Choosing the SK-8 dive compass Jukka Saarikorpi 3.11.2014 When navigating underwater I use always a compass at least just as a backup. Sometimes also my whole dive route depends on it. Especially knowing where the shallow end is, where the shore is and where I left my boat eases my mind to know that you are swimming into the correct direction. 4 steps in buying a compass 1. 2. 3. 4. Choose the balance between northern or southern hemisphere First choose wrist-mount or console mount. Select a brand that does this well - Suunto SK-8 Buy the compass Choosing the balancing between Northern and Southern hemisphere For the SK-8 we have built it with a global ring magnet. However with the compass rose so big we ended with still having Northern and Southern hemisphere balancing. Magnetic fields in the world differ, so this is why we have to balance the compass whether you are based in northern part of the globe or the southern part. Compass balancing means that when we build the compass we balance the magnet so that the compass rose is level as possible in certain hemisphere. Just to give you indication of the tilt of the rose I will put some pictures to describe what is meant by this. We had the compass tested by a special lab simulating different magnetic fields in the world. SH means the southern version and NH the Northern version of the SK-8 compass module. North Canada SK8NH3 SK8NH4 SK8SH1 SK8SH2 Slightly tilted to North GOOD Slightly tilted to North GOOD Heavily tilted to North Might work Heavily tilted to North Might work Rovaniemi (Finland) SK8NH3 SK8NH4 SK8SH1 SK8SH2 Tilt Status Slightly tilted to North-East GOOD Slightly tilted to North-East GOOD Tilted to North Still works Tilted to North Still works No picture sorry No picture sorry SK8NH3 SK8NH4 SK8SH1 SK8SH2 Straight VERY GOOD Straight VERY GOOD Tilted to North GOOD Tilted to North GOOD Tilt Status Paris (France) Tilt Status Mexico City (Mexico) SK8NH3 Tilt Status Almost straight. Slightly tilted to South-East VERY GOOD SK8NH4 SK8SH1 SK8SH2 Almost straight. Slightly tilted to South-East VERY GOOD Tilted to North-West GOOD Tilted to North-West GOOD SK8SH2 Slightly tilted to NorthWest GOOD Bangkok (Thailand) SK8NH3 SK8NH4 Tilt Status Slightly tilted to South-East GOOD SK8SH1 Slightly tilted to NorthWest GOOD Port Elisabeth (South Africa) SK8NH3 SK8NH4 SK8SH1 SK8SH2 Tilt Status Tilted to South GOOD Slightly tilted to NorthWest VERY GOOD Slightly tilted to NorthWest VERY GOOD Slightly tilted to South-East GOOD Tilted to South GOOD Cairns (Australia) SK8NH3 Tilt Status Tilted to South-East Still works SK8NH4 SK8SH1 SK8SH2 Tilted to South-East Still works Slightly tilted to SouthWest VERY GOOD Slightly tilted to SouthWest VERY GOOD Choosing wrist-mount or console mount My personal selection is the Bungee mount. I think this is the easiest way to keep the compass and navigate. Also having one attached to the console would ease your mind in having to think about another accessory to carry with. Here are all the options. Suunto SK-8 Bungee Mount – My personal favorite This is by far the easiest way to carry the compass with you. Bungee mounted comes with the 1 metre bungee that can be easily setup. Works with drysuit or wetsuit and it’s easy to put on and take off. Also usability in water is great. Codes sold in: NH = Northern hemisphere & SH = Southern hemisphere SS021118000 SS021119000 SUUNTO SK-8 Bungee Mount NH SUUNTO SK-8 Bungee Mount SH SK-8 Console Mount, front fits into the Suunto console on top of the console. It’s handy that it’s always with you attached to your regulator set and is easy to ready and use if necessary. To the Suunto console you can fit your Zoop / Vyper easily and your SPG so you have everything in one package. Codes sold in: NH = Northern hemisphere & SH = Southern hemisphere SS021122000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, front NH SS021160000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, front SH SS021271000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, front NH / Bulk (20 pcs) SS021272000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, front SH / Bulk (20 pcs) SK-8 Console Mount, back SK-8 Console Mount, back -means double-side for the Suunto Combo Console. This means it goes to the other side of your SPG and is there easily to be found. Makes the console a bit bulky, but doesn’t add on the length which might be an issue with the front mounted version. Codes sold in: NH = Northern hemisphere & SH = Southern hemisphere SS021123000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, back NH SS021161000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, back SH SS021269000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, back / Bulk NH (Bulk lot 15 pcs) SS021270000 SUUNTO SK-8 Console Mount, back / Bulk SH (Bulk lot 15 pcs) Suunto SK-8 Strap Mount This is currently the most favorite version. This can be used in wrist with the strap. Strap can however be sometimes a hassle to put on and off. When you are in the water diving - its very usable and a robust version. This boot also survived the best in hammer tests. Video on that test at the end of this text. Codes sold in: NH = Northern hemisphere & SH = Southern hemisphere SS020981000 SUUNTO SK-8 Strap Mount NH SS020982000 SUUNTO SK-8 Strap Mount SH Also there is an option to use this Suunto SK-8 Strap Mount version with a retractor which is sold separately as an accessory. You just take the strap off and replace it with a retractor. Retractors are made by GearKeeper company who has made an easy fit system to fit into the wrist strap version of the Suunto SK-8. You can do the change yourself easily. You can also buy the compass module as an accessory. This is then just the capsule and it comes in a plastic bag. Codes sold in: NH = Northern hemisphere & SH = Southern hemisphere SS021120000 SUUNTO SK-8 CAPSULE NH SS021121000 SUUNTO SK-8 CAPSULE SH Robustness of the compass We hammer tested the compass with the hammer and tried to break it. Here a short version of the test. IMG_2564.MOV With this test we improved the construction from the SK-7 to SK-8 so that we can easily hit the compass from the back with 15 hits without losing the magnet or breaking the capsule. We improved also the manufacturing process so that we can say that the SK-8 is more robust than the SK-7.
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