Getting pretty good using a compass!

Today, I was leading 5 divers; on a dive site where I have never been before. And it was a dive site where many of my colleagues have told that it is easy to get lost. So my compass and navigation skills were definitely being tested. And as said in a previous blog entry, compass navigation is quite difficult for me; I prefer a Garmin in my car :-). Especially underwater where you everything looks so very different than the usual landmarks you use above water, like building, roads, landscapes etc. Yes, there are landscapes under water also, but it is SO easy to suddenly find your self turning a corner without noticing it, and suddenly you are going in wrong direction. And remember that underwater there is also the 3rd dimension to take into account; up and down. Which is basically one of the most difficult things in diving; to see, notice and be aware of your depth. Of course a dive computer helps you very much since it tells you the depth, but adding the other 2 dimensions which are tricky under water, it DOES become tricky.
But it seems like my good 'path-finding skills' from above water seems to slowly come to me also under water. I slowly have developed a good intuition of directions, depth and landscapes under water. Still a lot to learn, but today I managed to find my way back easily to the boat; even on this quite tricky dive site. Also my timing seems to be ok; one thing is that you can find your way back, but if people do not have enough air to get back, then you anyway need to surface far away from the boat. And it is also not popular to come back to the boat after just 20 minutes dive; circling below the boat is usually very interesting :-). People want value for their money, so why come out of the water with more than half a tank full of air?
So, I actually feel quite confident now in underwater navigation and leading; and I have got quite a lot of positive feedback to my 'relaxed' style - both from experienced Dive Master and from customers; I let the divers explore things they find interesting and just wait for them; but still make sure they get back to the boat without running (too) low on air.