jpg
This way, I have it clipped off to my waist d-ring, well out of the way and doesn't get bashed around, so its lasted far longer than my last compass. When I want it, simply unclip and use it. If i'm expecting to use it a lot on one dive, then I have a loop of bungee around my right wrist, attached to my computer to which I can clip the compass. Means I can use it from there without risking dropping it.
The way it's set up is quite important, since when I first did it I found the boltsnap interfered with the magnetic field. I've found that setup like this, there is absolutely no effect. And being done up fairly tight with the webbing loop, I can hold it at the boltsnap which makes it very easy to use.
To make one, remove the compass from the boot (it bends away and pops out), so you can work on it more easily. What I did was remove the wrist strap, and replace it with some thin webbing, which just happens to be the exact width of the old strap. I got mine from the webbing strap of a Buddy DSMB - but a lot of dive shops sell webbing like this, and B&Q do it by the metre too. You only need 15cm or so.
http://temp.scuby.co.uk/Compass2.jpg
If you look closely at this second picture, the webbing only goes across the outside of the boot on the half further from the boltsnap. This is because I cut a slot through the middle of the bottom of the boot, to slot the webbing back through. The loop in my case is glued together (using normal black neoprene glue), but you could equally sew it or use a bit of line if you prefer, but it wouldn't look as nice :rolleyes:
I'm very happy with it this way, and would recommend it as a very nice setup for a compass - i've tried it in a console, and found that rather useless, and don't use it enough to want to have it on my wrist. This way its well out of the way, yet neat and tidy and out of the way! :)
Hope that helps!
David
Basically, i've replaced the wrist strap with a boltsnap on a bit of webbing. See the first picture below:
http://temp.scuby.co.uk/Compass1.jpg
This way, I have it clipped off to my waist d-ring, well out of the way and doesn't get bashed around, so its lasted far longer than my last compass. When I want it, simply unclip and use it. If i'm expecting to use it a lot on one dive, then I have a loop of bungee around my right wrist, attached to my computer to which I can clip the compass. Means I can use it from there without risking dropping it.
The way it's set up is quite important, since when I first did it I found the boltsnap interfered with the magnetic field. I've found that setup like this, there is absolutely no effect. And being done up fairly tight with the webbing loop, I can hold it at the boltsnap which makes it very easy to use.
To make one, remove the compass from the boot (it bends away and pops out), so you can work on it more easily. What I did was remove the wrist strap, and replace it with some thin webbing, which just happens to be the exact width of the old strap. I got mine from the webbing strap of a Buddy DSMB - but a lot of dive shops sell webbing like this, and B&Q do it by the metre too. You only need 15cm or so.
http://temp.scuby.co.uk/Compass2.jpg
If you look closely at this second picture, the webbing only goes across the outside of the boot on the half further from the boltsnap. This is because I cut a slot through the middle of the bottom of the boot, to slot the webbing back through. The loop in my case is glued together (using normal black neoprene glue), but you could equally sew it or use a bit of line if you prefer, but it wouldn't look as nice :rolleyes:
I'm very happy with it this way, and would recommend it as a very nice setup for a compass - i've tried it in a console, and found that rather useless, and don't use it enough to want to have it on my wrist. This way its well out of the way, yet neat and tidy and out of the way! :)
Hope that helps!
David