One obvious advice. Don't try to do more than you can. Do at least 10% less. Prevent to run out of breath. Even if you think to see that others reach that point with less currents without any effort. I never believed that the tides really influenced the currents in ways which made them more predictable in Raja Ampat.
Advice (and encouragement?) for surviving and thriving in Raja Ampat
- Thread starter melliodora
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OP
melliodora
Registered
Thanks everyone! Feeling ever so slightly more confident - and getting excited!
potato cod
Contributor
My husband and I went to Komodo this summer and those dire current threads freaked me out ahead of time too. That was both good and bad:
1. Good because the posts indicating that you should have a DSMB and know how to deploy it led to us replace our surface markers that can just be inflated at the surface with new DSMB and reels. We scheduled pool time with an instructor at our dive shop and learned to use send them up. I'm glad we did this.
2. Otherwise, the the anxiety was unnecessary. Just be completely upfront with the dive guides about your experience level (we hit our 300th dives on the trip but had only done two drift dives and had no experience with really strong current). If they know you are inexperienced, they can often take routes that are more protected--we never used reef hooks, but would fly along for the first part, then move into areas that had less current.
3. As others have said, listen closely to the briefings, and when the guide tells you to be at the same level in the water, do that. For many dives we could be a bit deeper or shallower, but the guides should tell you when this is okay and when you need to stay at the same level. As much as you try, you won't always be able to stay behind them--they're much better at controlling themselves in the current--but they should keep an eye on you and get back in front of you. Keep an eye on them too and when they signal to change directions (often a 180 degree turn), do it!
4. If you're not comfortable with a dive/briefing, it's okay to skip it. I was not feeling comfortable enough with the current to feel ready for the extra task loading of night diving, so we skipped those. I knew I'd just be anxious during them and the sunsets from the boat with a Bintang were excellent.
I LOVED the diving in Komodo and can't wait to return. Hope this helps soothe the nerves and have fun!!!
1. Good because the posts indicating that you should have a DSMB and know how to deploy it led to us replace our surface markers that can just be inflated at the surface with new DSMB and reels. We scheduled pool time with an instructor at our dive shop and learned to use send them up. I'm glad we did this.
2. Otherwise, the the anxiety was unnecessary. Just be completely upfront with the dive guides about your experience level (we hit our 300th dives on the trip but had only done two drift dives and had no experience with really strong current). If they know you are inexperienced, they can often take routes that are more protected--we never used reef hooks, but would fly along for the first part, then move into areas that had less current.
3. As others have said, listen closely to the briefings, and when the guide tells you to be at the same level in the water, do that. For many dives we could be a bit deeper or shallower, but the guides should tell you when this is okay and when you need to stay at the same level. As much as you try, you won't always be able to stay behind them--they're much better at controlling themselves in the current--but they should keep an eye on you and get back in front of you. Keep an eye on them too and when they signal to change directions (often a 180 degree turn), do it!
4. If you're not comfortable with a dive/briefing, it's okay to skip it. I was not feeling comfortable enough with the current to feel ready for the extra task loading of night diving, so we skipped those. I knew I'd just be anxious during them and the sunsets from the boat with a Bintang were excellent.
I LOVED the diving in Komodo and can't wait to return. Hope this helps soothe the nerves and have fun!!!
OP
melliodora
Registered
Thank you!! Good point about the night dive - I had flagged to one operator in R4 that I might like a night dive, but I will see how I'm feeling by that point. I also have limited experience deploying my DSMB and have never used a reef hook, so I might also ask for some pool time or just flag that I'd like to get some practice (pool or on a more chill dive)
We went to RA in July and although we see ourselves as "experienced divers" (DM and OWSI with 800-900 dives), we still took our precautions: always dive with a dsmb anyway, but decided to do a bit practising deploying it, brought our reef hooks - only used them 2-3 times, bought a transmitter - and studied how to activate, brought whistles and would have brought mirrors, but couldn't find any we could attach to our BCD.
But most importantly: listened very carefully to the dive briefings - if it did not contain the bottom depth (not the depth we were going to dive, but how far down to the bottom) I would always ask. If I know the bottom is at 40 m, then getting caught by a down current is a bit less risky than if the bottom is at 70 m+. Made me feel a bit less anxious about the risk during the dive.
Did not experience any really bad current and only once or twice had to kick against a current for 2-4 min to get around the corner or similar. On a few occasions the dive guide would signal turn because of current.
We've dived in quite strong currents in places like Maldives, Komodo, Alor, Nusa Lembongan (including a slight down current there, so do watch your depth) and Oman.
A sudden down current can happen and to me that's the most scary thing to imagine, if you're out in the open and face a down current. But knowing how to try to navigate out of it should help.
I'm sure you'll have an amazing trip, enjoy!
But most importantly: listened very carefully to the dive briefings - if it did not contain the bottom depth (not the depth we were going to dive, but how far down to the bottom) I would always ask. If I know the bottom is at 40 m, then getting caught by a down current is a bit less risky than if the bottom is at 70 m+. Made me feel a bit less anxious about the risk during the dive.
Did not experience any really bad current and only once or twice had to kick against a current for 2-4 min to get around the corner or similar. On a few occasions the dive guide would signal turn because of current.
We've dived in quite strong currents in places like Maldives, Komodo, Alor, Nusa Lembongan (including a slight down current there, so do watch your depth) and Oman.
A sudden down current can happen and to me that's the most scary thing to imagine, if you're out in the open and face a down current. But knowing how to try to navigate out of it should help.
I'm sure you'll have an amazing trip, enjoy!
OP
melliodora
Registered
You're welcome - and btw: I love night dives and they were mostly planned to be at more sheltered sites with (normally) less current.
Have you not dived in the past 2 years? You might consider taking a refresher course.
Are you nitrox certified?
The dive operations want your booking and your money, so, of course, they will tell you that you will be fine.
I don't think it's scientifically proven, but using nitrox has been suggested to decrease your risk of DCS.
Also purchase a marine GPS, like the Nautilus Lifeline, and bring gloves to protect your hands in case you need to hold onto rocks in a ripping current.I have read key tips like swim perpendicular to the current/shelter in the reef/currents worse at full and new moon etc and have a reef hook, whistle and DSMB, but any other tips to survive and thrive and come back from this trip of a lifetime in one piece would be much appreciatedSites to avoid? Specific conversations to have with the guides? And/or encouragement that this is not a crazy life choice?
You have good reason to respect and get educated about down currents. During my first trip to RA on a liveaboard, one of our divers died in a down current at a site called Weka's Wow. He had done over 2000 dives, so it can happen to anyone at any time. It was a tragic loss and something I hope to never experience again. This is my trip report.
Let your guides know your concerns and ask a ton of questions about how to get out of a down current. Your guides will also be happy to help you attach your reef hook. As others here have said, pay attention to the briefings and if you're not feeling confident, it's okay to sit it out. Since you're doing land-based stays in RA, you'll most likely go to sites that the operator is very familiar with as opposed to a liveaboard that visits sites that day boats can't reach.
Enjoy your trip and post your experience upon your return.
OP
melliodora
Registered
Ah sorry, perhaps I was not clear. Most of my ~60 dives have been in the past two years (maybe 40 or so), prior to that I dived much more sporadically. I got my Nitrox cert after getting DCS, the dive doc I saw also recommended it. Unfortunately none of the operators I'm diving with anywhere in Indo offer nitrox, in R4 it's really just the big resort(s) and perhaps some liveaboards. But my computer is now set more conservative and I let guides know that. I'd also be a bit more nervous diving nitrox where there's risk of downcurrents...
OP
melliodora
Registered
This is my hope!
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