Which line on a compass is used to indicate the direction of travel?

Which line on a compass is used to indicate the direction of travel?

• A. Bearing line
• B. North line
• C. Lubber line
• D. Course line

Answer: (C)

On a dive compass, the line that shows the direction you will travel is the lubber line. It’s a fixed line on the compass housing, so you use it as your literal direction reference. To set a course, you rotate the compass card until the bearing line on the rotating card lines up with the lubber line, and you read the heading from the corresponding numbers. Once set, you keep the lubber line pointed toward your intended direction as you swim, and that visually indicates where you’re going. The bearing line is the moving line on the card that shows your reading of heading relative to north, not the travel direction by itself. The north line simply points toward north and helps you orient your heading. The course line is a term you’d typically see on charts rather than the handheld compass, so it isn’t the line used to indicate your travel direction on the device.

On a dive compass, the line that shows the direction you will travel is the lubber line. It’s a fixed line on the compass housing, so you use it as your literal direction reference. To set a course, you rotate the compass card until the bearing line on the rotating card lines up with the lubber line, and you read the heading from the corresponding numbers. Once set, you keep the lubber line pointed toward your intended direction as you swim, and that visually indicates where you’re going. The bearing line is the moving line on the card that shows your reading of heading relative to north, not the travel direction by itself. The north line simply points toward north and helps you orient your heading. The course line is a term you’d typically see on charts rather than the handheld compass, so it isn’t the line used to indicate your travel direction on the device.