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Using Computer Navigational aids for diving

Diving from RIBs is a harsh environment for Computers!  This is a shame because dive planning is crucial to safe and successful diving.  I have demonstrated here how Navmaster shorebased with the proudman tidal atlas, and NavTides can assist in dive planning.

 

FINDING SLACK WATER

Navmaster coupled with the Proudman Tidal Atlas can accurately predict the tidal stream direction and strength for a localised dive site.

This facility allows you to scroll through in typically 1/4 hour intervals to identify the the most desirable state of tide and it's time

 

Click here to change time

 

Strength and direction are also shown on the chart

 tidefind.gif (13648 bytes)
   

 

FINDING THE DIVE SITE POSITION

Most GPS systems operate on the WGS 84 Datum.  This causes problems when trying to enter a position from the Admiralty chart into a GPS.  Navmaster will automatically apply the datum shift from the chart, in the case of Channel Islands Charts -   "Europe 50" to WGS84.

 

CHARTS OF THE DIVE SITE

Your favourite charts do not last long in a RIB, They are too large for comfort, and folding them into plastic sleeves is not a solution.  Navmaster with ARC's allows you to print out just the area of the dive site on to an A4 sheet.  This fits into an A4 plastic sleeve without folding,  and if it does get wet, just print out another!   See chartprintouts above and below done on Navmaster.

PLANNING YOUR DIVE ROUTE

One of the main features of Navmaster is it's powerful passage planning ability.   Navmaster can calculate compass courses to steer, allowing for Variation, vessel deviation and tidal stream.  RIB speeds do not necessitate the allowance of tidal stream.  Nevertheless, it is far easier to use Navmaster to give Latitude and longitude of waypoints which can be entered into the GPS.  Navmaster will also give accurately calculated times to waypoints / dive site for given speeds over water.   This is particularly useful when chasing a small window of slack water!  If you have the "Offshore" version of Navmaster, you can even "upload" the waypoint co-ordinates directly to your GPS through the NMEA 0183 interface.

The route drawn out and printed from  Navmaster

divechrt.gif (28421 bytes)

 

The first two waypoints of the passage plan

 pass_plan.gif (9060 bytes)

 

DEPTH OF WATER

Using Navmaster for Tides allows a print out of of the tidal curve for the day of the dive.  This is  useful for calculating the depth of water   for the site, and when a slip / launching site can be used for the RIB.   

tide curve.gif (7003 bytes)

ARC's chart and tidal curve fit together on one side, the passage plan goes on the other side, back to back, and the two sides are put into an A4 Transparent sleeve.   The top is sealed with selotape to stop water.  All your navigational information in one single A4 size waterproof sleeve!

 

 

 

Send mail to adrien@navitrom.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1998 NAVITROM Ltd
Last modified: August 24, 1998