Night dives

[Waterpolo]

I am still fairly new to diving but feel confident in my abilities and dive with a very level headed trustworthy buddy. I am about to go on only my second night dive but unlike the first one where it was a bright moonlit night in water where the visibility was 20-30', this will be a little different. We did the same dive the other day and the visibility was around 8-10' at best. The bottom is nothing but loon-**** and if you do not maintain your buoyancy and happen to touch down then you loose all vis.

Does anyone have any suggestions for attempting such a dive such as maybe tieing a tehter between us, locking arms and swimming in tandem etc. We will only have one light each and I would not want to get separated if we happen to stir up the bottom.

Anyone with experiance out there and would like to share a few tips, it would be appreciated. Thanks everyone.

Safe diving! Always.

 

[lastbornjoker]

tying a tether might be dangerous ie both tangled in it. u both should have back up lights. and i would really go over ur pre dive check list specialy the part about LOST BUDDY PROCEDURES. any way have fun and be safe

 

[Scott]

Does anyone have any suggestions for attempting such a dive such as maybe tieing a tehter between us, locking arms and swimming in tandem etc. We will only have one light each and I would not want to get separated if we happen to stir up the bottom.

Personally I'm not fond of tethering divers together but locking arms or holding hand is a good idea. Better yet if you get separated follow what they taught you in class. Search for no more than one minute and then surface. You should find each other pretty quick that way.

 

[webjr]

Holding hands is not unusual in low vis. Also, a backup light is a must.
Even if it's just a glow stick. Tieing each other together is an entanglement waiting to happen and NOT recommended.

Just remember, dive within your comfort limits and when in doubt don't hesitate to cancel a dive.

 

[don Francisco]

As others have said tying together can get you entangled so hold hands if vis is ultra low. Also diving at night with only one light is asking for trouble. Lights fail, and Murphy's law dictates that when the light is most critical and you have no backup, that's precisely when your light WILL fail.

Since vis is so low, I wouldn't try to get by with a glowstick. Your backup should have enough punch to help you find each other at a reasonable distance. Buddy seperation protocol won't help if you're tangled & your buddy can't find you because your light died or you simply dropped it.

 

[msg]

On my very first night dive, my light went out about five feet into the dive. The instructor had my hand and we continued the dive. Worst dive I ever did. All that said to say this, carry a back up light. Know your buddy procedures and how to find a lost buddy.
If the viz is as bad a you say, why do the dive?

 

[captn rick]

How deep is the dive? What is there to see. Why do the dive?

 

[Doc]

Don't do this next step (night diving in the muck) until you have resolved the required prior step: mastery of buoyancy.

I think the use of a three foot tether might be well recommended, but try it first on a day dive. This short overall length, with appropriate loops for handholds on each end, presents a negligible risk for entanglement. These are used all the time in the most unknown and worst of all entanglement situations, the diving on and locating a "fresh wreck". Consider tubular nylon sling or 3/8" bungee.

At this point in your diving, are you and your buddy willing and able to give up full and absolute control of either your left or right hands? Are you past "sculling" your hands to maintain attitude within the water column?

And yes, two lights, quite obviously- universally stated from all available material on the subject. (See my first sentence)

 

[Rhone Man]

Remember it is a lot easier to keep track of your buddy on a night dive than a day dive. Unless you get really separated or the viz is totally foul, just holding your light against your choice will enable you to locate him/her pretty quickly by seeing their light.

 

[Waterpolo]

The consensus seems to be have a back up light and I totally agree. The other interesting point you guys raised is mastering my buoyancy before I attempt this dive to avoid the loon-@$%& bottom.

There's not much to see down there but it's in a spot where my buddy's ice fishing shack (and about 10 others) where situated this past winter; Lake Superior. The bottom is strewn with various lost items. It's only 35-40' dive but the temp at depth is only about 5 degrees celsius. The 8 mil suits really come in handy up here.

Thanks again.