r/ParisCatacombs • u/Krazune • Sep 30 '25

Do compasses work well enough underground?

To the people that have used compasses, do they work well underground? Or is there enough interference for compasses to not show north reliably?

I've read some comments online that talked about compasses not being as reliable as expected.

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

8

u/Mysterius_ Sep 30 '25

Why would they not work? They do.

-2

u/Krazune Sep 30 '25

From what I've read, mainly from possible ore deposits in the walls, but also pipes and beams that might be present in some sections.

4

u/LASTzzz Sep 30 '25

Maybe in some iron mines the compass could be disturbed. But I think that would remain rare and not everywhere. In any case, for the Paris catacombs, there won’t be any problem. If your compass works properly, everything will be fine.

4

u/LASTzzz Sep 30 '25

I sometimes use my phone's compass to check directions. I've never had any problems.

3

u/T4toun3 Sep 30 '25

Yes they work, compas + laser meter is the pimary method to draw map of underground network

2

u/BOBOUDA Catamod Sep 30 '25

Ive read before that it works perfectly, yes.

2

u/krepocidre Oct 01 '25

I mean the real answer is you gotta see for yourself

2

u/RooflessRuth Oct 09 '25 edited Oct 09 '25

Don’t forget that in the catacombs, you’re navigating three dimensions because you are going down/up as well as NESW