If you feel that scuba diving is a thrilling exercise, try night diving
While some divers find it frightening to jump into a completely dark water, others consider it as an opportunity to see species that are only active at night. Diving at night reveals a new underwater world—frogfish spawning; stargazers feeding; and squid, cuttlefish and octopuses. It’s an unnerving and fascinating experience, for sure. Once you descend into the water at night and discover a whole new world, you will definitely want more. Your first night dive might be a little anxiety inducing, but once you jump in and experience a night dive you will want more. In this article we will cover a few things you should do before jumping into a night dive!
Dive a Familiar Site
If possible, select a dive site that is easily accessible and free from potential interruptions, and with as little current as possible.
Start at twilight or dusk
Going before twilight can help you get used to the darkness gradually, while diving before dawn lets you see the wonders of marine life as it comes to life.
Take it slowly
At night, there’s a lot to see. At night, the world underneath you is completely different from what it is during the day. Look at those nooks and crannies slowly.
Get Some Light
When doing a night dive, you will undoubtedly require a dive light. Ideally, you should have a primary light and a backup light in case the primary one goes out. The backup light should be portable and fit in your pocket, or clip on to your BCD..
Never point the light directly into the eyes of other divers or your buddies
Descend Feet First
To prevent vertigo, descend feet first. Proceed at your own speed and take your time.
Use your lights correctly
Avoid shining light directly at marine life as strong strobes and dive lights can easily blind and confuse them. Especially watch out for those that have settled in for the night, there are plenty of other night species and activity to focus on, without harassing the resting marine life.
Learn to respect and observe marine life, day and night.
As you may imagine, divers’ powerful artificial lights have the potential to disturb aquatic life. Avoid aiming the light beam at any animals because bright strobes and torches can easily blind and confuse nocturnal creatures. When you go night diving, respect the aquatic animals you come across with caution. Keep your distance to observe and absorb everything without interfering with the natural cycle.
Plan your Dive
Setting detailed preparations and plans ahead of time is an excellent approach to manage stress and prevent any emergencies during the dive. Your confidence in your ability to dive safely will increase with your knowledge about night diving.
Remember these safety precautions for your own safety, the safety of other divers, and the safety of the sea critters you may come across. If you have any tips about Night Diving, we want to hear from you! Leave a comment below for some recommendations or experiences you have with night diving.
Safety is paramount when diving, read on this article to guide you for a safe and enjoyable dive experience. Read here!
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Updated on: January 16, 2024