There is a specific kind of feeling you get when you’re about 40 minutes into a dive, you’re starting to get low on air, and you realize you have absolutely no idea where the boat is. Your heart rate ticks up a little, you start spinning in circles, and suddenly every piece of reef looks like a “turn here” sign.
Getting lost underwater isn’t just frustrating—it’s exhausting. It leads to long surface swims, wasted air, and a fair amount of ribbing from your dive buddies back on the boat. Here at 72 Aquatics, we hear it all the time: “I’m just bad with directions.”
I’ve got good news for you: navigation isn’t an instinct. It is a set of techniques that we can teach you in a single weekend. Whether you are navigating the emerald waters of Lake Pleasant or trying to find that one specific pinnacle in the Sea of Cortez, the SSI Navigation Specialty is what turns a follower into a leader.
The Two Halves of Finding Your Way
Most people think navigation is just staring at a compass until you’re cross-eyed. But a compass is only half the story. In this course, we break your training down into two distinct styles:
1. Natural Navigation (The “Detective” Method)
Before you ever touch a compass, we teach you how to read the environment. The underwater world is full of clues if you know how to look for them. We’ll show you how to use sand ripples to find the shore, how to track the angle of the sun, and how to identify “landmarks” like specific rock formations or coral clusters that act as your breadcrumbs home.
2. Compass Navigation (The “Mechanical” Method)
When the visibility drops or the terrain becomes repetitive, the compass is your best friend. We take the mystery out of that spinning needle. You’ll learn how to set a heading, how to swim a perfect “out and back” line, and how to execute complex patterns like squares and triangles. Most importantly, we’ll teach you how to trust your compass even when your brain is telling you to go the other way.
Mastering the “Kick Cycle”
How do you know how far you’ve traveled? You can’t exactly check an odometer. We will teach you how to estimate distance using “kick cycles” and elapsed time. By the end of the course, you’ll know exactly how many kicks it takes you to cover 30 feet, allowing you to map out a dive site with incredible precision.
Why It Makes You a Better Diver
The most surprising benefit of becoming a great navigator is that your air consumption almost always improves. Why? Because you aren’t stressed. When you know exactly where you are and exactly how to get back to the exit point, your breathing slows down, your buoyancy stabilizes, and you can actually spend your dive looking at the fish instead of frantically searching for the mooring line.
Join Us on April 7th!
Ready to stop being the diver who follows and start being the one who leads the way? Our next SSI Navigation Specialty class kicks off right here in Tucson on April 7th.
This is one of our most popular specialties because it’s practical, it’s challenging, and it builds an immense amount of confidence. Whether you’re planning a big trip to the tropics or just want to feel more at home at Lake Pleasant, this is the course for you. Give us a call at the shop or stop by 72 Aquatics to get your materials and secure your spot!
