Nautical Dividers

Nautical divider is a device resembling a compass that is used for dividing lines and transferring measurements. The simplest type of dividers have fixed points that can be used with a single hand, for plotting courses and distances on sea charts while navigating. The nautical dividers are used on the nautical chart to measure distance in nautical miles where one minute equals one nautical mile.

A pair of dividers with pencil are essential tools of safe navigation. These are used to obtain precise co-ordinates from the nautical chart and enables to take the distance between that particular position and the closest grid line. The divider is placed on the scale with one end on this grid line, leaving the other end precisely at the coordination. This is done twice to get both latitude and longitude.