Planning to go on a trip? Consider bringing a compass with you. Even though nowadays, many people use their smartphones or other GPS devices for navigation, there is nothing more reliable than an old school compass. Whatever is your way of traveling, a compass will help to accurately determine the direction you are heading. Dip ‘N Dive carries a variety of different compass types and styles. You can choose between a military, baseplate, sighting, wrist or a pocket compass. Are you into orienteering and need the equipment for competitions? We have that too. Simply choose a suitable compass and you will always be on the right track.
Here, at Dip ‘N Dive, we carry a few different types of magnetic compasses, in particular simple liquid compasses, card compasses, lensatic compasses, orienteering compasses and thumb compasses.
Liquid compasses have a moving magnetized needle or card immersed in fluid. The use of the liquid helps to lessen excessive swing and improve readability.
Card compasses are often used on ships or boats, as they include a fixed needle and a rotating compass card, mounted in fluid. The moving card absorbs much of the boat’s motion and makes it easier to read.
Prismatic or lensatic compasses are highly accurate and often very durable. They have three main components - the base with a needle, dial, and rotating scales, a glass prism or a lens, and a lid with a hairline. Lensatic compasses allow reading the bearing while sighting on a chosen distant object. This type of compasses can either have liquid as a damping mechanism or use electromagnetic induction. Many also have tritium and a combination of phosphors which help to read of the compass in the dark.
Base plate or orienteering compasses are also liquid filled, but their main distinction is a rectangular transparent plastic base, which allows a map to be read through it. Such compasses often feature a magnifying lens for map reading, luminescent components for low light conditions and a ruler.
Thumb compasses are similar to baseplate compasses, but smaller in size. They can be fixed on the thumb to leave one hand free.